Apollo 11, today is the 47th anniversary ..

[BUTCH1]

RIP Neil Armstrong, you were a humble man and perhaps the best pure pilot there ever was, Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins also will never be forgotten. To this day, when I walk my dog every night I gaze at the moon and remain in awe that 12 men walked (and drove!) on it.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee5IxnaXR3Y

 

[SKORPI0]

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/apollo11.html

also... 43 years ago...

Over Four Decades After Bruce Lee's Death, His Family Carries On His Legacy

 

[JulesMaximus]

RIP Neil Armstrong, you were a humble man and perhaps the best pure pilot there ever was, Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins also will never be forgotten. To this day, when I walk my dog every night I gaze at the moon and remain in awe that 12 men walked (and drove!) on it.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee5IxnaXR3Y

Chuck Yeager was definitely up there as pilots go. Probably would have waxed old Neil in lesser aircraft. :biggrin:

 

[BUTCH1]

Chuck Yeager was definitely up there as pilots go. Probably would have waxed old Neil in lesser aircraft. :biggrin:

Yea, Chuck was defiantly up there and in a dog-fight I'd give him the nod but what made NA special was his ability to handle ANY situation thrown at him, the X-15 he flew (he was #3 in speed out of 12 that were allowed to fly this monster) malfunctioned, and in 12.4 minutes Armstrong had covered 350 miles ground track, the record for longest duration and distance of all 199 X-15 flights. His Gemini spacecraft malfunctioned, (stuck thruster), the spin rate had reached one revolution per second, blurring the astronauts' vision and putting them in danger of losing consciousness or suffering vertigo. Armstrong decided to shut down the OAMS and use the Re-entry Control System (RCS) thrusters to stop the spin. After steadying the spacecraft, the crew tested each OAMS thruster in turn and found that Number 8 had stuck on. Almost 75% of the reentry maneuvering fuel had been used to stop the spin,[9] and mission rules dictated that the flight be aborted once the Reentry Control System was fired for any reason. Gemini 8 immediately prepared for an emergency landing. The LEM flying simulator (the Astronauts called it the "flying bedstead" and hated it) developed a fuel leak that rendered it uncontrollable and NA managed to eject just seconds before it came crashing to the ground!,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJa4yQ0AIbU And the LEM's guidance system had them coming down in a crater filled with SUV-sized boulders, Armstrong took manual control and over-flew the hazard and landed with 20 seconds of fuel left. And in the Korean war, while making a low bombing run at about 350 mph (560 km/h), Armstrong's F9F Panther was hit by anti-aircraft fire. While trying to regain control, he collided with a pole at a height of about 20 feet (6 m), which sliced off about three feet (1 m) of the Panther's right wing.[18] Armstrong flew the plane back to friendly territory, but due to the loss of the aileron, ejection was his only safe option. He planned to eject over water and await rescue by Navy helicopters, and therefore flew to an airfield near Pohang, but his ejection seat was blown back over land.[19] A jeep driven by a roommate from flight school picked Armstrong up. Talk about nine lives, NA used all of 'em!.

 

[IronWing]

Chuck Yeager was definitely up there as pilots go. Probably would have waxed old Neil in lesser aircraft. :biggrin:

Wasn't he the Woodstock farmer?

 

[BarkingGhostar]

When I stepped out last night to put the trash out it was like a full moon. I wasn't even drunk or anything [yet].

 

[amdhunter]

 

[amdhunter]

 

[Brovane]

 

[Brovane]

RIP Neil Armstrong, you were a humble man and perhaps the best pure pilot there ever was, Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins also will never be forgotten. To this day, when I walk my dog every night I gaze at the moon and remain in awe that 12 men walked (and drove!) on it.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee5IxnaXR3Y

It was really just by chance that Neil was the Apollo-11 Commander. The original order of manned Apollo missions. From Deke Slayton's point of view any of his Veteran astronauts from the Gemini missions could have flown the first lunar landing mission.

Apollo-7, Earth Orbit test of Apollo CSM-Commander Schirra​

Apollo-8, Earth Orbit test of Apollo CSM and LM-Commander McDivitt​

Apollo-9, Medium Earth Orbit test of Apollo CSM and LM-Commander Borman​

Apollo-10, Manned CSM and LM Operations in Lunar Orbit-Commander Stafford​

Apollo-11, First Lunar Landing-Commander Conrad​

For the Apollo Missions their was a prime and backup crew. Normally the backup crew would rotate in as the prime crew 3 missions later. So whoever was the backup crew on Apollo-8 would be the prime crew on Apollo-11. In early 1968 NASA Leadership realized that the LM wouldn't be ready for Apollo-8 if it flew in December 1968. It was decided to eliminate the Medium Earth Orbit test of the Apollo CSM and LM and fly Apollo-8 to the Moon. McDivitt who had been working closely with Grumman still wanted to be on the first mission with the LM so the Apollo-8 and Apollo-9 crews swapped position. So the backup Commander for Borman was Armstrong and the backup Commander for McDivitt was Conrad so with the swap Armstrong jumped forward to Apollo-11 and Conrad moved back to Apollo-12. That is how Pete Conrad got hosed out of his position to be the first person to walk on the Moon.

FYI - Collins was also originally on the Apollo-8 prime crew. However he had a medical issue with his neck and he was rotated out and Lovell who was the backup CSM became the prime CSM. Aldrin was rotated to become the backup CSM and Fred Haise became the backup LM pilot. However Collins healed well enough that when it was time to select the Apollo-11 crew, Slayton named him the prime CSM. The backup Commander was Lovell, with Haise as the backup LM and Mattingly as the backup CSM. Without Collins having his neck issues the prime crew for Apollo 11 would have been Armstrong, Aldrin and Lovell.

 

[Number1]

Apparently 20% of the american population believes the the landing were fake and I bet you they're all going to vote Trump.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Apparently 20% of the american population believes the the landing were fake and I bet you they're all going to vote Trump.

6% thinks they were a fake:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/1993/did-men-really-land-moon.aspx

 

[IronWing]

6% thinks they were a fake:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/1993/did-men-really-land-moon.aspx

20% think the 6% are faking just to be obstinate but the 20% might be faking their thoughts as well.

 

[Kaido]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYVLpC_8SQE

 

[DrPizza]

RIP Neil Armstrong, you were a humble man and perhaps the best pure pilot there ever was, Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins also will never be forgotten. To this day, when I walk my dog every night I gaze at the moon and remain in awe that 12 men walked (and drove!) on it.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee5IxnaXR3Y

I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but the moon isn't visible "every night." You couldn't possibly gaze at the moon every night when you walk your dog. If you walk your dog at the same time every night, the moon would only be above the horizon 50% of the nights.

But, the sentiment is nice. If the clouds aren't out, I'll often stare in awe at the night sky. We have a hot tub; I'll rarely get in the hot tub at night if the sky is overcast. I love to just lay back, enjoy a beer or glass of wine or two, and stare up. And, I've had the same thought while looking at the moon - only a dozen men.

 

[SKORPI0]

Wasn't he the Woodstock farmer?

No, that's Max Yagur :awe:

 

[Number1]

6% thinks they were a fake:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/1993/did-men-really-land-moon.aspx

Few, I was worried.

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[BUTCH1]

I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but the moon isn't visible "every night." You couldn't possibly gaze at the moon every night when you walk your dog. If you walk your dog at the same time every night, the moon would only be above the horizon 50% of the nights.

But, the sentiment is nice. If the clouds aren't out, I'll often stare in awe at the night sky. We have a hot tub; I'll rarely get in the hot tub at night if the sky is overcast. I love to just lay back, enjoy a beer or glass of wine or two, and stare up. And, I've had the same thought while looking at the moon - only a dozen men.

Yea, I'm aware of that fact so I didn't mean it literally, just on the nights when the moon is bright. As a child of 12 when it happened I NEVER thought that it would end at 12 men. With public interest waxing and the extraordinary expensive monster Saturn V (which none of it was reusable) Nixon cut the last 3 flights. What was odd was the 3 Saturn V's (and the CSM's, LEM's) were already built and paid for. One was used for Skylab and the other 2 are very expensive museum displays. Some say NASA didn't raise much of a fuss due to the genuine fear of losing a crew eventually. Anyway here's the last Apollo launch, #17 was the only night launch and this amateur did a fine job, one can tell that it must have been insane to be there in person!.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yIvOYFOm6c

 

[Number1]

I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but the moon isn't visible "every night." You couldn't possibly gaze at the moon every night when you walk your dog. If you walk your dog at the same time every night, the moon would only be above the horizon 50% of the nights.

But, the sentiment is nice. If the clouds aren't out, I'll often stare in awe at the night sky. We have a hot tub; I'll rarely get in the hot tub at night if the sky is overcast. I love to just lay back, enjoy a beer or glass of wine or two, and stare up. And, I've had the same thought while looking at the moon - only a dozen men.

 

[BUTCH1]

It was really just by chance that Neil was the Apollo-11 Commander. The original order of manned Apollo missions. From Deke Slayton's point of view any of his Veteran astronauts from the Gemini missions could have flown the first lunar landing mission.

Apollo-7, Earth Orbit test of Apollo CSM-Commander Schirra​

Apollo-8, Earth Orbit test of Apollo CSM and LM-Commander McDivitt​

Apollo-9, Medium Earth Orbit test of Apollo CSM and LM-Commander Borman​

Apollo-10, Manned CSM and LM Operations in Lunar Orbit-Commander Stafford​

Apollo-11, First Lunar Landing-Commander Conrad​

For the Apollo Missions their was a prime and backup crew. Normally the backup crew would rotate in as the prime crew 3 missions later. So whoever was the backup crew on Apollo-8 would be the prime crew on Apollo-11. In early 1968 NASA Leadership realized that the LM wouldn't be ready for Apollo-8 if it flew in December 1968. It was decided to eliminate the Medium Earth Orbit test of the Apollo CSM and LM and fly Apollo-8 to the Moon. McDivitt who had been working closely with Grumman still wanted to be on the first mission with the LM so the Apollo-8 and Apollo-9 crews swapped position. So the backup Commander for Borman was Armstrong and the backup Commander for McDivitt was Conrad so with the swap Armstrong jumped forward to Apollo-11 and Conrad moved back to Apollo-12. That is how Pete Conrad got hosed out of his position to be the first person to walk on the Moon.

FYI - Collins was also originally on the Apollo-8 prime crew. However he had a medical issue with his neck and he was rotated out and Lovell who was the backup CSM became the prime CSM. Aldrin was rotated to become the backup CSM and Fred Haise became the backup LM pilot. However Collins healed well enough that when it was time to select the Apollo-11 crew, Slayton named him the prime CSM. The backup Commander was Lovell, with Haise as the backup LM and Mattingly as the backup CSM. Without Collins having his neck issues the prime crew for Apollo 11 would have been Armstrong, Aldrin and Lovell.

Yea, I understood how the crew selection worked. I always felt bad for Lovell because he never got a chance to go down to he surface but he had told his wife #13 was his last flight no matter what happened. I also thought it would have been awesome to get Werner Von Braun a chance to go up, without his leadership, knowledge, and management abilities it does not happen by the end of the decade if at all. His life-long dream was to fly in space, I know he was getting into his late 50's but he deserved it IMHO.

 

[BUTCH1]

David Scott (Apollo 15) took those photo's as part of a panorama and also took the shot of the LEM as well but he was at a different spot for the panorama. On the moon distant objects are difficult to judge since there is no atmosphere to affect viewing distance. I'm surprised you are dumb enough to fall for a FOX "documentary" that was described by Van Allen as a "brilliant assemblage of nonsense".

 

[KMFJD]

The Last Man on the Moon is an amazing movie about the last flight, also has some very cool background stuff.

http://thelastmanonthemoon.com/

 

[BUTCH1]

The Last Man on the Moon is an amazing movie about the last flight, also has some very cool background stuff.

http://thelastmanonthemoon.com/

Wow!, I did not know about this!, thanks!. One of the shots in the preview was the often-seen Saturn stage separation, this was an amazing bit of technology itself!. These shots were taken on 16mm film by a camera enclosed in a special housing, there were 2 of them on Apollo 4, 6. After it was done filming the module ejected itself out of the spent stage and a set of fins stabilized it's decent. At about 30Kft a para-balloon deployed to slow decent and act as a flotation device, atop the balloon was a flashing strobe and a small antenna. Once it hit the water a dye-pack was released and an "anti-sealife" repellent was also deployed. NASA didn't want any large fish grabbing their film thinking it was a stricken seabird that just plopped down. Here's a link of this ingenious device and a great page describing it's operation, link

 

[KMFJD]

Wow!, I did not know about this!, thanks!. One of the shots in the preview was the often-seen Saturn stage separation, this was an amazing bit of technology itself!. These shots were taken on 16mm film by a camera enclosed in a special housing, there were 2 of them on Apollo 4, 6. After it was done filming the module ejected itself out of the spent stage and a set of fins stabilized it's decent. At about 30Kft a para-balloon deployed to slow decent and act as a flotation device, atop the balloon was a flashing strobe and a small antenna. Once it hit the water a dye-pack was released and an "anti-sealife" repellent was also deployed. NASA didn't want any large fish grabbing their film thinking it was a stricken seabird that just plopped down. Here's a link of this ingenious device and a great page describing it's operation, link

The amount of planning and thinking that went on was amazing, there where a lot of shot i had not seen before in that documentary, it was well done.

 

[BUTCH1]

The amount of planning and thinking that went on was amazing, there where a lot of shot i had not seen before in that documentary, it was well done.

Agree, watched it just a few hours ago. I loved the part when he was explaining his emotions as he climbed back into the LEM after the final EVA, " I just looked around one last time and wished I could somehow make time stop so I could continue to take it in and then somehow share it with everyone". Yea, I could see being on the moon and feeling like that, the photo's were/are so stunning to look at being there must be almost like living a dream.