Watching the Rollout
The Saturn V rolled out to Pad 39A last month and photographs show it standing there under the Florida sun, waiting. Three days until they light it.
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Five Days Before — The Last Quiet Week
Five days before Apollo 11 launches. Betty says I'm impossible to live with right now. She's correct.
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Armstrong’s Voice
I've been reading everything I can find about Neil Armstrong, trying to understand who is about to do this thing. The more I read, the more I think the right man is going.
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Harold’s Question
Harold came over last Saturday and asked me a question I didn't expect. He asked if I thought they'd really make it back.
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The Launch Is Three Weeks Away
The launch date has been set: July 16, 1969. That's three weeks from yesterday. I can barely sit still.
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What the Moon Actually Is
While I'm waiting for the launch, I've been reading about what the Moon actually is — geologically, scientifically. We're not just planting a flag; we're visiting an ancient world.
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The Lunar Module Descent — Step by Step
I've spent the past few weeks trying to understand the powered descent to the lunar surface in detail. Let me write out what I know.
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What I Tell People When They Ask Why I Care
My cousin Marge visited last week and asked why I care so much about the space program. I tried to explain. This is what I said, more or less.
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Nine Miles Up — Apollo 10’s Descent
Stafford and Cernan flew Snoopy to within 47,000 feet of the lunar surface today. There was a moment of chaos with the ascent stage before they rendezvoused safely.
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They Were RIGHT THERE
Tom Stafford and Gene Cernan flew the Lunar Module down to 47,000 feet above the Moon today. Eight-point-four nautical miles. They could see the craters. They could see where Apollo 11 will land. They were RIGHT THERE. And then they flew back up. I respect the mission plan. I am…
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