Forty years ago, the US launched Apollo 11. IMO the most ambitious project ever undertaken by this country. That they were successful and three brave men returned safely makes it perhaps the most incredible achievement in human history. I get chills when I watch shows about it, and I wasn't even born at the time.
Let the conspiracy talk begin...lol. Pretty cool stuff. Let's hope the shuttle makes it back in one piece this time.
Ahh, yes, back when this country had leaders, not just politicians. It was an amazing achievement. Dom
we were at the civic center in baltimore to see cream and ginger baker made everyone wait for the show because he was watching the landing.
Very cool anecdote, tatcat. It was very, very, very exciting. Did anybody have; the Apollo 11 LP? Lunar module model kit?
I built Revell's Lunar Module as well as the nearly 4ft tall Saturn V rocket (included a lunar module). http://www.revell.com/catalog/products/buzz_aldrin_rocket_hero.html http://www.ipmsusa2.org/Reviews/Kits/Real-Space/revell_96_saturn-v/part_01/revell_96_saturn-v_01.htm Saw this one a couple of days ago Image Unavailable, Please Login
I did. I spent a lot of time building it, only to have my cousin destroy it when I wasn't home. My friend and his father used to build the flying model rockets that looked like the Saturn V right down to the texture of the skin around the fuel cells. I think they were powered by 3 Estes C-size motors for each flight. I've never seen it fly as I think he wants to keep it in good condition and not risk a loss.
My dad worked for NASA. He worked on the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs in the 60s, and then the Shuttle program. Pulled my sis and I out of school in 1969 to watch Apollo 11 launch live. I still have vivid memories of that launch. On the wall in my office is a framed picture of Buzz Aldrin standing on the moon. It is autographed to my dad saying, "Mack, Thanks for making this picture possible. Buzz". Has a second autograph on it by Sam Phillips who was incharge at that time. Same sort of message. It is one of my most prized possesions. I had the opportunity to see other launches, including the first shuttle launch. We had two of the Apollo LM, official NASA models, not kits. Also had numerous NASA models of launch vehicles including an intial prototype of a propsed shuttle launch vehicle that was capable of landing instead of the less expensive/disposable solid rocket boosters they use today. All were all stolen when my father passed away.
Been "reliving" the mission as it progresses, following the mission tracker, and listening to the "live transmissions" on: http://www.wechoosethemoon.org/ Thought I'd post the link for all you Apollo fans out there (like myself). There's quite a bit of archival video footage and photos to browse as well.
Buzz Aldrin's mother's maiden name was Moon! http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/21/magazine/21fob-q4-t.html?_r=1 Other examples where the name determined the career:
On the day they landed, I remember looking up at the moon that night and saying to myself: "This is the first night in the history of man that someone like me is looking at the moon and seeing it with a man on it." If you look at it that way, it's rather historic indeed. 500 years from now, if we are still around, people will look back and still be in awe.
You need to add, "...and a man standing on the moon was able to look down on the Earth while we all looked up at the moon." Seriously cool stuff.
I proudly wore one of these patches on a jacket back in the 70's (not personally involved with the mission) and was frequently asked what "APOLLO 2" was. There is no shortage of uninformed people, no wonder there are non-believers. Image Unavailable, Please Login
In just a few minutes (40 years ago), at 10:56PM EDT, man will take his first step on the moon. "One small step..." http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/apollo11_radio/
Whew, opened that link just in time....thanks! Today I proudly wore my NASA Polo shirt that I got in space camp when I was a young'un. Still get goosebumps every time I hear Armstrong say that.
I was thinking about this last night, that several hundred years from now it might actually Aldrin that is the more famous of the two. Armstrong doesn't sign any autographs or give many interviews, where Aldrin makes many public appearances each year. Long after all of us are gone the only record will be a few pieces of signed paper and electronic video of speeches. And most of those will be of Aldrin.
Surely you are not equating Astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin with today's media whores First is first, and it'll always be remembered that way. Astronaut Armstrong marks anniversary in his own words Remembering Apollo 11 - The Boston Globe
