Wednesday, January 24, 2018
EPISODE 18 -- BRUCE MCCANDLESS MEMORIAL
In memory of Bruce McCandless, Rick digs back into his interview archive to share some of Bruce's most memorable stories.
EPISODE NOTES:
*What was it like to be the focus of one of the Space Shuttle program's most iconic photos?
*Bruce faced two problems during his historic MMU flight, and shares how he dealt with them.
*Sleep? Who could sleep after landing on the moon?
*When the Apollo 11 EVA was moved up, Bruce had to hustle back to the MOCR after heading home for dinner.
*Find out what it was like to try to stiff-arm all the president's men.
*Deke Slayton wanted Bruce to wrap up the EVA early, much to his chagrin. Would that wind up costing Bruce?
*Bruce spots Al Shepard in a reflective moment the night before the launch of Apollo 14.
Rest in peace, sir. Rest in peace.
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Episode 17 -- John Young Memorial
Rick is joined for this special memorial tribute by Milt Heflin, who shares his memories of the remarkable career of John Young.
SHOW NOTES:
*Milt worked four of John Young's then-record six spaceflights -- two in landing and recovery, one as an Electrical Power Systems flight controller in the Staff Support Room and one as an EECOM.
*Johnson Space Center Director Mike Coats asks Milt if he'll replace John as Associate Director (Technical). After mulling the offer, Milt accepts ... on one condition.
*Milt first meets John as they develop procedures for uprighting an upside-down Apollo command module following splashdown. A couple of test subjects apparently don't take to being upside down with water rushing into the spacecraft very well ... but John? He's good to go.
*After Milt helps with the recovery of the Apollo 16 command module following splashdown, John ALMOST offers him a souvenir from the flight.
*Milt amassed what he calls a lot of "stuff" over the years while working at NASA, but none of it means as much to him as the memories.
*John held court during high-level program meetings ... but never while seated at the main table.
*Milt remembers John's memos, which documented his concerns on "many, many things."
*Hear how Milt handled a question John once asked at the most inopportune time.
*It could sometimes be a rather tricky proposition dealing with John's persistent suggestions. He might not always have gotten everything he wanted, but he got enough to where he felt he'd improved the situation.
*Important to note, Milt adds, is the fact that John didn't sulk or pout when he didn't get his way. He simply regrouped and tried again, always in a professional manner.
*When John retired as Associate Director (Technical) at JSC, he left behind what Milt calls an "aircraft-carrier-sized desk" that had come from the chief astronaut's office. When someone offered to repair the many dings and dents, Milt refused out of a sense of history.
*How Milt thinks John Young will be remembered by history ...
NEXT EPISODE:
Our tribute to Bruce McCandless ...
SHOW NOTES:
*Milt worked four of John Young's then-record six spaceflights -- two in landing and recovery, one as an Electrical Power Systems flight controller in the Staff Support Room and one as an EECOM.
*Johnson Space Center Director Mike Coats asks Milt if he'll replace John as Associate Director (Technical). After mulling the offer, Milt accepts ... on one condition.
*Milt first meets John as they develop procedures for uprighting an upside-down Apollo command module following splashdown. A couple of test subjects apparently don't take to being upside down with water rushing into the spacecraft very well ... but John? He's good to go.
*After Milt helps with the recovery of the Apollo 16 command module following splashdown, John ALMOST offers him a souvenir from the flight.
*Milt amassed what he calls a lot of "stuff" over the years while working at NASA, but none of it means as much to him as the memories.
*John held court during high-level program meetings ... but never while seated at the main table.
*Milt remembers John's memos, which documented his concerns on "many, many things."
*Hear how Milt handled a question John once asked at the most inopportune time.
*It could sometimes be a rather tricky proposition dealing with John's persistent suggestions. He might not always have gotten everything he wanted, but he got enough to where he felt he'd improved the situation.
*Important to note, Milt adds, is the fact that John didn't sulk or pout when he didn't get his way. He simply regrouped and tried again, always in a professional manner.
*When John retired as Associate Director (Technical) at JSC, he left behind what Milt calls an "aircraft-carrier-sized desk" that had come from the chief astronaut's office. When someone offered to repair the many dings and dents, Milt refused out of a sense of history.
*How Milt thinks John Young will be remembered by history ...
NEXT EPISODE:
Our tribute to Bruce McCandless ...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)