Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

55 Years Ago Today: Apollo 11 Splashdown (July 24, 1969)
NASA, Misc | 24 July, 2024

Posted on 07/24/2024 9:23:27 AM PDT by Ezekiel

On July 24, 1969, Apollo 11 was 47,000 miles from Earth and rapidly accelerating toward its home planet when astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin, and Michael Collins awoke for their last day in space, preparing for their splashdown in the Pacific Ocean 950 miles southwest of Hawaii. The previous day, managers were forced to move the splashdown point by 250 miles to the northeast due to inclement weather at the original recovery site.

The aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CVS-12), the prime recovery ship for Apollo 11, was speeding for the new splashdown target area. Overcast skies made stellar navigation impossible, so Hornet used the ancient mariner’s technique of dead reckoning to arrive on time and at the proper position to recover crew and spacecraft. Hornet’s commanding officer Capt. Carl J. Seiberlich chose the slogan Hornet Plus 3 for the operation, signifying the safe recovery of the three Apollo 11 astronauts.

>>>

Columbia in Stable 2 position shortly after splashdown. Credit: US Navy Mitch Bucklew.

Initially, Columbia assumed the Stable 2 position in the water, with the spacecraft’s apex pointing downward. Within a few minutes, three flotation bags inflated to right the spacecraft. Then began a carefully choreographed and intensively rehearsed process to recover the astronauts and the capsule from the ocean and transport them to Hornet. Unlike previous recoveries, Apollo 11’s was more complicated due to the back-contamination prevention measures that had to be strictly adhered to.

>>>

Lots more, with photos (from 2019):

https://www.nasa.gov/history/50-years-ago-hornet-3-the-recovery-of-apollo-11/

***

Back from the Moon, Apollo Astronauts Had to Go Through Customs

"Yes, it's authentic," NASA spokesperson John Yembrick told Space.com. "It was a little joke at the time."

https://www.space.com/7044-moon-apollo-astronauts-customs.html

***

Locations of Pacific Ocean splashdowns of American spacecraft

Splashdown


TOPICS: History; Outdoors; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: 19690724; apollo; apollo11; buzzaldrin; carljseiberlich; columbia; cvs12; godsgravesglyphs; hawaii; hornetplus3; johnyembrick; michaelcollins; nasa; neilarmstrong; pacific; pacificocean; saturnv; thatshowyoudothat; themoon; usshornet; wernervonbraun
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-38 next last

1 posted on 07/24/2024 9:23:27 AM PDT by Ezekiel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
"Yes, it's authentic," NASA spokesperson John Yembrick told Space.com. "It was a little joke at the time."


2 posted on 07/24/2024 9:26:29 AM PDT by Ezekiel (🆘️ "Come fly with US". 🔴 Ingenuity -- because the Son of David begins with MARS ♂️, aka every man)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ezekiel

I feel like pinging a notorious FReeper who rants on and on often about how this and all other Moon landings were faked. Shot on a Hollywood back lot.

But I’ll just leave it alone.


3 posted on 07/24/2024 9:26:45 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd (2 coups in less than 4 years. America is truly a first world Banana Republic.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Responsibility2nd

“Shot on a Hollywood back lot.”

Nonsense, Kubrick insisted they be filmed on the moon for added authenticity.


4 posted on 07/24/2024 9:41:29 AM PDT by JSM_Liberty
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Responsibility2nd
That individual will display its ignorance, or not as it sees fit. Meanwhile, ...

Buzz Aldrin's travel expense report ...


5 posted on 07/24/2024 9:42:53 AM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1ofmanyfree; 21twelve; 24Karet; 2ndDivisionVet; 31R1O; ...

6 posted on 07/24/2024 9:45:20 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

I’m getting old.

Well, the alternative sucks.

5.56mm


7 posted on 07/24/2024 9:52:07 AM PDT by M Kehoe (Quid Pro Joe and the Ho have got to go. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: NorthMountain

What an ingrate. He had an all expenses paid trip to the Moon and back, and he submits a $33 travel expense bill to get to the launch site?

lol


8 posted on 07/24/2024 9:53:12 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd (2 coups in less than 4 years. America is truly a first world Banana Republic.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Responsibility2nd

Travel Accounting will absolutely BUST YO’ ASS if you leave anything out of your TER.


9 posted on 07/24/2024 9:55:31 AM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

What a fun memory!

Thanks!

‘Face

💖


10 posted on 07/24/2024 9:55:35 AM PDT by Monkey Face ( ~~ We too can have our own pillar of light -- one ray at a time. ~~ Alexander Dushku ~~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

What a fun memory!

Thanks!

‘Face

💖


11 posted on 07/24/2024 9:56:24 AM PDT by Monkey Face ( ~~ We too can have our own pillar of light -- one ray at a time. ~~ Alexander Dushku ~~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: M Kehoe

Having another birthday is much better than not having another birthday. :^)

OTOH, old age isn’t as nice as it sounds.


12 posted on 07/24/2024 9:56:32 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Monkey Face

Seems like I’d read that somewhere before... ;^)

Neil taking the first steps, now that was a pretty good day.


13 posted on 07/24/2024 9:58:47 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Ezekiel

I was watching this on TV with my family. My grandmother was with us. I remember Nana telling us all to say a prayer as the craft was coming down.


14 posted on 07/24/2024 9:59:57 AM PDT by COBOL2Java (The country bounces along like Custer on the way to Little Big Horn, thanks to Dear Leader)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

It seems to be the norm for today, so I’m ignoring it all!

I had to save the immigration form. It was just too clever not to!


15 posted on 07/24/2024 10:01:52 AM PDT by Monkey Face ( ~~ We too can have our own pillar of light -- one ray at a time. ~~ Alexander Dushku ~~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Ezekiel

I remember. I was 11 years old, Nixon was President, America was still that “shining city on a hill”, and possibilities were endless.


16 posted on 07/24/2024 10:08:20 AM PDT by Psalm 73 ("You'll never hear surf music again" - J. Hendrix)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Psalm 73

Dad was staioned at San Vito AB, Brindisi Italy at the time. We were on a family vacation camping at Polsano Beach and watched it all on a nice Italian family’s TV. They actually came and got us so we could see it. They were so excited, I was never so proud to be an American.


17 posted on 07/24/2024 10:21:07 AM PDT by Semper Vigilantis (The truth is out there. MAGA will find it, Freepers will post it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Ezekiel


Lost footage of flag plant first take
18 posted on 07/24/2024 10:21:41 AM PDT by Jan_Sobieski (Sanctification)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NorthMountain

Heh! I remember seeing that expense report in Buzz’s book, “Return to Earth.”


19 posted on 07/24/2024 10:24:51 AM PDT by Allegra
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Monkey Face

:^)


20 posted on 07/24/2024 10:26:15 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-38 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson