NASA Cancels Current Space Program

Feb. 28, 2010


Wow! What a terrible announcement. This reminds me and probably millions of other Space Fans of the time Pres. Nixon cancelled Apollo in 1974. The head of NASA announced that he is cancelling the Constellation program consisting of the Ares Rocket and the Orion Capsule. NASA is going to refund monies to the contractors.  Trying to figure this out will be a tangled mess. America has long led the world in space exploration and development. Boy, how the mighty have fallen. This is really sad.
Especially to me who worked on Apollo.
I'm sure all of you know why this is happening: the wars in the mid-east and the financial debacle which started two years ago.  Pres. Bush thought he was doing the right thing but he and Congress have driven this country to near bankruptacy.
WE ARE BROKE!
Let's hope that the ISS will not go silent and the Cape abandoned.

A MEASURE FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON

Did you know that right after Apollo 11 landed on the moon, scientific projects were placed? Did NASA keep any of this secret?  I don't know. Neil Armstrong took two reflectors and placed them in the lunar soil on a specific place.  There were other experiments too. This experiment with the reflectors continued for 40 years.
On top of a mountain (Mt. Davis) in the big bend country of Texas stands MacDonald Observatory.  It is owned by the University of Texas.  The astronomers have been firing a ruby laser at the moon every day for 40 years.The moon is moving away from us and in 10,000 years, there will be no eclipses.  Our moon is the only one to have eclipses in our solar sysrem

The Bagpipes

I am of Scottish Descent. We have been to the Edinburg Tattoo twice in the early 1990s.  What does this have to do with Apollo?

To me this is the spirit of our Lunar achievement.
We Scots have attained greatness. Please listen and enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MOUcIp5W34

The Apollo Naval Recovery Ships

Have any of you heard of the Apollo Naval Recovery Ships? There were eleven missions and about 80 ships.  The USS Hornet was the Primary Recovery Ship for Apollo 11 and Apollo 12.  The primary ships were designated PRS.  The Hornet is now a wonderful navy museum.  Look it up and you can find it's Museum and location.

My You Tube Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DifBN3PPhk

Affirmations: Hope you enjoy this.

The Saturn V versus the Space Shuttle

There is nothing in common with these two except they both use the VAB and the launch pads.
There are procedures with the Shuttle that were never done on Apollo. Most folks that know the Shuttle equate everything done with the Saturn V. Not so.
In Apollo the people working in one plant never knew that there were more than one plant (there were hundreds). We were never told anything.  If there were communications between plants it was done at the highest levels--probably through Marshall Space Flight Center at Huntsville.  Most of us 400,000 were the Peons in the Pits. There were no cell phones and regular phones were few and far between.  Transistors had not been invented yet so there was no fancy technology.
I was recently asked some questions about procedures.  I had to laugh because it had nothing to do with the Saturn V.
Most of the reason for the lack of information was due to the paranoia of the "communists".
I laugh at "homeland security" and TSA. They have nothing on Apollo.  Have you seen these (name inserted) really find any terrorists? All they do is piss off passengers.  Have you seen old ladies strap on explosives and blow up anything in this country?
Americans are being punished for the horrors of 911.

TAKING CHANCE

How do you describe something so profound that it stills your heart? This is honor is so portrayed that it affected everyone: cast, crew, the family, airplane passengers, baggage handlers, truckers and everyone. This is a true story of a young Marine from Wyoming who was killed in Iraq. But there is more. This also is the story of a Marine Colonel who escorts Lance Corporal Chance Phelps back to his family in Wyoming. It is a journey of discovery and shows a nation's reverence and gratitude toward its war dead.
It is only an hour and a half long and is out on DVD.
One of the most incredible and moving pictures I have seen in a very long time. AND IT IS ALL TRUE.

The United States Marine Corps

Please read the Commandant's message for the United States Marine Corps' 233th Birthday on Nov. 10th 2009. I have three Marines whom I love very much.  We are an honorable family and have served our country with courage. I have met people from all over the world who are in awe of our Marines.  We just lost our 86-year old Marine veteran of Iwo Jima and Korea.
I believe every time a Marine goes to heaven, a beautiful bell tolls, "Welcome home, Marine".

Semper Fidelis Marines!

The Air & Space Museum at the Smithsonian

On July 20, 2009  I was contacted by the Air & Space Museum at the Smithsonian Institute.  They honored me by asking for a written biography. Was I surprised!
It is fun to have been contacted by engineers and astronomers from England, Scotland, Australia, Japan and Russia.  Everyone writes in English very well except one: Russia.  He is a nice guy but hilarious. I asked him if he spoke English. "No" he said.  He is actually French living in Russia.  He has translation programs.  He translated French -> Russian -> English.  You wouldn't believe the hilarious meanings.  Then he sent me pictures of the Russian space vehicles. THEY ARE EXACTLY LIKE OURS--even to a copy of our Space Shuttle.  But he told me that they didn't work. I am really laughing by then.

The Navy Recovery Ships

I have been researching the Navy Recovery ships of Apollo.  Oh, my. I found a ship named after a young Marine who was a receiptent of the Congressional Medal of Honor during WWII. More later.
There were eleven Apollo Recovery Missions and 80 ships. This does not include Mercury and Gemini missions.
This also does not include the aircraft.

SATURN V new information

I'm sure you all know people who know other people. This can go around the world. Well, I have been trying to reach any Apollo Astronaut to ask a question: "What was it like to ride my beloved Saturn V?". I got my answer through many contacts.
The answer? "TERRIFYING". I love it! That is from our SI-C Stage..
But all you guys remained safe. :o)

5th & 6th Graders at a great School

I just finished speaking to the 5th and 6th grades at a great private school. I showed my video and they loved it. My talk is about the 400,000 who really built Apollo. They gave me rousing cheers when certain videos were shown. I received three standing ovations. Not an astronaut was in sight. I am telling everyone that Apollo is about the history of our country and that AMERICANS built and did everything. Americans landed on the moon, too.
It is a great lesson in history.
Cheers to all!

NASA facilities on the Cape

Cape Kennedy is still there. I just returned from a visit.
The true name is “The Kennedy Space Center”.
Kennedy was named by Congress after Pres. Kennedy’s death.
The Kennedy Space Center is west of Cape Canaveral and is mainly a visitor’s center. They have museums, theatres, interactive exhibits for the kids and models of many rockets.
They have memorials to the Challenger and the Columbia.
There are stores selling everything. People can hear a real astronaut give a lecture. You can have lunch with an astronaut. The public can watch launches from there.
I love it! The NASA employees are delightful and love their center.
And…..they have my beloved Saturn V. I couldn’t keep the smile off my face.

Cape Canaveral is a working Air Force Base. Cape Canaveral is east from The Kennedy Space Center across the Banana River. Canaveral contains all the launch facilities both for Apollo and the Shuttle. There are the launch pads and launch towers. There is the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and the crawler tractor. Launch Control is there along with safety bunkers and administrative buildings. There is tracking equipment and much more. There are more launch facilities at the Air Force Base. The Air Force launches communications satellites, weather satellites, planetary probes (Mars rovers) and space telescopes and much more. We (the U.S.) have the best launch facilities in the world. Other countries pay us to use our launch facilities.
Why are we the best? Florida’s unique position on the globe gives every space craft a 1,000 mph kick eastward. This is because of the earth’s rotation.
No civilian/tourist can go to Cape Canaveral. There is security everywhere and you will be jailed if caught.

THE CONTRACTORS

I started this blog to do several things: educate people about the real Apollo and honor the contractors. For 40 years or more all the public hears about is the astronauts and their missions. We 400,000 people who actually did the work were in facilities from the Pacific to the Atlantic and from the Canadian border to the Mexican border. We are grandparents, parents, sons and daughters. With great hearts and lots of skill we created a miracle. We were the ones that built the mighty Saturn V not the reporters in Mission Control. NASA did not build anything. The contractors did. Who built the launch tower and the launch pads? We did. Who built the towering VAB? Not Neil Armstrong. Who tested everything to make sure it was perfect?
I am mighty tired of the public listening to the pap NASA spews out. No one has told the adults and kids of today that what they are hearing is bull s**t. We have given all the astronauts their due for over 40 years. They are nice folks but if not for us, they would be sitting on the ground. Enough is enough.
I receive emails asking me to promote someone's media stuff. They are invaribally about Apollo 11 or Apollo 13.
I receive emails telling me to read this or that book. Why should I buy someone else's book when I lived it? Anyway every book is about NASA or the astronauts. Gag. If you want me to read someone's book, buy it and send it to me.

Yes, I am not happy.

My New Nickname

Hi, folks Hope everyone is fine.
I have some interesting news.
1. A great propulsion engineer who works in Michoud contacted me. Oh, Michoud! What a thrill! He has been working on the Shuttle for 20 years. Hooray!

2. I have been given a nickname: STEELY-EYED ROCKET WOMAN. Ha! Look out!