Where We Were

Written on July 20th over at MySpace:

If you didn't know; 41 years ago today a rather amazing radio transmission was made. After a harrowing few minutes of near white knuckle tension at Mission Control in Houston, Texas and shortly after 20:17 UTC the Mission commander of Apollo 11, who had been too pre-occupied to respond to hailing, responded by changing his call sign.

The message, and the change of call sign was puzzling in the Mission Control room. The staff, who'd been holding it's breath didn't quite know what to make of it.

"Who the hell is Tranquility Base? And what does it mean that the Eagle..."

Then there was a sudden sigh of relief, of understanding.

Capcom (Charles Duke): "Roger, Twan-- Tranquility, we copy you on the ground. You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue. We're breathing again. Thanks a lot."

And with that the world went nuts.

Tranquility Base was established; the Eagle had landed. Humanity had made it to the moon.

Centuries of dreaming crystalized into one perfect moment. To be followed only hours later with Armstrong's first step and his own beautiful, if also flubbed, line.

Centuries of aspirations. A decade of work by tens of thousands of American and Soviet engineers, technicians and astronauts. 5 men already dead in the endeavor. And there we were.

I wrote a poem about it recently that I think is worth sharing again.

So here goes;

Litter

"We came in peace for all Mankind."

A vast number of footprints.

Two PLSS back-packs,

one Hassleblad camera,

one American Flag,

one Plaque, bearing famous inscription.

One Passive Seismic Experiment,

one Lunar Laser Range Finder,

four lunar overshoes.

One Landing Stage;

Lunar Module.

And also one small bag;

Contents;

One solid gold olive branch, miniature,

one silicon message disk,

Contents; list of those in the US Government

directly responsible

for this offering

on the alter of eternity.

Plus, The goodwill of four US Presidents

and 73 world leaders.

Also, One Apollo 11 Mission Patch,

one Astronaut tie pin,

Owner; Deke Slayton.

Flight Stauts; Unfit for Space Travel

A list, on a scrap of paper;

Gus Grissom, Edward White

Roger Chaffee,

Flight Status; deceased.

Moreover,

known only to the two men

depositing them,

Two copies, military decoration,

reproduction.

Country of origin;

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Metal name;

Hero of the Soviet Union.

Recipients; Yuri Gagarin,

Vladimir Komarov.

Flight Status; deceased.

E.

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