Date: August 11, 2011
Title: Apollo 11: Coming Home
Podcasters: Thomas Hofstätter and Leon Dombroski
Organization: :: The Hidden Space Project ::
Link: www.hidden-space.at.tf
Description: This is the 5th audio of five about the mission of Apollo 11. In this audio, Thomas and Leon discuss the return of Apollo 11 to Earth.
Bio: Born in 1993 near Vienna, Austria, Europe. Upper High School with focus on Computer Science.Interested in extreme small and extreme big, devious and uninvestigated things. My main aim is to bring astronomy to public and to establish secular interest in astronomy, physics and mathematics. Host of :: The Hidden Space Project :: at http://hidden-space.at.tf.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions to the podcast, feel free to write me an email to hidden-space (at) gmx (dot) at or visit me at my website at www.hidden-space.at.tf!
Sponsor: This episode of 365 Days of Astronomy is sponsored by Lucindia Wilson, in the names of her parents Dale Wilson and Patricia Borton. And the Libraries of Michigan in hopes that they can stay open.
Transcript:
Hello and welcome to this episode of 365 Days of Astronomy. My name is Thomas Hofstätter and I am the host of :: The Hidden Space Project :: at www.hidden-space.at.tf.
[Leon:] And I’m Leon Dombroski from the state of Connecticut in the United States.
[Leon:] On their sixth day of the mission, after the astronauts had some sleep, the LM crew prepared for ascent and docking with the CSM. When they lifted off they had been on the moon for 21h36min. When they were in zero–gravity, they were able to put off their helmets which they had to wear during ascent. The crew reached low orbit and was picked up by the CSM. To provide a frictionless docking, the US had performed several Gemini missions to train this.
If the rendezvous had not been successful, Collins would have had to come back to earth alone. For this option, President Nixon had prepared a speech in which he announced the astronauts’ death which would have been published.
[Leon:] After they had docked, Armstrong and Aldrin had to clean their suits because the fine dust got caught and endangered to soil the CSM. The astronauts who were on the moon later described it as similar to graphite and the smell like wet ashes from a fire or used gun powder. In later missions, the suits were soiled much more so that the CMP (Collin’s job in Apollo) forbid the CP (Armstrong’s job) and LMP (Aldrin’s job) to go into the CSM before jettisoning their suits.)
The LM later was jettisoned by the crew to save energy for Transearth Injection (TEI). That means their space suits used on the moon now lie on the Lunar surface and the LM can be seen by high quality satellites such as the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). It has observed the landing places and proved the truth of Apollo 11. Moreover it is possible to point a laser to some scientific instruments left on the moon. So the changing space between earth and moon can be measured.
[Leon:] 135h23min after launch, the CSM boosted for they way home to earth. Some 13 hours later, they passed the first Langrange Point for the second time and again were in the sphere of earth’s influence.
After 194h49min of flight on July 24, 1969, the CSM separated into the Command Module (CM) which was to enter the earth’s atmosphere about 14 minutes later and the Service Module (SM) which was left in space. During descent, the temperature of the heat shield increased up to 2870C due to the friction. Because of ionized gas around the capsule, it was not possible to hold radio signals.
[Leon:] The CM after all splashed down after 195h18min of flight near the expected target. The communication ships USS Arlington and USS Hornet with President Nixon on board waited for them. The only problem was that the capsule lied in the water top down, but turned around itself.
Because there was the fear noted by the Space Science Board of the National Academy of Science that the astronauts could bring pathogens to earth, they had to wear Biological Isolation Garments (BIGs). The BIGs were handed to the crew by Lieutenant Clancey Hatleberg who also disinfected the capsule.
[Leon:] The astronauts then were picked up by helicopter. There, President Richard Nixon, Secretary of State William Rogers and NASA Administrator Thomas O. Paine waited for them. When Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins reached the ship, they had to go into the Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF) to avoid possible contamination.
On August 10, 1969, quarantine ended and the astronauts were able to tour around the country. So on August 12 they had a press conference at Manned Spacecraft Center. The astronauts’ tour not only included cities in the US but also cities in Europe, Asia and even an audience with Pope Paul VI at the Vatican.
[Leon:] Apollo 11 brought back 21.7kg of sample material of Lunar soil. This samples are used by scientist up to today for science experiments and studies. Although tried, nobody had been able to bring back material from our neighbor before.
After Apollo 11 there were six other manned missions to moon from which five reached the Lunar surface. Although planned, several other manned missions were canceled because of the lack of money due to the War in Vietnam. The USSR had lost the space race and never again tried to get a man to the moon but concentrated on earth orbit missions.
(Note: Apollo 13 was not able to land because of technical problems.)
(Note: The Russian Soyus capsules count to the best in the world. After the last shuttle flight this will be the only way to get men to the International Space Station (ISS).)
[Leon:] Today, NASA is working to return to the moon by a new constructed rocket and capsule. But a return is improbable until 2020 because of a lack of money for manned space exploration. After President Obama announced to cancel the Constellation program, it will not be possible for the United States to reach this goal anymore. NASA now concentrates on earth reconnaissance and the investigation of climate change and natural disasters like hurricanes and tsunamis.
That’s it for today. I hope, you enjoyed it. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, visit me at my website at www.hidden-space.at.tf.
Thanks for listening and clear-skies!
[Leon:] Good bye for now!
New stories are to come soon!
End of podcast:
365 Days of Astronomy
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