posted 12-12-2008 10:47 AM               

To have all 3 crew members present, sharing their experiences under the vintage aircrafts, spacecrafts, and futuristic spacecrafts was amazing! I was impressed that there were so many people there, both young and old. It was fun watching their eyes light up while they were reminiscing with each other or with the special guests attending. Glynn Lunney, Gene Kranz, Walter Cunningham, Buzz Aldrin, Alan Bean, Gene Cernan, and the man Neil Armstrong were present. I was sooooo close to Mr. Armstrong, I wanted to go up to him to shake his hand and to say thank you. Unfortunately, when I gained enough courage, Francis swept him away. Just kidding Francis.

It was a great night and to have the full moon out put icing on the cake.

posted 12-12-2008 05:40 PM               

We want to remind of you of a great opportunity available only to our valued Cosmosphere members! Thursday evening, December 18, from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m., you are invited to join Cosmosphere President and CEO, Chris Orwoll for a presentation about the 40th anniversary of Apollo 8 and the artifacts behind the mission.

In 1968, Apollo 8 was America's fist mission to escape Earth's gravity and orbit the moon, ending a tumultuous year as a shining beacon of hope. Come celebrate the 40th anniversary of this historic mission and get an up-close and personal look at the artifacts behind it.

This FREE event is available exclusively to Cosmosphere members.

posted 12-12-2008 07:31 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by andrewcli:
I just wanted to thank all the people at the San Diego Air and Space Museum for having the Apollo 8 Celebration. A job well done! It was truly an outstanding experience!

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It really was a who's-who of almost everyone associated with this crew, including Borman's West Point class members, and many others. From solely an air and space point of view, to my knowledge, in attendance was:

• The Apollo 8 crew of Borman, Lovell and Anders, their wives, children, and many other family members.
  
• Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Alan Bean, Gene Cernan and Walt Cunningham
  
• Dale Myers, former NASA Deputy Administrator
  
• Glynn Lunney, NASA flight director during the Gemini and Apollo era
  
• Gerry Griffin, NASA flight director and former director of JSC
  
• Gene Kranz, NASA flight director and mission operations director
  
• Jan Evans - widow of Ron Evans
  
• Jo and Suzy Schirra - widow and daughter of Wally Schirra
  
• Ingeborg Ehricke - widow of Krafft Ehricke, rocket pioneer
  
• Dick Gillan - Apollo engineer
  
• Chuck Friedlander - who directed the astronaut support office at Kennedy Space Center in the Apollo era
  
• Bob Cardenas - legendary test pilot
  
• Bob Hoover - ditto!
  
• Steve Pisanos -legendary aviator

Speaking just for myself (as a very small part of a very big event), not for the museum, I think we pulled off a great event. Spent a lot of time working with the Anders family, our graphics department, Mark Larson, our emcee and many others in our team here to get the historical and biographical backgrounds for the whole event correct, and to prime the moderated forum so it could hit all of the mission highlights. Mark is already a certified space nut, so really knows his stuff, but I think we achieved a good question balance that covered the highlights and drew out the good stories from the crew. Also brought up the right images for the right moments of the presentation to heighten the experience for the audience... pushing the button to bring up the earthrise picture when Anders started giving a vivid description was a wonderful moment...

Another thing I really liked was that the whole event was FUN. I have seen anniversary celebrations that were a little stuffy, especially in the moderated forums, but this one was full of laughs, the crew ribbing each other, stories told with fresh vitality and some very touching moments as people paid tribute to each other... I believe it is going to be put online soon, and I hope the energy of the night comes across in that format. To be there was a very special moment.

Armstrong closed the evening's proceedings with a moving speech of his own, which (in Armstrong fashion) managed to concisely clarify and beautifully summarize what everyone else had been saying in the prior couple of hours. He hit exactly the right note, and modestly explained how, without Apollo 8, the following Apollo missions (including his own) would never have advanced as they did. To have Neil and Buzz in the room for this event really gave the audience an understanding of how important 8 and 11 are in human history, I think.

posted 12-12-2008 10:48 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by FFrench:
I was assigned to chaperone Neil for much of the day so was kept very busy, I tried to say hello to everyone I could...

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Gene Kranz and Spacepsycho Ray were a great pair. Anytime you get to see Ray interact with anybody it is a real treat. I still recall vividly a few years ago Ray and I talking to Stan Butchart about putting torpedoes into aircraft carriers while facing withering AA fire. Wow, last night was just another one of those moments start to finish.

Bob Cardenas is always a gem to share time with. I am sure everyone will enjoy him at Spacefest.

To be honest Neil looked like a Custer at the last stand during the early meet and greet. He stood up calmly and bravely while we fanatics just encircled him shaking his hand, and grabbing him for photos this way and that way, and just overwhelming him. He looked great, he smiled and remained poised throughout but I just can’t imagine the rock star lifestyle he puts up with. He is such a great person.

My highlights for the night? It seems like a tie between finally meeting Neil Armstrong for the first time after all of these years, or sitting in Capt. Kirk’s command chair on the bridge of the Enterprise, or sharing pictures of my two little girls with the muy bonita Erin French!

------------------
Kind Regards

Douglas Henry

posted 12-12-2008 11:09 PM               

Andrew

posted 12-13-2008 06:04 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by andrewcli:
Any pictures of the astronauts in the Star Trek exhibit, like on the Enterprise bridge or the Guardian of Forever?

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posted 12-13-2008 03:59 PM               

I also want to thank the whole SDASM crew for an outstanding job. I have been fortunate to attend a number of events at the museum and this was by far the best.

As Francis mentioned the atmosphere was electric. Everywhere you turned there was a famous person from aviation or space history. I almost wished we could have had a picture sheet to help identify who you were standing by before dinner.

My highlite was getting to meet all three of the Apollo 8 crew. Their sharing on stage was so funny and personal. I also appreciated how frank (No pun intended) and honest they are. Frank Borman was a hoot. As were Lovell & Anders.

My only regret was not getting there early enough to meet and get a picture with Neil Armstrong. I had to settle for a close up photo of him.

The most inspiring moment was when Bill Anders asked for everyone in the audience who had a part in the Apollo 8 mission to come up on stage. That was amazing. Even the wives came up. That was priceless.

Francis, it was great seeing you again. And special thanks to all the work you and your staff did. Please thank them and James for me. I feel very proud to be here in San Diego.

Also a shout out and thank you to Ray & Doug for meeting up and being the three amigos at last nights event. Ray you have a rare quality in connecting with the astronauts. Hello to Jake Schultz. Great to finally meet another Schultz family member and fellow cS'er.

Best to all,

posted 12-14-2008 12:28 PM               

Let me preface this by saying that Bill Anders took a lot of jabs from Frank and Jim for being the rookie.

Bill is now telling us about the liftoff of the first manned Saturn V.

You must all recall the scene in Apollo 13 when staging threw everyone forward at main engine cutoff and then slammed them back into their seats when the second stage kicked in.

Well, Bill says that when he was thrown forward he instinctively put his hand up to keep him from crashing into the instrument panel. When the second stage kicked in his hand was slammed right back into his visor leaving a scratch.

Bill was worried about the ribbing his very experienced crewmates would give him when they saw his rookie mistake displayed by the scratch in his helmet visor.

So Bill took it upon himself to gather up the helmets for stowage once they reached orbit, otherwise Frank and Jim would discover his rookie error.

Upon gathering Jim and Franks helmets, Bill discovered that they too had scratches in each of their visors.

The room erupted into laughter.

It went on like that the whole night.

------------------
Kind Regards

Douglas Henry

posted 12-14-2008 06:33 PM               

Museum Celebrates Apollo's 40th

The New Mexico Museum of Space History and the Fellowship of Las Cruces Area Rocket Enthusiasts (FLARE) are starting on a year long commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo program beginning Sunday, December 21st. Several activities will take place that morning, starting with a "Rockets of White Sands" launch demonstration at 8:45 am, at 9:10 am a "Manned Space Program Space Vehicle" launch demonstration, at 9:30 am the Apollo 8 Launch Reenactment with the actual launch at 9:45 and from 10:00 until noon FLARE will host a sport launch. The demonstration rockets range from 12 inches to forty five inches in height, with a maximum anticipated altitude of 1,200 feet. All of these activities take place in the upper parking lot at the Museum and are free to the public. Also, at 10:00 am the IMAX Dome Theater will have a special showing of "Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon". Standard ticket prices apply. All activities are weather permitting, a back up date is not planned.

FLARE member Dave Kovar was very enthusiastic about the partnership between the club and the museum for this commemoration. "We are very happy to be working with the Museum of Space History. It's very appropriate for these events," said Kovar. According to Kovar the various rocket demonstrations are possible because of the hard work of many club members who built the scale models. Kovar is bringing his Apollo 8 1:100 scale replica for the reenactment launch. It includes the Apollo/Saturn V and the launch utility tower with motorized crane, swing arms and an elevator.

Four more launches are planned in 2009 to commemorate Apollo but not all events will be held at the museum. NMSU in Las Cruces will host the Apollo 9 celebration on March 3 and Apollo 10 on May 17. The museum will host the Apollo 11 launch on July 16 and Apollo 12 on November 14. "We are particularly excited about celebrating the Apollo 11 launch," said Museum Marketing Director Cathy Harper, adding, "Shuttle Camp 2009 will be in session during that time period and we look forward to incorporating Apollo history into this summer's program."

For more information, call 575-437-2840 or toll free 1-877-333-6589.

posted 12-15-2008 09:44 AM               

One thing that several of us noted was the high knowledge of the audience. There was a good level of spaceflight awareness in the room - much more than many events.

Thanks to Francis, Ray, Doug, Pat, Pat, John, and all the other cS'ers that were there. Also nice to meet another Schultz who spells his name the correct way...! Thanks Paul...

Thanks Pat for having a job that allows you to take a "buddy" along on such trips. Also cool that your daughter was able to attend and have such a good time.

It was such a pleasure to attend an event without any personal agenda or tasks. Unlike working an event like this, just being able to attend the night and enjoy it was such a pleasure.

posted 12-16-2008 05:55 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by StarDome:
Found this on the web today...

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(Now I can't get the song out of my head...!)

posted 12-17-2008 01:19 AM               

December 17 (Wednesday) on the Roe Conn show, 2PM to 7PM (Chicago is on Central Time)... Jim Lovell will be on. I don't know if he will be in the studio or just calling in, and the on-air promo from Roe did not give the TIME Lovell will be on... but he is to talk about the anniversary of Apollo 8.

Call-in phone number is 312-591-8900. They don't do toll-free.

posted 12-17-2008 10:59 AM               

Seriously, we are trying to get a bit of stealth education into the Christmas song arena and this little charity song is our first go. I wrote to the Astronaut Office to try and let the Apollo 8 crew know what we are doing in their name - no response yet. If anyone on this forum has the ear of Frank and his team, we'd love to send them all a free CD. Our little Christmas present in thanks for one of the major inspirations of our lives.

Have a great Christmas, everyone.

Mark (singer and bassplayer on We're Going To The Moon For Christmas)

posted 12-18-2008 09:38 AM               

• In a time of trouble 40 years ago, Apollo 8 lifted spirits

  Forty years ago this Christmas, three astronauts became the first humans to travel outside the Earth's orbit, entering into the orbit of the moon as a thrilled worldwide audience of a billion people watched the feat live on television.

• In worldwide broadcast, Apollo 8 astronauts read from Genesis

  Apollo 8's original assignment was to orbit Earth for 10 days and test systems on the lunar landing module that would carry Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the moon's surface the next year.

• Jim Lovell: Charles Lindbergh viewed Apollo 8 as the high point of the space program

  Eight months after the Apollo 8 mission, NASA asked Jim Lovell to escort aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh at Cape Canaveral as Neil Armstrong and his Apollo 11 crew blasted off for the moon on July 16, 1969.

posted 12-18-2008 01:56 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Arbelos:
Wow! My song made it over here! Thanks for the plug.

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Now it's stuck in my head again...

posted 12-18-2008 03:53 PM               

I appreciate that. Our songs are usually inspired by great people and we like those people to get the chance to hear them.

It'd be a big thrill to know that the crew had heard this.

Mark.

posted 12-18-2008 03:56 PM               

Space Station Crew Marks 40th Anniversary of First Human Moon Trip

The International Space Station crew, paving the way for NASA's return to the moon, will honor the first humans to journey there 40 years ago with a special message.

Expedition 18 Commander Mike Fincke and Flight Engineers Sandy Magnus and Yury Lonchakov will pay homage to that bold December 1968 voyage in a message that will air on NASA Television as part of the daily Video File, beginning at 11 a.m. CST, Friday, Dec. 19. The video also will be broadcast in high definition on the NASA TV HD channel at 10 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, and Tuesday, Dec. 23.

Apollo 8 astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders roared into space on the first flight of the massive Saturn V rocket on Dec. 21, 1968. They became the first humans to circumnavigate the moon on Dec. 24, 1968, and returned safely to Earth three days later. Their mission demonstrated the ability of the Saturn V and the Apollo command and service modules to cross the 238,000-mile gulf between Earth and the moon, and set the stage for the first human lunar landing six months later.

posted 12-18-2008 08:25 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Arbelos:
Our songs are usually inspired by great people and we like those people to get the chance to hear them.

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I have a new blog page that I've been playing with. I put it up there on there too.

posted 12-21-2008 03:07 PM               

I didn't make it to the Bill Anders lecture at The Museum of Flight yesterday. I called to check and it was still on, but we had a snowstorm moving in. Being the wimpy Seattle guy I am I wasn't going to drive in that stuff.

I was really looking forward to seeing his talk also. Grrrr...

...waiting, and waiting for spring.

posted 12-22-2008 11:26 AM               

What seemed to make it stand out was his giving the talk solo - not in a panel with other astronauts. It was quite a contrast from his part of the Apollo 8 presentation in San Diego a week earlier. The presentations were both good, yet this one showed a more personal side of Bill.

The audience seemed particularly interested. They MUST have been because there was a good measure of snow outside. Not many people were there by accident...!

Bill began by discussing the Apollo program in context of the Cold War, then proceeded to play out the timeline of the mission.

Once again, thanks should go to the Museum of Flight for bringing this kind of history to the public...!

posted 12-22-2008 01:32 PM               

How many did show up? Was the theater full?

posted 12-22-2008 02:18 PM               

Hey Tom, we both drive the Ford Ranger - and you still use the snow excuse...? (OK so mine is 4WD and I grew up in Wisconsin...ha!)

posted 12-22-2008 03:33 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by NavySpaceFan:
Does anyone know if NASA TV plans to re-air the Apollo 8 Christmas Eve telecast this December 24th?

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NASA Television Commemorates Apollo 8 Christmas Eve Broadcast

NASA Television will honor the 40th anniversary of the historic Christmas Eve broadcast by the Apollo 8 crew with special programming Dec. 24 and 25 on the NASA TV Public Channel (101).

Forty years ago, Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders became the first humans to visit another heavenly body as they successfully orbited the moon in their Apollo 8 spacecraft. On Dec. 24, 1968, the three astronauts devoted one of their mission's six live television transmissions to reading from the biblical book of Genesis during what has since come to be known as the Christmas Eve Broadcast.

To commemorate the anniversary, NASA TV will air the following special programs:

• "The Annual John H. Glenn Lecture -- An Evening with the Apollo 8 Astronauts," a panel discussion with Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders recorded Nov. 13, 2008, at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. Former U.S. senator and NASA astronaut John Glenn provided their introduction.

• "The Apollo 8 Crew Remembers Historic Mission, Live from the Newseum," a panel discussion with the Apollo 8 astronauts moderated by Nick Clooney and recorded Nov. 13, 2008, at the Newseum in Washington.

• "De-Brief Apollo 8," an historical documentary of Apollo 8, narrated by Burgess Meredith (1970).

• "Apollo 8 Christmas Video," a 10-minute documentary featuring Apollo 8 astronauts describing their historic mission. (Excerpts from the John H. Glenn Lecture recorded Nov. 13, 2008.)

• "Apollo 8 -- December 21, 1968," a NASA Manned Space Flight Film Report on the Apollo 8 mission (1970).

The NASA Television Video File also will include footage documenting the Apollo 8 mission's Christmas Eve broadcast. For program times and listings, consult the NASA Television schedule online.

posted 12-23-2008 11:53 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Jake:
Hey Tom, we both drive the Ford Ranger - and you still use the snow excuse...? (OK so mine is 4WD and I grew up in Wisconsin...ha!)

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