50th anniversary nbc's jay gray reports from the smithsonian national air and space museum. >> that's one small step for man, one giant ap for mankind. >> 50 years later, those words still echo across time and space. neil armstrong and later buzz aldrin walking along the surface of the moon and into history. >> buzz is erecting the solar wind experiment now. >> reporter: theyspent two and a half hours gathering samples and planting the american flag and llow crew member michaelol cns piloting the command module circled above what he called. >> the magnificent spear, magnificent. >> reporter: but it was looking back through the window of the spacecraft that left a lastingp imession during this historic journey. >> the whole show was the earth, tiny little earth. it's projected to me as a feeling of fragility. i could not explain it at the time, and i can't explain it rea >> reporter: a feeling shared by neil armstrong who said i put up my thumb and shut one eye andy thumb blotted out the planet earth. i didn't feel like a giant.lt i fe very, very small.of >> lift >> but the advances in

as an edn specialist and historiaat the smithsonian national air and space museum his "first real job." >> oh, yeah. >> good to s you all! >> woodruff: portraits of theet smithsonian seies through the years line the halls of the main administrativbuilding. now, bunch is the first african american to lead this revered institution ints 173-year history-- the world's largest museum, education and research complex. man can accomplish thes kinds of things, and, as long as you're educated, you can do this. this was tied to my parents' commitment to education, and it was kind of "how do these things happen?" and it really created a kind of inquisitive nature of trying to understand life. we spent many an hour talking about going to the moon, talking about philosophy, talking about literature. >> woodruff: bunch grew up in belleville, new jersey, where he and his family were the only african americans after his gerrandfaa former sharecropper, moved to the area as one of the first black i dentisthe region. bunch also has worked at the national meum of american history and led the chicagooc his

i would especially like to thank our cosponsors, the smithsonian's national air and space museum, and the u.s. state department, and this evening's distinguished panelists. s andgeneral collins, dr. major general baldwintofan, . this in honor for us to hear from you this evening. i would also like to recognize john logsdon professor from our elliott .chool of public affairs the integration of this into a roast bust program -- a robust program is one of our majors contributions. an informed discussion related to issues of science and public policy, the institute has developed generations of students, scholars and professionals, engaged in space related work in government on a industry, and academia. its interdisciplinary students and faculty bring deep experience in space policy, law, economics, and history. their internationally known and respected for their expertise in ande policy, history, law economics. and they routinely consult with industry, international organizations, and, of course our own government. partnerships and the contributions we can make together. understanding our