Posted on 10/04/2004 3:59:59 PM PDT by good_fight
BTTT
"and on that day he flew farther then anybody else" from the right stiff
god speed Gordo
They had a breaking news banner that is now down. Here's a link to an article now up:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/10/04/gordon.cooper/index.html
Ya done good, Gordo.
Oh, dear...
WHOOPS---sorry
Gemini 12 Prime and Back-up Crews - 9-8-66
Prime crew : (front row,r to l)James Lovell, Command Pilot ; Edwin Aldrin, Pilot
Back-up crew : (back row,r to l)Gordon Cooper, Command Pilot ; Eugene Cernan, Pilot
Photo taken in front of Gemini mock-up
Go Hot Dog Go!!!!!
You certainly have stamina.
One of my childhood heros.
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings, Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there, I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long, delirious burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew. And, while silent, lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
Godspeed, Colonel Cooper. You'll be missed.
"The Right Stuff" --- I loved that movie and I still love Dennis Quaid because he's still wicked. :o)
Gordon Cooper was one of my childhood heroes along with Gus Grissom, who was born in the same small Indiana town as my mother. May he rest in peace.
Do we even dare to dream that big anymore? Do we have men of that will and character?
I realize those days weren't perfect, but there was something in the American character that was not only "can do" but "will do".
Even the libs -- misguided as they were -- had bold plans. Now it seems anyone with an big idea and a bold plan is nibbled to death by squawking ducks.
From the one script of "The Right Stuff" I could find on the internet...
my apologies for my imperfect editing/formatting and the all-caps:
Reporter:
MR. COOPER! THERE HE IS. BIG SMILE.
WE'RE TALKING TO GORDON COOPER, THE NEXT AMERICAN ASTRONAUT TO
ORBIT THE EARTH.
SINCE YOU'RE THE LAST OF THE ORIGINAL SEVEN AND THE LEAST WELL-KNOWN,
TELL US,
WHO WAS THE BEST PILOT YOU EVER SAW?
Gordon Cooper:
WHO WAS THE BEST PILOT I EVER SAW? WHO WAS THE BEST PILOT I EVER SAW?
WELL, I'LL TELL YOU... I SEEN A LOT OF THEM.
MOST OF THEM ARE PICTURES ON A WALL.
Reporter:
WHAT DID YOU SAY?
Gordon Cooper:
PICTURES ON A WALL, BACK AT SOME PLACE... THAT DOESN'T EVEN EXIST ANYMORE.
Reporter:
MR. COOPER, SPEAK UP.
Gordon Cooper:
SOME OF THEM ARE... RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROOM, AND SOME OF THEM
ARE STILL OUT THERE SOMEWHERE, DOING WHAT THEY ALWAYS DO--
GOING UP EACH DAY IN A HURTLING PIECE OF MACHINERY,
PUTTING THEIR HIDES OUT ON THE LINE, HANGING IT OUT OVER
THE EDGE, PUSHING THAT ENVELOPE AND HAULING IT IN.
BUT THERE WAS ONE PILOT I ONCE SAW WHO I THINK TRULY DID HAVE
THE RIGHT--
Reporter:
HOW CLOSE WERE YOU TO NOT HAULING IT BACK?
Gordon Cooper:
WHO WAS THE BEST PILOT I EVER SAW? WELL, UH...YOU'RE LOOKING AT HIM.
(VOA's humble opinion: Dennis Quaid will never top that scene)
The Mekons
Ghosts Of American Astronauts
Up in the hills above Bradford
Outside the Napalm factory
(They're floating above us)
Ghosts of American Astronauts
Glow in the headlights beam
It's just a small step for him
It's a nice break from Vietnam
(Filmed in a factory)
Out on the back lot in Houston
Who says the world isn't flat
John Glenn drinks cocktails with God
In a cafe in downtown Saigon
(High above them)
Ghosts of American Astronauts
Are drifting too close to the sun
Chorus:
A flag flying in the vacuum
Nixon sucks a dry Martini
Ghosts of American astronauts
Stay with us in our dreams
(Okay, its not the greatest tribute but I like the song and it came to mind.)
Yours is not a humble opinion. It's the truth: Dennis Quaid will never top that scene. I get a little teary thinking about it.
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