David Hilmers flew four Space Shuttle flights, including the very first one after the Challenger accident, but it's what he's done since leaving NASA that might very well be his crowning achievement.
Now a physician, David has made countless trips overseas for disaster relief and medical research. His work in North Korea is perhaps most intriguing, given the current political climate between that nation and the United States.
Do NOT miss this episode!
SHOW NOTES:
*David's incredible story of racing Hurricane Harvey back home to Houston from North Korea, and the flooding he encountered when he got there.
*What sparked David's passion for international medicine?
*Another good question ... what keeps David going?
*Not even David can remember all the places he's served overseas!
*Hear how David deals with the risk factor.
*North Korea ... from David's perspective as a physician.
*Want to know how YOU can help? David has some suggestions.
NEXT EPISODE:
Jerry Bostick joins us as co-host, as we present the first of three episodes featuring Glynn Lunney's landmark interview with mission control legend John Llewellyn.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Friday, September 22, 2017
Episode 5 -- Alan Bean, Part 4
SHOW NOTES:
*Hear Alan discuss the influence Pete Conrad had on his career before NASA.
*Alan settles into test pilot school at Pax River.
*Did being a hotshot pilot mean that Alan was coming out of his shell as an introvert?
*Alan describes his relationship with Apollo 12 crewmates Pete Conrad and Dick Gordon.
*Want to offer Alan a bunch of money to hang out for a couple of days? Hear whether or not he's likely to accept.
*Alan's first wife, Sue, was an extrovert ... and Bean was not.
*Alan decides to apply to become an astronaut.
*What did Alan think the ink blot looked like during the psychological test? Go ahead. Ask him.
*And then there was the story he told about a picture the doctor showed him ...
*Alan's work on an ejection-seat project helps propel him into the astronaut office.
NEXT EPISODE:
The incredible story of four-time Space Shuttle astronaut Dr. David Hilmers, who was in North Korea as Hurricane Harvey bore down on his home in Houston.
*Hear Alan discuss the influence Pete Conrad had on his career before NASA.
*Alan settles into test pilot school at Pax River.
*Did being a hotshot pilot mean that Alan was coming out of his shell as an introvert?
*Alan describes his relationship with Apollo 12 crewmates Pete Conrad and Dick Gordon.
*Want to offer Alan a bunch of money to hang out for a couple of days? Hear whether or not he's likely to accept.
*Alan's first wife, Sue, was an extrovert ... and Bean was not.
*Alan decides to apply to become an astronaut.
*What did Alan think the ink blot looked like during the psychological test? Go ahead. Ask him.
*And then there was the story he told about a picture the doctor showed him ...
*Alan's work on an ejection-seat project helps propel him into the astronaut office.
NEXT EPISODE:
The incredible story of four-time Space Shuttle astronaut Dr. David Hilmers, who was in North Korea as Hurricane Harvey bore down on his home in Houston.
Episode 4 -- Alan Bean, Part 3
SHOW NOTES:
*While his naval air reserve unit is activated during the Korean War, Alan is able to stay put and eventually go to college.
*Alan begins flight training after graduating from the University of Texas.
*Perfectionism again raises its head when Alan wants to be better than his flight instructors.
*Alan discusses the dangers inherent to flight training, and how he rationalized it in his own mind.
*After flight training, Alan joins his first squadron, VA-44.
*Proud that he's never had a wave around on a carrier landing, New Guy Bean is forced to go around again his very next time out!
*He thinks about applying to test pilot school ...
NEXT EPISODE: The conclusion of this amazing series of conversations with Apollo 12 moonwalker Alan Bean!
*While his naval air reserve unit is activated during the Korean War, Alan is able to stay put and eventually go to college.
*Alan begins flight training after graduating from the University of Texas.
*Perfectionism again raises its head when Alan wants to be better than his flight instructors.
*Alan discusses the dangers inherent to flight training, and how he rationalized it in his own mind.
*After flight training, Alan joins his first squadron, VA-44.
*Proud that he's never had a wave around on a carrier landing, New Guy Bean is forced to go around again his very next time out!
*He thinks about applying to test pilot school ...
NEXT EPISODE: The conclusion of this amazing series of conversations with Apollo 12 moonwalker Alan Bean!
Episode 3 -- Alan Bean, Part 2
SPECIAL NOTE: In this episode, Apollo 12 moonwalker Alan Bean shares an opinion on the dropping of the atomic bomb during World War II that may or may not be controversial, and in NSFW language. It begins at the 5:55 mark and ends approximately 10 seconds later. You've been warned ...
OTHER SHOW NOTES:
*Alan discusses his father's time in the Army during World War II, and moving for a short time to Michigan following the war.
*For a short time, Alan goes to school in Michigan. He remembers swimming, getting stuck in printing class and a crush on a girl he never expressed.
*We make the connection between the girl he liked and the comic strip Peanuts!
*Back in Texas, Alan joins the naval reserves and eventually gets into the University of Texas.
*Alan talks about Neil Armstrong's personality, and his own chances of making it at a school like the United States Naval Academy.
*Prior to his junior year at the University of Texas, Alan recalls finally making a turnaround in school.
*He talks more about his introversion.
*In college, Alan competed as both a wrestler and gymnast at basically the club level.
*Hear the story of Alan Bean, Frat Boy!
NEXT EPISODE: The third of a four-part interview with Alan!
OTHER SHOW NOTES:
*Alan discusses his father's time in the Army during World War II, and moving for a short time to Michigan following the war.
*For a short time, Alan goes to school in Michigan. He remembers swimming, getting stuck in printing class and a crush on a girl he never expressed.
*We make the connection between the girl he liked and the comic strip Peanuts!
*Back in Texas, Alan joins the naval reserves and eventually gets into the University of Texas.
*Alan talks about Neil Armstrong's personality, and his own chances of making it at a school like the United States Naval Academy.
*Prior to his junior year at the University of Texas, Alan recalls finally making a turnaround in school.
*He talks more about his introversion.
*In college, Alan competed as both a wrestler and gymnast at basically the club level.
*Hear the story of Alan Bean, Frat Boy!
NEXT EPISODE: The third of a four-part interview with Alan!
Episode 2 -- Alan Bean, Part 1
Alan Bean is one of my favorite interviews of all time, and not just because he and buddy Pete Conrad once had themselves a grand ol' time in the Ocean of Storms.
Alan is friendly and inquisitive. Several times after we finished talking "on the record," he would question me about various topics. I will say this. I'm not sure what NASA was thinking when it sent a moon to the moon who had never seen The Andy Griffith Show.
The horror.
This is the first of a four-part interview with Alan, during which you'll get to know Alan, the person, rather than, Alan, the astronaut. Enjoy.
SHOW NOTES:
*Alan was "famous" from birth!
*He discusses he "extreme" introversion very candidly.
*Hear Alan tell the story of his mother waking him up and driving him to an exam to join the naval reserves. He sees that moment as changing the course of his life.
*Although he dreamed of first being a pilot and then a naval aviator, he didn't get serious about school until his junior year at the University of Texas.
*Alan discusses his family dynamic -- his own jealousy of his younger sister, and the family's reaction to positive life events.
*What did schoolmates make fun of him for?
*How did ping-pong game and a floor tile play into Alan's relationship with his father?
*Alan discusses his perfectionism.
*Finally, Alan talks about his love for art and how he made his first steps toward becoming an artist.
NEXT EPISODE:
Part two of the conversation with Alan Bean!
Alan is friendly and inquisitive. Several times after we finished talking "on the record," he would question me about various topics. I will say this. I'm not sure what NASA was thinking when it sent a moon to the moon who had never seen The Andy Griffith Show.
The horror.
This is the first of a four-part interview with Alan, during which you'll get to know Alan, the person, rather than, Alan, the astronaut. Enjoy.
SHOW NOTES:
*Alan was "famous" from birth!
*He discusses he "extreme" introversion very candidly.
*Hear Alan tell the story of his mother waking him up and driving him to an exam to join the naval reserves. He sees that moment as changing the course of his life.
*Although he dreamed of first being a pilot and then a naval aviator, he didn't get serious about school until his junior year at the University of Texas.
*Alan discusses his family dynamic -- his own jealousy of his younger sister, and the family's reaction to positive life events.
*What did schoolmates make fun of him for?
*How did ping-pong game and a floor tile play into Alan's relationship with his father?
*Alan discusses his perfectionism.
*Finally, Alan talks about his love for art and how he made his first steps toward becoming an artist.
NEXT EPISODE:
Part two of the conversation with Alan Bean!
Episode 1 -- Milt Heflin
Before I met Milt, I was just a writer who interviewed people from the outside looking in. Milt was a true NASA insider, but not once did he treat me with anything other than the utmost respect. I couldn't exactly say when we actually became friends, but it was an honor when he agreed to serve as co-author of Go, Flight! The Unsung Heroes of Mission Control.
For me, Milt is Unsung Hero Number One. So, please, enjoy this very first episode of what I know is going to be one heck of a ride for all of us!
SHOW NOTES:
In this episode ...
*Milt describes his entry into NASA's Landing and Recovery Division.
*After the end of the Apollo program, Milt makes the transition to Space Shuttle flight controller.
*He discusses the influence of several Apollo-era mission control veterans, including Don Puddy, Jack Knight, Rod Loe, Bill Moon, Ed Fendell and Randy Stone.
*The move to Flight Director was not exactly a smooth one for Milt, but he made it with the help of another Apollo veteran, Tommy Holloway.
*The pride in Milt's voice comes through loud and clear as he talks about STS-61, the first Hubble servicing mission and his most well-known assignment as lead Flight Director.
*And talk about pressure ... Milt outlines his responsibilities as co-author of Go, Flight! The Unsung Heroes of Mission Control.
NEXT EPISODE:
The first of a four-part interview with Apollo 12 moonwalker Alan Bean!
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