Jul 10

Space Rocket History #308 – Apollo 14 – Transposition, Docking & Extraction

Docking was a delicate maneuver, since both ships were traveling at nearly five miles per second, but the docking mechanism itself was one of the simplest on the entire spacecraft, and the docking procedure had been perfected on previous Apollo flights, none of which experienced any significant problems with docking.

Sep 20

An Encore Presentation of Space Rocket History #183 – Apollo 9 – Lunar Module Maneuvers Part 4

When Scott tried to release the lunar module, he did not hold the button long enough so the lander got hung on the capture latches.

LM in lunar landing configuration. Photographed from CM

LM in lunar landing configuration. Photographed from CM

McDivitt & Schweickart show Spider's landing gear to Scott before they pull away

McDivitt & Schweickart show Spider’s landing gear to Scott before they pull away

LM ascent stage photographed from the CM

LM ascent stage photographed from the CM

Sep 27

Space Rocket History #225 – Apollo 11 – Moonwalk – Part 3

Without a word to Houston, while Buzz made his way back to Eagle, Armstrong took off running.
Long strides carried Armstrong into the sun’s glare to the edge of a crater that looked to be 80 feet across and 15 or 20 feet deep.

Armstrong and the lunar lander are reflected in Aldrin’s visor in the iconic “Visor Shot”

Armstrong working at the Modularized Equipment Stowage Assembly (MESA)

Armstrong back inside the LM after the historic moon walk

Aug 02

Space Rocket History #218 – Apollo 11 – Lunar Orbit

As they passed behind the moon, they had just over 8 minutes to go before the burn. They were super-careful now, they checked and rechecked each step several times. It had to be perfect. Just one digit in the computer out of place could send them into a lunar mountain or turn them and send them into orbit around the sun.

Solar corona of the Moon as first seen by Apollo 11 crew

Lunar orbit insertion

Tucson Daily Citizen newspaper July 19, 1969