A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....07-20-04....Fly Me To The Moon

Billie

[Billie]

"One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

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Apollo Anniversary: Moon Landing "Inspired World"

John Roach
for National Geographic News
July 16, 2004

On July 20, 1969, at 10:56 p.m. ET, Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong stepped off the "Eagle" onto the surface of the moon and said, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Thirty-five years later, Steven Dick, NASA's chief historian at the space agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C., said that a thousand years from now, that step may be considered the crowning achievement of the 20th century.

Read the full story

"Putting a man on the moon not only inspired the nation, but also the world," Dick said. "The 1960s were a tumultuous time in the U.S., and the moon landing showed what could be accomplished at a time when much else was going wrong."

Armstrong's step was the culmination of a goal set forth by President John F. Kennedy on May 25, 1961. In a speech before a joint session of Congress, the President had announced his objective of "landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth" before the end of the decade.

The goal set in motion Project Apollo. Armstrong—together with astronauts Michael Collins, and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin Jr.,—lifted off on the Apollo 11 mission on July 16, 1969, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 9:32 a.m. ET.

About 76 hours later, the spacecraft entered lunar orbit. Armstrong and Aldrin boarded the lunar module, known as the Eagle, for descent to the lunar surface. There, it landed in a region called the Sea of Tranquility at 4:18 p.m. ET.

Armstrong took his historic step six hours later, as millions of people around the world watched on television. The landing drew the largest television audience for any live event up until that time.

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Moon Return?

The continuing interest in the moon, according to Dick, is one of the reasons President George W. Bush's Vision for U.S. Space Exploration—outlined in a speech at NASA headquarters on January 14—is so important.

The vision, which has been widely criticized for its funding, appropriateness, and time line, calls for a return to the moon no later than 2020. The idea is to foster further scientific study of Earth's satellite and to use it as a stepping stone to get to Mars and beyond.

"The new space vision will perhaps have an even broader impact than the moon, and certainly a more sustained one," Dick said. "In addition to technologies that will be developed, the new space vision carries on the long American tradition of exploration in the spirit of Lewis and Clark."

Let's Have Some Fun!

The World Book Trivia Challenge:
The Apollo Space Program

Pick an answer from the three choices offered after each question and then "Check Your Answers" at the end of the quiz to see how you scored. All of the answers can be found in World Book.

1. Who orbited the moon while Armstrong and Aldrin walked on it?
   

   Alan L. Bean
   Michael Collins
   Charles Conrad, Jr.

   
   
2. Who commanded Apollo 8, a mission that circled the moon 10 times during Christmas 1968?
   

   William A. Anders
   Frank Borman
   Gordon Cooper

   
   
3. Who flew in Freedom 7 in 1961, and then commanded Apollo 14 ten years later?
   

   Scott Carpenter
   John Glenn
   Alan Shepard

   
   
4. Who reported to mission control, "OK, Houston, we've had a problem" during the Apollo 13 mission?
   

   Fred W. Haise
   James Lovell
   John Swigert

   
   
5. What geologist was the first scientist-astronaut to fly in space?
   

   Eugene A. Cernan
   Charles M. Duke
   Harrison Schmitt

   
   
6. Who made six space flights, more than any other American astronaut?
   

   Walter Schirra
   Thomas P. Stafford
   John Young

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Answers: (click and drag your mouse in the space below)

1. Michael Collins
2. Frank Borman
3. Alan Shepard
4. John Swigert
5. Harrison Schmitt
6. John Young

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 07-19-04 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

CLICK

[Pippin]

KNOW WAY!

(Think I'll stay behind the "bushes" ;0)

[The Thin Man]

Billie, since the 'topper' is missing, I have no choice but to withhold my praise.

You don't know what a relief that is!

:-)

[LadyX]

The first human journey to the surface of the Moon began at Pad A, Launch Complex 39, Kennedy Space Center, Florida with the liftoff of Apollo 11 on a Saturn V booster at 9:32 a.m. EDT (13:32 UT) on a clear sunny Wednesday, 16 July 1969.

(NASA photo ID S69-39525

[LadyX]

The Apollo spacecraft reached Earth parking orbit after 11 minutes.
After one and a half orbits the Saturn thrusters fired and the astronauts began their journey to the Moon.
This spectacular photo of the Earth was taken from 158,000 km (98,000 miles) br>during the Apollo 11 translunar injection on July 16.
Most of Africa and parts of Europe and Asia are visible.
(NASA photo ID AS11-36-5355)

On July 20, 1969, after a four day trip, the Apollo astronauts arrived at the Moon.
This photo of Earthrise over the lunar horizon taken from the orbiting Command Module is one of the most famous images returned from the space program, although even the astronauts themselves cannot remember who actually took the picture.

The lunar terrain shown, centered at 85 degrees east longitude and 3 degrees north latitude on the nearside of the Moon is in the area of Smyth's Sea.

(NASA photo ID AS11-44-6552)

[LadyX]

** Excerpt from Update from Senator Bill Frist,
Senate Majority Leader **

We begin the recess for the conventions next week. It will be a busy time.

China. I will join Senator Stevens and a bipartisan delegation of Senators in Beijing in 10 days as we lead the first ever inter-parliamentary exchange with China. This is a historic move and one that is critically important given the rising prominence of China in the world economy and politics.

Medical Mission Work. It's not politics. It’s just what's right. Next month I will be heading back to the Sudan to continue medical work in areas that are still amidst a 21-year civil war. But things are improving and we are making a difference in people's lives. On this trip I will also address the Darfur crisis in Western Sudan. The fighting must stop. War and famine have killed 30,000 people in the past year and a million people have been displaced. Please follow this story. We can make a difference there. And we will try to do so personally.

This week. We will debate and pass the Defense Appropriations bill to support our troops and fight the War on Terror, vote on another circuit court judge (the Democrats will use the filibuster to obstruct -- unprecedented obstruction by the Democratic leadership!!! But the elections are coming!), bring to the floor a large tax cut for marriage penalty relief and children.

Family. Karyn is wonderful. We celebrated her 50th birthday with friends a few months belatedly, but we did so in a way that created great memories for us all. Harrison is having the time of his life working on the Bush-Cheney campaign. Jonathan is in Cambodia working with Jackson Cox and IRI (promoting democracy), and Bryan is learning how to fly and then will be off to Africa to volunteer.

Have a great week.
Bill Frist

==========================================

As you know, Senator Frist is a medical doctor, and has for years given of his time and money to participate in medical missions. He also does 'hands on' labor on Habitat for Humanity houses.

Let's see -- Bill Clinton -- nevermind....too busy creating and penning - um...untruths.

[Kitty Mittens]

Thank you, Mayor, for this good devotional! I'm one who has always struggled with my own unworthiness; this devotional reminds me that our Lord loves us in Christ; it is His Righteousness that covers us, and makes us worthy. (Thank You, Lord!)

[Billie]

Chicken! I figure if ya gotta go you may as well go out with a bang! Closer to heaven too. LOL

Well, that's true - on both counts. I *am* chicken, and it certainly is closer to Heaven *up there* in the wild scary dark blue yonder. :)

)))((((wolfie)))(((

[Billie]

(Think I'll stay behind the "bushes" ;0)

LOL - have to hand it to you, Pipster - you're on a roll!

[Billie]

Billie, since the 'topper' is missing, I have no choice but to withhold my praise.

I'm so glad I could accomodate you. I try really hard to think of ways so you don't have to be nice to me. :)

[Billie]

I'm glad you always like to do your google homework, Maggie! It's fun to see what you come up with to compliment our topics. Now, did you take the quiz? :)

[Pippin]

LOL!

thanks!

[Pippin]

((((Kitty))))!

[Billie]

Let's see -- Bill Clinton -- nevermind....too busy creating and penning - um...untruths.

It's the only thing he knows how to do apparently. :)

[Pippin]

To the Moon! (((TMM)))!

[Billie]

Hi, Kitty - no pics today? :)

[LadyX]

"Now, did you take the quiz? :)"

Alas - since it was after midnight and I hastened on to make an early Reply, I skimmed right over it and went to bed..:))

I therefore can deny, deny, deny I made any errors!

T Man -- I have to wonder is this is an attempt to entrap me, since I am your Devoted Defender... hmmm....

[Kitty Mittens]

((((Pippin))))! Have a wonderful Tuesday! :)

[Kitty Mittens]

Hi, dear Billie! I love all of you at the Finest; you have made me feel welcome and cared for; thank You, our Lord, for Thy Kindness to me in allowing me to meet these wonderful people!

Here is a cute picture I like a lot; I love the way our President loved his Spotty:

[jwfiv]

A perfect and appropriate thread for this day, Miss Billie ... thank you.

I enjoyed the quiz, but was dimayed to find I'd answered wrongly on Question #4 ... oh well, I'll blame old age.

It was a grand time, the 60s and our first age of space exploration ... so glad I was around to witness and wonder.

[Darksheare]

I didn't do it!
It was all someone else's fault!