One giant blunder for mankind: how NASA lost moon pictures

Sydney Morning Herald ^ | August 5, 2006 | Richard Macey

[nnn0jeh]

THE heart-stopping moments when Neil Armstrong took his first tentative steps onto another world are defining images of the 20th century: grainy, fuzzy, unforgettable.

But just 37 years after Apollo 11, it is feared the magnetic tapes that recorded the first moon walk - beamed to the world via three tracking stations, including Parkes's famous "Dish" - have gone missing at NASA's Goddard Space Centre in Maryland.

A desperate search has begun amid concerns the tapes will disintegrate to dust before they can be found.

It is not widely known that the Apollo 11 television broadcast from the moon was a high-quality transmission, far sharper than the blurry version relayed instantly to the world on that July day in 1969.

Among those battling to unscramble the mystery is John Sarkissian, a CSIRO scientist stationed at Parkes for a decade. "We are working on the assumption they still exist," Mr Sarkissian told the Herald.

"Your guess is a good as mine as to where they are."

[oxcart]

FYI; http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1678276/posts

[Ready4Freddy]

90 comments here - http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1678276/posts

[se_ohio_young_conservative]

no human ever set foot on the moon anyways.

[Palmetto]

Wow, uh - not real sure what to say to that except, "you could try to be more wrong, but you would fail. Miserably."

[Northern Yankee]

How did they ever find the moon? ; )

[oxcart]

Sniff, sniff do I smell ozone?

[Northern Yankee]

LOL...

I have educated colleagues who believe the moon landing was a hoax.

Oye Vay!

[Northern Yankee]

LOL...

I have educated colleagues who believe the moon landing was a hoax.

Oye Vay!

[Palmetto]

I have educated colleagues who believe the moon landing was a hoax.

Oh, damn. Well, you win - with your "educated colleagues," and all. That's some pretty tuff shizzle to refute right there now, them "educated colleagues."

As an aside, do you have any idea where I can find me some educated colleagues?

[se_ohio_young_conservative]

The studios of 20th Century Fox were just that unique. LOL

[Don Corleone]

I was there first...Al Gore

[Palmetto]

Right.



So, about loaning me some "educated colleagues." Preferrably, they would start no later than end of next week. That cool?

[Thrusher]

I think the "educated colleagues" comment was actually in support of your position, my friend.

[Palmetto]

I think the "educated colleagues" comment was actually in support of your position, my friend. I do seriously need some colleagues who are educated.

You sound educated. You need a new career? I can help you out....

[Man50D]

no human ever set foot on the moon anyways.

You've watched Capricorn One too many times.

[se_ohio_young_conservative]

i am joking FRiends

[Man50D]

One giant blunder for mankind: how NASA lost moon pictures

Hopefully NASA won't lose the Moon.

[Palmetto]

I think the "educated colleagues" comment was actually in support of your position, my friend.

Thanks for the heads up. I suspected as much though, hence the levity.

Otherwise, I would have been left with no choice but to post a photo of my arse with a fly on it, hence proving the - oh, never mind. Back to the booze.

[Palmetto]

i am joking FRiends

Clearly we have won you over.

Congrats to us!!! W0000000t!