Moon Landing

[I_bend_metal]

I wasn't even born yet.......

[the dangling wrangler]

I couldn't remember if the plastic started with the 14 or the 16. Thanks!

I think to this day, the M14 still has a wood stock.

[the dangling wrangler]

I wasn't even born yet.......

I'll tell ya what ya missed some day.

[troyorr]

Lets keep this thread on topic.

[timebuilder]

Lets keep this thread on topic.

OK.

One of the guys asked me if I thought we really landed on the moon the other day. No kidding.

Maybe its the age of the internet, but it appears there is an easy acceptance of various conspiracy theories today.

The Apollo program did not need or even use any kind of truly "extraordinary" technology. Most of the major advances had been made in the high altitude programs for the X-series, U2, SR-71, and the preceding Mercury and Gemini programs. Werner Von Braun had led Dr. Goddard's work into a focused and disciplined framework. Today, your PC contains more computing power than was needed then to navigate the entire process.

The biggest hurdle was "mental," in that we had never left the orbit of the planet to visit another body in space. Previous unmanned probes had shown that the surface was a least semi-solid in most areas. Still, this was an achievement that galvanized the country into a Cold War and Hot War sense of pride and wonder.

Someone is rolling out a TV series titled "Moon Shot" soon. The promo shows a scene where an astronaut is reporting a UFO sighting from his space capsule. This is based on an actual occurrence with astronaut Edgar Mitchell.

We'll see.

[oroy54]

I was 15 years old then. I remember some scientist's calculating the age of the moon using the amount of "Cosmic Dust" that is settled on the moon surface every earth year. They were afraid of the lunar module sinking into the dust. So a camera was placed on a foot of the lander.

What was spooky though, the guys were looking for a place to set the craft down, the moon is pretty beat up. They only had 20 seconds worth of fuel left to do that or abort the landing.

Then when it was time to leave the starter switch wouldn't work. The commander used his ink pen to manipulate the switch. Then the engines fired up.

[the dangling wrangler]

I was 15 years old then. I remember some scientist's calculating the age of the moon using the amount of "Cosmic Dust" that is settled on the moon surface every earth year. They were afraid of the lunar module sinking into the dust. So a camera was placed on a foot of the lander.

What was spooky though, the guys were looking for a place to set the craft down, the moon is pretty beat up. They only had 20 seconds worth of fuel left to do that or abort the landing.

Then when it was time to leave the starter switch wouldn't work. The commander used his ink pen to manipulate the switch. Then the engines fired up.

That switch probably cost us a half million dollars too.

[oroy54]

Who took the picture of the astronaut climbing down the ladder and being the first man to take a step on the moon?

[the dangling wrangler]

Who took the picture of the astronaut climbing down the ladder and being the first man to take a step on the moon?

That would have been me.

I was under the impression, there was a camera attached to one of the landing legs. But, can't prove it.

[oroy54]

There was a camera. Should have been alot of dust generated on landing.
It sure is dry and hot in Victoria.
Can I call you Neil?

[timebuilder]

Who took the picture of the astronaut climbing down the ladder and being the first man to take a step on the moon?

The camera was mounted on the side of the LEM. There was no "who," only a "what."

[oroy54]

Ok ok, TB you got me on that one. Now that must of been one telescopic pole on that camera to go out and turn around and do the Kodak moment.

[the dangling wrangler]

Can I call you Neil?

Hey, I've been called a LOT worse. Just don't try to make me cry, like vcm did to Dice.OK?