The launch of Apollo 12, in November 1969, was to be one of the more eventful Apollo launches… for all the wrong reasons.
In July, I was delighted to see the celebrations (and particularly the documentaries) that surrounded the Apollo 11 anniversary – particularly as I’m from the UK. I had, incorrectly, assumed that the anniversary would be acknowledged but largely ignored. In recent years, Apollo has become nothing more than a page in history for a nation [...]
>> “Whoppee! That may have been a small one for Neil, but it’s a big one for me!” – Pete Conrad, Commander of Apollo 12 as he stepped onto the lunar surface. Conrad, at 5′6 and a half, was one of the shortest astronauts in the group.
Pictured: The Ocean of Storms, as photographed by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Otherwise known as the landing site for Apollo 12. Scientific equipment, including the ALSEP, is obvious, as is the descent stage of the lunar module Intrepid. (To my untrained eye, Intrepid is very obviously shining, unlike anything else on the lunar surface). Note also the tracks in the dust.
The whole idea behind the occasional quotes I post here was to shape the blog with some inspiring, creative words of the astronauts themselves.
But actually? I shouldn’t have bothered.
You see, last night I finally saw in its entirety the God-awful “documentary” Astronauts Gone Wild by Bart Sibrel. A truly atrocious piece of film making that [...]
Book: Rocketman: Astronaut Pete Conrad’s Incredible Ride to the Moon and Beyond
Who? Charles “Pete” Conrad, Commander of Apollo 12 and third man on the moon. Gemini veteran and commander of Skylab.
Written by: Pete’s second wife, Nancy, and author Howard A. Klausner.
Style: Published after Conrad’s death in 1999, this is not his story in his [...]