Great idea to start a whole new category dedicated to the 40th anniversary of mankind’s greatest accomplishment (IMHO). I only hope it generates interest from more than two or three people. I expect this anniversary to go by largely un-noticed by the MSM, no one seems to care about moonlandings anymore, except maybe by the wackos who say they were faked. I hope I am wrong about this however, I would love to see some really good anniversary events take place around the country.
In the spirit of Jim48's infamous what is your favorite <blank> threads, I thought it would be appropriate to start this thread. I will start by saying that I have two favs: Neil Armstrong and Gene Cernan, (followed closely by John Young.) But Armstrong and Cernan were the first and the last, the alpha and omega if you will.
To me, Neil Armstrong is a hero in every sense of the word. He was Mr. Cool Hand Luke on just about every mission he flew. He saved the day on Gemini 8 by getting the capsule out of an uncontrolled tumble when a thruster got stuck open. He managed to bail out of the lunar lander simulation vehicle at the last second when it malfunctioned and went out of control. Either of these events could have killed a pilot with lesser experience, or one prone to panic or getting flustered when things went wrong...Not Mr. Armstrong, he kept his head and saved the day on both of these flights. Loss of the crew on Gemini 8 especially would have been a major setback to the program.
Then of course there was the heroic action he took on Apollo 11 when he took control of the vehicle away from the computer and avoided a potential crash landing in a field of boulders. Again, saving the day not only for that mission, but also for future Apollo missions which would have occurred under a cloud of gloom and despair had Apollo 11 crashed on the moon.
Gene Cernan is also a class act. He was one of three guys that had the privilege of going to the moon not once, but twice, on Apollo 10 and Apollo 17. He still holds the record for spending more time on the surface than any other human, and he did it with class and dignity. Where Neil Armstrong was not the most eloquent orator in the astronaut corps, Gene Cernan could deliver a soliloquy to rival any of those in Hamlet. The remarks he made before entering the LM for the last time on Apollo 17 are still some of the most inspiring words ever spoken, followed with the phrase, "Godspeed the crew of Apollo 17"...it still gives me goosebumps.
It's too bad we don't live in a world where the Neil Armstrongs and Gene Cernans are not heralded more for being the heroes they are, and for the debt of gratitude the human race owes them for making man's first attempts to land on another celestial body a resounding success instead of a colossal failure. I think the world would be a better place if young people looked more to the Armstrong/Cernan types for their heroes rather than some guy that can put a ball though a hoop, or hit a ball with a stick.
Those are my thoughts about two of my favorite Apollo guys, but they are all my heroes really. What they accomplished may never again be equaled in our lifetime.
Your thoughts?
In the spirit of Jim48's infamous what is your favorite <blank> threads, I thought it would be appropriate to start this thread. I will start by saying that I have two favs: Neil Armstrong and Gene Cernan, (followed closely by John Young.) But Armstrong and Cernan were the first and the last, the alpha and omega if you will.
To me, Neil Armstrong is a hero in every sense of the word. He was Mr. Cool Hand Luke on just about every mission he flew. He saved the day on Gemini 8 by getting the capsule out of an uncontrolled tumble when a thruster got stuck open. He managed to bail out of the lunar lander simulation vehicle at the last second when it malfunctioned and went out of control. Either of these events could have killed a pilot with lesser experience, or one prone to panic or getting flustered when things went wrong...Not Mr. Armstrong, he kept his head and saved the day on both of these flights. Loss of the crew on Gemini 8 especially would have been a major setback to the program.
Then of course there was the heroic action he took on Apollo 11 when he took control of the vehicle away from the computer and avoided a potential crash landing in a field of boulders. Again, saving the day not only for that mission, but also for future Apollo missions which would have occurred under a cloud of gloom and despair had Apollo 11 crashed on the moon.
Gene Cernan is also a class act. He was one of three guys that had the privilege of going to the moon not once, but twice, on Apollo 10 and Apollo 17. He still holds the record for spending more time on the surface than any other human, and he did it with class and dignity. Where Neil Armstrong was not the most eloquent orator in the astronaut corps, Gene Cernan could deliver a soliloquy to rival any of those in Hamlet. The remarks he made before entering the LM for the last time on Apollo 17 are still some of the most inspiring words ever spoken, followed with the phrase, "Godspeed the crew of Apollo 17"...it still gives me goosebumps.
It's too bad we don't live in a world where the Neil Armstrongs and Gene Cernans are not heralded more for being the heroes they are, and for the debt of gratitude the human race owes them for making man's first attempts to land on another celestial body a resounding success instead of a colossal failure. I think the world would be a better place if young people looked more to the Armstrong/Cernan types for their heroes rather than some guy that can put a ball though a hoop, or hit a ball with a stick.
Those are my thoughts about two of my favorite Apollo guys, but they are all my heroes really. What they accomplished may never again be equaled in our lifetime.
Your thoughts?
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