On this Memorial Day, 2011 we of course honor and remember the men and women who gave so much to preserve our freedoms in this country. That path is the most common theme that people follow, and it is most certainly a correct one. But, I’d like to take it a step further, a bit “out of the box”, to honor and remember what those men and women through their sacrifices made possible for us to achieve as a nation. America’s finest hours in my opinion, were made possible by those very people who we honor this Memorial Day. They made it possible to learn, to dream, to build, to adapt, and to work through the darkness to see the light when the situation seemed hopeless.
I can think of no better way to honor our veterans, than to thank them for enabling the environment that gave birth to what you can watch and experience below. This, is science, engineering, mathematics, and uniquely American can-do ingenuity, all combined, and made possible by the sacrifice and the dreams of many whom we honor today.
Please set aside 90 minutes of your time to watch these series of Failure is Not an Option. Few people today know who Gene Kranz is. I’ll tell you who he is, he’s an unsung hero with a remarkable clarity of purpose. In reflecting after watching this documentary, I find it amazing that Gene Kranz and James Hansen were part of the same organization, NASA. The NASA then and that of today, are worlds apart.
This is the NASA I looked up to in my youth. I hope you’ll find this as moving as I did.
Image above: A photo of the vest and pin worn by Gene Kranz during the Apollo 13 mission, by Matthew G. Bisanz.
Hear hear!
Why do you feel the need to cheapen every good sentiment with some lame jab at GISS? GISS was never involved with Apollo – read about Jastrow’s contributions here.
REPLY: Dr. Jastrow was the first chairman of NASA’s Lunar Exploration Committee, which established the scientific goals for the exploration of the Moon during the Apollo lunar landings. In 1961, Dr. Jastrow set up NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, a U.S. Government laboratory charged with carrying out research in astronomy and planetary science. http://www.nss.org/about/bios/jastrow.html
Anthony, thank you so much for putting this on view. I am still viewing.
I worked near near Pine Gap, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Maralinga in South Australia and also the Gove Peninsula, Northern Territory (now labelled East Arnhemland) and also Cape York, Queensland
Over-the-horizon radars were a feature of northern Australia some 50 years ago.
It is incredulous that peoples of the islands and foreshores of northern Australia would forget the bombing, destruction and deaths in WW2. And that children and others were evacuated to the south to be saved from death prior to these air-raids. Broome in Western Australia has a reasonable account of the bombings and deaths, as does Darwin in Northern Territory recently.
Thank God, these engineering men and women and other unsung heroes and heroines stood up and out and did this work. We will be , and are, forever grateful, as we will always be, to our soldiers, that take on the vocation of defence.
These are truly courageous men and women.
For non-Australians, a book recommended to read is A Fortunate Life AB Facey which details the life of a man in the early 1900s, here in Australia.
My father put on the uniform in 1939. In 1940 he left his wife and child and shipped off to North Africa. He came home in 1946, after 5 years of artillery duels across North Africa, Sicily and Italy. Thank you USA for coming to the help of the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India and various European refugees. Eventually.
Like many of us in Britain I was just as thrilled and moved by the Apollo missions as our American cousins. Thank you, Anthony, for posting these clips and bringing back such wonderful memories.
However, the films evoke sadness, too. Can anyone watch these moments without feeling that something has been lost in America? Can anyone doubt that the spirit of courage, adventure and self-reliance that defined the country and made it great is inexorably fading away?
I do not know why the United States has lost its self confidence. Perhaps it is the knowledge that it is soon to be overtaken by China as the world’s leading industrial, scientific and military power. Perhaps it has something to do with the changes that are taking place so rapidly in American society.
Those of us in other countries who admire the US take no pleasure in watching its decline. China may soon be the world’s leading nation. But will it ever capture the sense of adventure, excitement and sheer fun that characterized America at its best? Somehow, I doubt it.
As an Australian I have noted in my rather long life that America rises when a nation wide goal or challenge is placed in its path. The demise of the moon programme was only because the challenge had been met. Been there and done that. The progress and spin offs were enormous. I have been waiting in vain for a new President to challenge your country with a new goal that is beyond politics and engages your true wealth, your thinkers and engineers. Manned missions to Mars by 2020 , a permanent manned base on the moon, also by 2020 and a permanent base on Mars by 2025. The economic activity created by these endeavours and the scientific and engineering advances would give back a thousand fold to what it would cost. This is Americas wasted strength, it will soon be half a century since the big rockets propelled the world into a new reality.
Please elect the next time around as president a man or woman of vision to give your country a goal that many will think impossible , that makes it more likely to happen faster. The world needs America to have a goal, for it is a cradle of invention.
I recommend reading Kranz’s book too.
As for American war dead … a special prayer to those betrayed and sent to die from the 1890s onwards by politicians convinced that the preservation of American freedom passed through preventing other people from achieving freedom themselves.
Every generation suffers from leaders who believe their bastard friend dictators abroad are still theirs. Hopefully we’ll soon learn to stop falling for that.
Westerner says:
May 30, 2011 at 3:37 am
“I do not know why the United States has lost its self confidence. ”
Politcal Correctness, wanting to be liked, and worrying about self esteem rather than actual accomplishment. Sissiphication of a country.
NASA boy says:
May 30, 2011 at 2:01 am
It appears Dr. Jastrow was also a climate skeptic…
Dr. Robert Jastrow (1925-2008) received his A.B., A.M. and Ph.D. (1948) degrees in theoretical physics from Columbia University. This retired NASA scientist was a strong supporter of Ronald Reagan’s “Star Wars” missile defense initiative. In 1984 he co-founded the George C. Marshall Institute (GMI), a think tank which disputes global warming and promotes the missile defense shield. He was emeritus of the institute until his death at the age of 82 in February 2008.
NASA boy
As an aero engr (PSU – 69 & 71), I have always held NASA in high regard, With the exception of James Hansen and his department within GISS! Please note that the comments in the post above were directed at Hansen, who is a disgrace to NASA and science. His actions and far out comments would never have been tolerated in Gene Kranz’s day. I don’t believe they should be tolerated today, either. Hansen should have been fired two years ago when he took the stand in England to justify the action of Eco-terrorists who attacked a British coal fired power plant.
Bill
3 nights ago, i sat down and watched Apollo 13 with my 9 year old son. He is learning about space and planets at school. Totally unrelated to your post.
How do you strap yourself into a massive explosive device and trust in engineers and scientists to get you there and back? This was a time when being a scientist and engineer meant something!
In 1969 i was 10 years old. I sat on a dirty wooden floor, in a school in country NSW, Australia and watched Armstrong and Aldrin, backed up by Collins, walk on the moon.
I remember Apollo 11,12,13,14 in particular. I remember wishing the astronauts of Apollo 13 home. As a 10 year old that was something unusual. They were up there somewhere, but we wanted them home, and safe.
The Apollo missions represented hope and a future for the world. It was a massive test, which was met and exceeded.
To do what is right, is dangerous. To lead others where most fear to tread takes courage.
I watched a movie, about Apollo 13 and tried to explain to a 9 year old how brave and courageous the astronauts were to do what they did. The USA was visionary to do what it did.
I had an engineer recently say to me. When engineers stuff up, people die.
If we relied on the leading climate scientists, then we would have lost a dozen crews in the car park, and they would look elsewhere apart from their own failings to explain the loss.
FANTASTIC
Thank you so much Anthony and team for putting up the great work of these great men (and later women) for us all to view.
I still remember as a kid on the farm when my dad made us kids come and watch, on the ol’ black n white TV, the ‘man landing on the moon’. And sadly for the past 30-odd years I have not watched television.
Just FANTASTIC viewing these posts!! And even better, the men that pursued their MISSION.
Thanks for this Anthony. I grew up watching with the space program, and Gene Kranz was a personal hero to me. Actually, all of the folks working at NASA at the time are personal heroes to me. Gene set the bar very high for all the flight directors to follow. He was indeed a man for the task. Still is.
Cheers!
BTW, I recognised the vest immediately!
NASA at their finest indeed.
Remember
I pledge allegiance
Westerner says:
May 30, 2011 at 3:37 am
“I do not know why the United States has lost its self confidence. ”
Politcal Correctness, wanting to be liked, and worrying about self esteem rather than actual accomplishment. Sissiphication of a country.
Your comment can be answered with a simple question. “Can they still smoke cigarettes and cigars in mission control?”
The space race was America’s finest hour. Today, there is only one shuttle flight left. Next hour, America will hitchhiking a ride with the Russians to the international space station. Something better change soon. We are running out of time.
Not all of the United States has lost their self confidence, but enough have been too busy trying to make life risk free that people worry too much.
Back during the 1976 Montreal Olympic games a comment made by U.S. high jumper capsulized it all for me. There had been rain and the jumping area was wet, one of the TV commentators asked Dwight Stones if he was worried about slipping. Dwight looked at the commentator with an icy stare and said something to the effect.
“Losers worry about what they are afraid will happen, Winners see what they want to happen!”
In that single sentence he captured what NASA did right during the Apollo 13 era, and what too many of our population is doing wrong now. Mentally too many folks have become losers who spend all their energy worrying about some boogyman, and not spending their energy working toward a worth while goal.
I was school age during the early space age and clearly remember the excitement of it all. How the school teachers would bring into school their personal television sets so the class could watch important launches, and how sometimes that meant learning moments as we watched Vangard explode on the pad.
Note the mind set, these were not failures but “failed experiments”, that was a healthy view of science and exploration, but today we are tainted by the specter of Challenger and many are not willing to take risks to succeed.
We now build children’s play grounds with rubber padded jungle gyms so Johnny and Susie will never get a bruise (or learn about paying attention to what they are doing and the consequence of their actions).
Larry
Great post.
I have great admiration for those who met the challenges and demands necessary for the achievements and successes of the Apollo mission(s). The book “Moon Shot” by Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton has a great description of the actions and effort to bring Apollo 13 home.
A stark contrast to the NASA of today, an agency of spineless puppets who have no path of vision, nor the leadership required to meet the challenges their predecessors achieved with slide rules and sharp pencils. The NASA of today offers the careless waste of life, resources, and corrupted science.
Thanks Anthony. That was a short 90 minutes. And thanks for the memories. I was in grade school when Sputnik was launched and within weeks of getting out of the Army during the first moon landing.
They were indeed heroes.
OK S.
Some great stories here
http://www.ihatethemedia.com/you-could-have-heard-a-pin-drop
My favourite
Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane. At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on.
“You have been to France before, monsieur?” the customs officer asked sarcastically.
Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously.
“Then you should know enough to have your passport ready.”
The American said, “The last time I was here, I didn’t have to show it.”
“Impossible. Americans always have to show their passports upon arrival in France!”
The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained, ”Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn’t find a single Frenchmen to show a passport to.”
You could have heard a pin drop.
You write well, Anthony. You are moving, bring tears…..
Beyond NASA’s “finest hours” you remind us about truth, “real” science, the
fundamental necessary building blocks upon which to build a great nation — and
without which no nation will be great.
America may be stumbling now, confused, worn down by pseudo-science and political
correctness. Corruption, too. But, somewhere, there is a compass held by some.
You are one. Leading in the right direction — Real science! What a silly idea!
Pshaw!
This blanket of pseudo-everything is temporary. America is, truly, better than all this.
Best. ….Lady in Red
PS: BTW, it has turned out that my beautiful Great Pyrenees didn’t have a sprained leg after all. It is “aggressive,” fast-acting, highly painful bone cancer. The vet offered to put him down. Right then. With a couple of mind-fogging bottles of pain
killers for him I took a couple of days. Nope: no amputation; no chemo; no death, yet.
I gave the vet research and videos (mostly from The Riordan Clinic) about IV Vitamin C, which kills cancer cells — only! — and is life enhancing.
She’d never done it before, but was willing and researched it herself within the vet community. We are winging it, with no one with experience and a protocol, carved
in stone.
After only two IVC treatments though, my wondrous pup has turned into quite a song
and dance man, longing to walk, run, in the park, meet new people…. kill a coyote!
Surely, big pharma is right…. surely, there are no simple, easy solutions — yep, solutions! — for cancer. Except pain, suffering and spending gobs of money for
big pharma.
It’s the same story as “climate change,” Anthony. I could go on about Wall Street, as well.
But, truth *will* out! Know that many very good, very smart people respect you
and your dedication very much. Keep chipping to truth. ….smile. LR
Thank you for the Post, Anthony. Thank you to all Vets everywhere. I remember my
Late Father in Law in particular. Don’t drink anymore, but here’s a Shot of E-whiskey
in your honor sir. (Good Kaintuck sippin’ whiskey BTW..)
Normandy, the Relief of Bastonge, The Bulge, Remagen Bridge, Aachen, then on to
Berlin, then home….
Gene Kranz is a national treasure…
Anthony, great series of videos for this Memorial Day. Enjoyable!
@Hide the decline! says:
May 30, 2011 at 6:51 am
What is the point you are trying to make?