NPF: THE GOOD EARTH
Prior to the Moon landing itself (Apollo 11), the most watched event in the history of television was the Christmas Eve broadcast from Apollo 8 in 1968. That crew was the first to actually leave the gravitational pull of Earth and visit the Moon, orbiting it several times but obviously not landing.
The video shows a very low-resolution but clearly desolate image of the lunar surface out of a tiny window on the command module, which put the three astronauts – Lovell, Borman, and Anders – in a reflective state of mind. Lovell, later of Apollo 13 fame, said: "The vast loneliness is awe-inspiring and it makes you realize just what you have back there on Earth."
Borman: "And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you – all of you on the good Earth."
Couldn't have said it better, Frank.
December 23rd, 2011 at 5:27 am
'Borman: "And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you
December 23rd, 2011 at 5:29 am
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaa happen?
Ok, let me try it again.
'Borman: "And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you – all of you on the good Earth."
Couldn't have said it better, Frank.'
Nope, me neither…
I wish everyone out there a Happy Holiday, and a happy and progressive New Year!
December 23rd, 2011 at 7:15 am
Given that this happened just a few months after I was born, I'm filled with about equal parts warm-fuzzy and frustration that I can't go there myself by now.
December 23rd, 2011 at 10:26 am
Happy holidays, Ed. Here's hoping next year is less hectic for you, and us.
December 23rd, 2011 at 10:40 am
Thanks, Ed–happy holidays! I will say, though, that I prefer big bang cosmology over the astronauts' religiously based cosmology. The perspective of Lawrence Krauss is much more poetic, and also has the advantage of probably being true:
http://vimeo.com/31056022
December 23rd, 2011 at 11:12 am
Thanks, Ed and Happy Saturnalia to you and everyone. Let's all try and forget for just a moment that we are very, very fucked and things can only get worse… But hey! where's the Rum, I've got some celebratn' to do.
December 23rd, 2011 at 11:12 am
Happy Festivus to our host.
December 23rd, 2011 at 11:14 am
… and everyone.
December 23rd, 2011 at 11:44 am
What? There was no War on Christmas back then?
December 23rd, 2011 at 12:45 pm
@ Amused: Judging by the perpetual Airing of Grievances, *every* day is Festivus here at G&T! (Festivus does not end until someone pins Ed, and thus far, no one has been able to do so.)
"Merry Christmas" from me, 'cause that's the one I celebrate, and thus the only one I feel responsible for/entitled to reference. If you want to have a Happy Hannukah, a Swell Solstice, or a Rip-Roaring Nothing At All Because We're Alone In The Universe, I exhort you to do so, but the enjoyment thereof is entirely up to you. As a Christmas-observer, I recommend booze, and lots of it.
December 23rd, 2011 at 4:40 pm
Thanks Ed and everyone.
It's been an educative year.
For those less interested: Happy Kiss-a-moose!
For those who are: Happy Christmas!
}:o)
X
December 23rd, 2011 at 7:32 pm
Hamerrappy Hanuchristkwanzaamaskah! Next year will only be worser; drink up and smoke'em (or it) if you got'em (or it)…
December 23rd, 2011 at 7:42 pm
Happy holidays, all y'all.
December 23rd, 2011 at 11:00 pm
Appropriate seaonal wishes and greetings all round.
Ed, thanks for another year of g&t.
December 24th, 2011 at 8:38 pm
Ed
This was the most moving experience of the entire space programme. Great memory; thanks for sharing.
January 31st, 2012 at 4:34 pm
Engrossing article – cheers. You consistently publish a riveting blog post. Thanks once again – I will visit again.