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Episodes Tagged with "Apollo 11"

Posted on May 8, 2019

A Saturn V liftoff is spectacular, and the launch of Apollo 11 was no exception. But it didn’t give the audience any surprises. To the three Gemini-experienced pilots, who likened the sensation to the boost of a Titan II, it was a normal launch.

Posted on July 18, 2019

The machine-like performance of flight crew and ground controllers continued. Each participant was in perfect harmony with the other, moving to a cadence dictated by the laws of physics and the clock.

Posted on July 20, 2019

“Houston, Tranquillity Base here. The Eagle has landed.”

Posted on September 25, 2019

Silently and carefully, Armstrong raised his left boot over the lip of the footpad and lowered it to the dust. Immediately he tested his weight, bouncing in the gentle gravity, and when he felt firm ground, he was still, one foot on the last vestige ...

Posted on November 6, 2019

“For one priceless moment, in the whole history of man, all the people on this earth are truly one. One in their pride in what you have done. And one in our prayers that you will return safely to earth” President Nixon.

Posted on July 27, 2016

Even a perfect reentry would subject the Apollo 8 command module to extreme stress.  With Gemini, the capsule re-entered from Earth orbit, but Apollo 8 would re-enter at approximated 25,000 miles per hour.  The forces of heat and deceleration would b...

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Posted on September 3, 2015

At the beginning of the Apollo program, Kraft retired as a flight director to concentrate on management and mission planning. In 1972, he became director of the Manned Spacecraft Center, following the path of his mentor Robert Gilruth.

3-Robert F. Thompson (center) and Christopher C. Kraft Jr. (right) brief Rear Admiral W.C. Abhau

2-Kraft with his new flight directors before the Gemini 4 mission Clockwise from lower right Kraft, Gene Kranz, Glynn Lunney and John Hodge

1-Kraft Kranz Gemini Fuel Cell problem

Posted on September 10, 2015

As Procedures Officer, Kranz was put in charge of integrating Mercury Control with the Launch Control Team at Cape Canaveral, Florida, writing the “Go/NoGo” procedures that allowed missions to continue as planned or be aborted, along with serving as ...

3-Kranz and his teacher Kraft

2-Kranz at his console on May 30, 1965, in the Mission Operations Control Room, Mission Control Center, Houston

1-Kranz-F86 Sabre Cat

Posted on February 11, 2016

“…our building’s shaking here. Our building’s shaking! Oh it’s terrific, the building’s shaking! This big blast window is shaking! We’re holding it with our hands! Look at that rocket go into the clouds at 3000 feet!…you can see it…you can see it…oh ...

6-A crescent Earth, as photographed from Apollo 4

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4-Apollo 4 unmanned mission lifts off from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center

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2-Apollo 4 on launch pad 39

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Posted on February 18, 2016

“The fire-in-the-hole abort was the most critical test of the mission and one we had to accomplish successfully prior to a manned mission.” Gene Kranz – Flight Director Apollo 5

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4-Lem inside adapter hoisted

3-Lunar Module 1 being mated to the Spacecraft Lunar Module Adapter in preparation for launch as Apollo 5

2-LM1Delivered to the Cape

1-Apollo 5 Mission Patch

Posted on February 25, 2016

The success of Apollo 4 gave good reason to believe that the Saturn V could be trusted to propel men into space. But NASA pushed on with its plans for a second unmanned booster flight, primarily to give the Pad 39 launch team another rehearsal before...

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4-Apollo 6’s interstage falling away

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1-The Lunar Module Test Article (LTA-2R) is being moved for mating with the spacecraft Lunar Module Adapter

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Posted on July 13, 2016

As Apollo 8 drifted above the far side of the moon Borman, Lovell, and Anders observed a scene of total desolation.  It appeared absent of color, except for various shades of gray.  There was no atmosphere to soften the view, it was a scene of extrem...

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Far Side Of The Moon

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Posted on July 20, 2016

Bill Anders: “We are now approaching lunar sunrise, and for all the people back on Earth, the crew of Apollo 8 has a message that we would like to send to you.” “‘In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. ‘And the earth was without fo...

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Posted on August 3, 2016

New York City welcomed the Apollo 8 crew with a ticker-tape parade on the 10th of January, Newark hailed them on the 11th, and Miami greeted them on the 12th during the Super Bowl game. The Astronauts returned to Houston on the 13th for a hometown pa...

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Posted on September 14, 2016

The biggest concern before Apollo 9 was the docking maneuver.  In early 1969, at NASA there was little confidence in the docking system. At a January program review, Phillips said that problems encountered during probe and drogue testing worried him…

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Posted on March 15, 2017

NASA officials used only 12 words to list the primary objectives of Apollo 11: 1-Perform a manned lunar landing and return. 2-Perform selenological inspection and sampling.

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3-Plaque on the landing gear of the Apollo 11 lunar module. The descent stage would remain on the moon, a permanent commemoration of the first visit at the landing site

2-Flight Directors John D. Hodge (left) and Eugene F. Kranz at their console in the Mission Control Room

Posted on April 5, 2017

The turning point for Michael Collins in his decision to become an astronaut was the Mercury Atlas 6 flight of John Glenn on February 20, 1962, and the thought of being able to circle the Earth in 90 minutes.

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Posted on April 12, 2017

After Buzz graduated from Montclair High School in 1946, he turned down a full scholarship offer from the  Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and went to the United States Military Academy at West Point.

3-Buzz with visor reflection

2-Buzz 1969

1-First Selfie – Aldrin in space, with the spacecraft and Earth

Posted on April 19, 2017

Unfortunately Aldrin’s life became difficult shortly after he emerged from quarantine and began months of public appearances.

6-Buzz Aldrin speaking at an event in April 2016.

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4-Aldrin as Commandant of the Air Force Test Pilot School

Posted on May 3, 2017

When Neil was 2 years old his father took him to a flying event called the Cleveland Air Races. This could have been the beginning of Neil’s love for flying.

3-Neil Gemini

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1-Young Neil

Posted on May 10, 2017

Armstrong became more and more excited about the prospects of both the Apollo program and of investigating a new aeronautical environment.

6-Aldrin took this photo of Armstrong in the cabin after the completion of the EVA on July 21, 1969

4-Armstrong floats to the ground after ejecting from LLRV 1

2-Armstrong, 35, suiting up for Gemini 8 in March 1966

Posted on May 17, 2017

After his death, Armstrong was described, in a statement released by the White House, as “among the greatest of American heroes—not just of his time, but of all time.”

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Posted on May 24, 2017

Crew training for Apollo 11 was already complicated by the need to master the controls of two different and very complex spacecrafts, as well as the space suit, but now the mission took on new dimensions, principally in learning how to set a 14.5-met...

3-Armstrong practices in the lunar module simulator

2-Niel and Buzz LM Simulator

1-For several years they also trained on the lunar landing training vehicle, at Langley Research Center, to simulate landing the lunar module.

Posted on June 28, 2017

A Saturn V liftoff is spectacular, and the launch of Apollo 11 was no exception. But it didn’t give the audience any surprises. To the three Gemini-experienced pilots, who likened the sensation to the boost of a Titan II, it was a normal launch.

3p-Rockets Red Glare

2p-President Lyndon B. Johnson and then-current Vice President Spiro Agnew are among the spectators at the launch of Apollo 11

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Posted on July 12, 2017

As Apollo 11 passed over Western Australia, at T+2 hours 26 minutes Houston relayed to Collins, Armstrong, and Aldrin – through Carnarvon – formal permission to go to the moon. “Apollo 11, this is Houston. You are go for TLI.” Mike Collins answered, ...

3-Apollo 11 flight profile

2-Apollo-S-IVB-ignition-for-Trans-Lunar-Injection

1-Apollo 11 separates from its first stage en route to Low Earth Orbit and then the Moon, July

Posted on August 9, 2017

The machine-like performance of flight crew and ground controllers continued. Each participant was in perfect harmony with the other, moving to a cadence dictated by the laws of physics and the clock.

p3-Collins pic of Eagle flying upside down

p2-Capcom Charlie Duke-lovell-haise

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Posted on August 23, 2017

“Houston, Tranquillity Base here. The Eagle has landed.”

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Posted on August 30, 2017

Support Hurricane Harvey victims through the Red Cross. Inside the Eagle Buzz and Neil knew every second was crucial. The T1 time was only 2 minutes so They hastily ran down through their checklists, preparing as though they were going to lift off w...

3-PLSS-connect

2-These two panoramic views of the lunar surface were photographed from the LM before and after the Moonwalk

1-animated gif befor and after landing

Posted on September 6, 2017

Support Hurricane Harvey victims through the Red Cross. Silently and carefully, Armstrong raised his left boot over the lip of the footpad and lowered it to the dust. Immediately he tested his weight, bouncing in the gentle gravity, and when he felt...

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p2-Neil Armstrong on the footpad, about to step onto the surface

p1-Neil descending ladder

Posted on September 20, 2017

Support Hurricane Harvey and Irma victims through the Red Cross. “For one priceless moment, in the whole history of man, all the people on this earth are truly one. One in their pride in what you have done. And one in our prayers that you will retur...

‘s boot during soil mechanics test a.k.a. how the most iconic photo of the Moon landing was made

P2-It was not a territorial claim but was seen as a symbol of freedom and to identify the nation that achieved the first landing

P1-Buzz and Neil unviel the commerative plaqueEVA_3

Posted on September 27, 2017

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.

p3-Armstrong in LM after historic moonwalk

p2-Armstrong on the surface, here working at the MESA

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Posted on October 4, 2017

Until now they had been focused on reaching the moon, landing, taking a walk on its surface, setting up experiments, exploring, and gathering evidence. With those tasks completed and their lunar bounty was board, the top priority was to fly back to E...

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P2-Aldrin in LM after historic moonwalk

p1-Rear of LM ascent stage and Earth beyond

Posted on October 11, 2017

The ascent of the Eagle was strikingly swift compared with the liftoff of the huge Saturn V rocket from Cape Canaveral. Of course for the Moon launch, there was no atmosphere resisting Eagle, and there was only one-sixth gravity to overcome.

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Posted on November 1, 2017

The helicopter door slid open and Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins stepped out of the helicopter onto the lower deck of the carrier Hornet to the accompaniment of a brass band. They appeared to many, like men from another world. They were outfitted fro...

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MISSION OPS CONTROL ROOM CELEBRATES SUCCESS

Posted on November 8, 2017

On August 10th, 1969 quarantine officially ended for the Apollo 11 crew, but that did not end the duties required for a flight of such magnitude. On August 12th, the Astronauts conducted a post flight press conference. They were greeted with a standi...

p3-chicago welcomes home astronauts

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P-1 Apollo 11 post flight press conf

Posted on August 29, 2013

Mercury-Redstone 4 was the fourth mission in the Mercury-Redstone series and the second U.S. manned suborbital spaceflight. The mission was essentially a repeat of Alan Shepard’s Freedom 7 flight.   So why was it necessary to launch another sub-orbit...

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Posted on December 2, 2020

“Roger, Twank…Tranquility, we copy you on the ground. You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue. We’re breathing again. Thanks a lot!,” Capcom Charlie Duke, Apollo 11 landing. Midshipman DukeDuke Salutes the FlagDuke’s Family Portrait Left on the M...

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Posted on April 17, 2014

In total Ranger 9 transmitted 5,814 good contrast photographs during the final 19 minutes of flight. The last image taken before impact had a resolution of 0.3 meters per pixel. The spacecraft encountered the lunar surface after 64.5 hours of flight....

Sea of Tranquillity on the Moon from 11 km, 5 seconds before impact

Rilles on the Floor of Alphonus Crater

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First picture of the Moon taken by Ranger 8

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Posted on August 21, 2014

In October 1965, Elliot M. See and Charles A. Bassett II were selected to fly Gemini IX. Chief Astronaut Deke Slayton also told them that their backups would be Thomas Stafford and Eugene Cernan.  At that time Stafford was copilot for Gemini VI…

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