John Glenn passed away today at the age of 95. Pretty fascinating life even without his involvement with the space program. WWII and Korean War veteran and combat pilot, test pilot, "Mercury Seven" astronaut, and U.S. Senator.
RIP John Glenn
- Thread starter CarrolltonPoke
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The last of the surviving original Astronauts, known as the "Mercury 7."
I remember growing up in that era these guys were virtually household names, and viewed with "rock star" admiration by the public. As we have progressed so much in terms of space exploration and there are so many other things that have taken hold of the public's attention today, it may be hard for some younger than me to fully appreciate what they meant to the country.
To think that within one single decade we went from shooting a man (Alan Shepard) into space, to John Glenn orbiting the earth, to Neil Armstrong stepping onto the moons surface is absolutely mind boggling! An achievement of such magnitude and scale accomplished in such a short amount of time, it will likely never be duplicated.
I remember growing up in that era these guys were virtually household names, and viewed with "rock star" admiration by the public. As we have progressed so much in terms of space exploration and there are so many other things that have taken hold of the public's attention today, it may be hard for some younger than me to fully appreciate what they meant to the country.
To think that within one single decade we went from shooting a man (Alan Shepard) into space, to John Glenn orbiting the earth, to Neil Armstrong stepping onto the moons surface is absolutely mind boggling! An achievement of such magnitude and scale accomplished in such a short amount of time, it will likely never be duplicated.
I still think the HBO miniseries "From the Earth to the Moon" is highly underrated. Really a fascinating and entertaining look into the space program of the 60s.
I saw a clip yesterday of the Mercury 7 seated at a long table for a presser with Glenn in the middle talking about himself. To his right was Gus Grissom who did everything but roll his eyes while Glenn spoke. Gus just couldn't get the "When the F is this going to be over" look off his face.
They were all heros to me in the 60's, but Tom Wolfe in 'The Right Stuff' made it clear that the other six practically despised Glenn and what they considered his Goody Twoshoes personality and self promotion.
Gus died in the Apollo 1 fire after having "screwed the pooch," according to some, by losing his Mercury capsule after splashdown.
As a 15-year-old when the Eagle landed on the moon, I didn't have a great wealth of perspective about national affairs, but it seemed NASA and the drama of every launch and mission were among the few positives the nation had going in the 60's.
They were all heros to me in the 60's, but Tom Wolfe in 'The Right Stuff' made it clear that the other six practically despised Glenn and what they considered his Goody Twoshoes personality and self promotion.
Gus died in the Apollo 1 fire after having "screwed the pooch," according to some, by losing his Mercury capsule after splashdown.
As a 15-year-old when the Eagle landed on the moon, I didn't have a great wealth of perspective about national affairs, but it seemed NASA and the drama of every launch and mission were among the few positives the nation had going in the 60's.
@NeekReevers You would enjoy "For All Mankind," a documentary from the late 80's by a 'Texas Monthly' writer who "discovered" in Houston six million feet of 16 mm film shot by the lunar astronauts.
All 80 hours or so of film had been tucked away by NASA and forgotten. He then interviewed 20 of the 24 men who made the trip.
He edited and spliced things together to make one composite trip to the moon so you see out the window of the Eagle as Armstrong lands it, but then you also see later crews driving their lunar rovers around the surface as though it all happened on one flight.
It sounds kind of weird, I guess, but it's very good. The men are not introduced so the viewer seldom knows who is talking unless they recognize the action in the film or you hear their name in radio transmissions. Lots of awesome awesome footage from launch to splashdown.
35,000 feet per second to leave earth orbit. Houston to the crew: You guys are really haulin' the mail!
The director later was nominated for an Oscar for his screenplay for the Ron Howard film Apollo 13. He also later directed two episodes of the miniseries you mention, From the Earth to the Moon.
The doc was recently on Turner Classic Movies. For me, it was at almost goose-bump-worthy to see shots in full color that I remember seeing on our 19" black and white tv.
Btw, don't ask what I had for breakfast yesterday. I can't remember.
Thanks AB I'll check it out. I love stuff about the space race. As an engineer I'm in awe of what they were able to accomplish with the technology they had.
When I was interning at a law firm in Tulsa (last yr of law school) I had the occasion to go with my supervising attorney to a meeting with an attorney representing an injured worker (we were representing the insurance company). We went through a few matters that took about 15 minutes.
But both of us were taking quite a notice of the pictures on one side of his office walls. After we wrapped up the legal stuff, we both went to the wall where there were at least 40 photos of both a Gemini and Apollo capsule, being recovered at sea.
Some of them were actually taken from a helicopter and others from the water just feet from the capsules. Turns out, the guy had been a Navy "frogman" and participated in both recoveries. He had been equipped with a camera to take photos of the events. He was the one who had taken pics from the helo, then jumped into the water securing the capsule and helping remove the hatch to recover the astronauts inside.
Thought that really, really cool.
But both of us were taking quite a notice of the pictures on one side of his office walls. After we wrapped up the legal stuff, we both went to the wall where there were at least 40 photos of both a Gemini and Apollo capsule, being recovered at sea.
Some of them were actually taken from a helicopter and others from the water just feet from the capsules. Turns out, the guy had been a Navy "frogman" and participated in both recoveries. He had been equipped with a camera to take photos of the events. He was the one who had taken pics from the helo, then jumped into the water securing the capsule and helping remove the hatch to recover the astronauts inside.
Thought that really, really cool.
They are all heroes to me, every one. I hate how our government can spend half its budget on military and barely a fraction for NASA including manned missions out from earth orbit.
Man hasn't left earth orbit in over 40 years, it's shameful.
FWIW, I love The Right Stuff but several of those astronauts including Glenn didn't think it portrayed reality particularly well.
Man hasn't left earth orbit in over 40 years, it's shameful.
FWIW, I love The Right Stuff but several of those astronauts including Glenn didn't think it portrayed reality particularly well.
Recently watched a Netflix doc called, "The Last Man on the Moon" about Gene Cernan. Lots of good historic footage as well as modern interviews.
