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Spitfire of ATJ

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38. My parents were stationed at Vandenberg so I grew up watching rockets launch

Sat Jul 21, 2012, 06:53 PM

Jul 2012

from the back yard. There was one launch at sunset they intentionally blew up over the ocean. The colors were literally unforgettable.

Everyone thought space travel would be as routine as air travel. The Concorde was introduced as flying passengers at supersonic speeds and the Pan Am Space Clipper was considered to be the future. Talk of weightless travel from New York to Tokyo in about an hour.

Then came Nixon who promised to bridge the gaps. The Generation Gap and the Poverty Gap. Instead, he not only maintained those gaps, he created new ones.

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On this day in 1969, man set foot on another world for the very first time [View all] Major Nikon Jul 2012 OP

Interesting video clip of Neil Armstrong stepping onto the moon... madinmaryland Jul 2012 #1

Wow, that brings back memories. drm604 Jul 2012 #29

Yes, there was a glitch with the feed ... SeattleVet Jul 2012 #62

Now that you said it drm604 Jul 2012 #64

good thing the gummint never helped them - the project would have failed rurallib Jul 2012 #2

Just like Raygun won the cold war Major Nikon Jul 2012 #4

I was 9 years old. Archae Jul 2012 #3

I remember it well! frogmarch Jul 2012 #5

Was doing rocket science that summer unc70 Jul 2012 #25

Wonderful, unc70! I frogmarch Jul 2012 #30

Have done other things more than rockets unc70 Jul 2012 #48

The last photo frogmarch Jul 2012 #50

Check my DU2 journal and archive unc70 Jul 2012 #51

I think that lander may be the one from Apollo 18, which was cancelled. drm604 Jul 2012 #63

The module is TM-5 aka JSC-12 an engineering trainer unc70 Jul 2012 #65

Here are reference pages for TM-5 lander in NC, and all the others unc70 Jul 2012 #66

Thanks! frogmarch Jul 2012 #68

I was thirteen. drm604 Jul 2012 #31

Very, very cool! frogmarch Jul 2012 #33

Sure he did. Suuuuure he did. Jeff In Milwaukee Jul 2012 #6

And none of them, from the astronauts to the engineers had access 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #7

We can,...we just wont.... Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2012 #36

I believe congress and Nixon cut it Confusious Jul 2012 #53

Actually, on the Democratic side of the aisle it Walter Mondale that wanted to cut NASA. Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2012 #55

That was in 67 Confusious Jul 2012 #56

The attitude was "nobody cares anymore". Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2012 #58

You can recreate the experience using an emulated AGC ... eppur_se_muova Jul 2012 #47

There's a GREAT Intertubes meme -- a picture of Neil Armstrong on the moon with the caption... MiddleFingerMom Jul 2012 #8

In the 1950's, test pilots were being killed at the rate of about 1 a week. Kaleva Jul 2012 #9

I was between 8th & 9th grade... SeattleVet Jul 2012 #10

And the first decades of the 21st Century feel like... LongTomH Jul 2012 #35

In the 60's the 21st Century was supposed to be about space. Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2012 #37

I consider NASA's programs welfare for the MIC. xtraxritical Jul 2012 #45

"A bit of 21st century history that just happend to fall in the 20th century" ... eppur_se_muova Jul 2012 #46

I'm surprised there aren't more recs of this kentauros Jul 2012 #11

wow- how interesting! Tumbulu Jul 2012 #24

It's been too long for me to remember something like that. kentauros Jul 2012 #28

My parents were stationed at Vandenberg so I grew up watching rockets launch Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2012 #38

Most impressive thing we've ever done IMO Populist_Prole Jul 2012 #12

The Onion was there krispos42 Jul 2012 #13

Fuck. That's the kind of shit I would have posted. Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2012 #39

Yet there still are "Moon Landing Hoax" ditwits out there. Archae Jul 2012 #14

Didn't Buzz once say he wanted to choke those bastards? Odin2005 Jul 2012 #16

My mother was completely convinced that it was a hoax at the time.... Tumbulu Jul 2012 #27

You don't call guys... awoke_in_2003 Jul 2012 #41

Yep. They're still around. Lionel Mandrake Jul 2012 #60

This 26yo is in awe at what this guys did. Odin2005 Jul 2012 #15

I remember it well HeiressofBickworth Jul 2012 #17

Holy shit kwolf68 Jul 2012 #18

Ask your cousin how they got the mirror on the moon that is still used today to measure distance Major Nikon Jul 2012 #19

Awesome...had no idea kwolf68 Jul 2012 #20

Also ask her... awoke_in_2003 Jul 2012 #42

Like my Sister-in-law neeksgeek Jul 2012 #43

Good pics, but we all know the REAL other world is where the filthy rich live. nt valerief Jul 2012 #21

Interesting site for lunatics: malthaussen Jul 2012 #22

Transcripts of every flight? Really? truedelphi Jul 2012 #44

Man you are gullible. whistler162 Jul 2012 #23

It really was a great adventure. Graybeard Jul 2012 #26

I remember it well. drm604 Jul 2012 #32

One part of the movie "Koyaanisqatsi" that's always been a favorite kentauros Jul 2012 #34

Part of the whole mythic quallity of the launch was the fire and ice thing. Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2012 #40

That we KNOW OF. 6000eliot Jul 2012 #49

Great thread. A HERETIC I AM Jul 2012 #52

Four GI's and I watched the Moon landing and walk on a tiny B&W television.. Tikki Jul 2012 #54

one of the greatest accomplishments of mankind. demguy_5692 Jul 2012 #57

"...a giant leap..." Graybeard Jul 2012 #59

We have set foot on our other Earth. RedCloud Jul 2012 #61

"Magnificent Desolation" -Buzz Aldrin 1620rock Jul 2012 #67