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[b]Apollo 11 Diary[/b] By David Chudwin, M.D. Part I In 1969 I was a sophomore at the University of Michigan who spent much of my time reporting and writing for the Michigan Daily, the independent student newspaper. As someone interested in space exploration, science, and medicine, I was somewhat of an anomaly compared to my humanities-oriented compatriots. So when the announcement came that Apollo 11 would be the first attempt to land on the Moon, I immediately sought to cover the event in person, even though as a 19 year-old sophomore I was low on the totem pole at the Daily and NASA would usually not accredit college journalists. My big break came when one of the seniors, Jim Heck, went to Washington, D.C. as an editor of the College Press Service, a group of university student newspapers which shared stories and resources. He went to bat for me and I received the following letter: June 17, 1969 Dear Dave: I'm now editor of the College Press Service wire network and it is only after this, and two weeks of red tape, talking to high NASA officials, etc. that I have finally gotten you and your friend some press credentials. A few notes: 1) Please realize that your authorization for the Cape Kennedy press group is extremely important. NASA has never authorized any scholastic, non-scientific or other people for press credentials. It took a two-page letter informing the (NASA) public relations of our importance and impact to get the OK... You received credentials over newsmen from several African countries and Kuwait. You will be the only ungraduated people there. Be nice to our capitalistic friends... I immediately arranged air tickets to the Melbourne FL airport, a car rental, and a reservation at the Sea Missile Motel in Cocoa Beach, somewhat seedy but one of the few places that had any rooms left for this historic event. A fellow space enthusiast friend would accompany me. I decided to write a diary of the trip, and here are some annotated excerpts of my Apollo 11 launch adventure: "July 13, 1969: Left at 9:10 a.m. and arrived at O'Hare after pleasant drive in beautiful weather. An older lady was standing next to us. Glanced at her ticket and saw the name was Rose Cernan (mother of Astronaut Eugene Cernan). Talked to Mrs. Cernan for a second and then loaded on plane. Miracle of miracles! The plane took off on time! Melbourne Airport -- Guess what? Saw (Astronaut) Jim Irwin (in his blue NASA flight suit) and other men saying hi to Mrs. Cernan. (Fig. 1) Went to change return flight reservation and Mrs. Cernan came up to us. She asked where we go to school and introduced us to Al Bean, Bruce McCandless, Charlie Duke and Irwin. Bean signed an autograph. They're at the airport meeting their wives. Bean was friendly, and said this was the time to come here. "I'm next," Bean said. They readily posed for pictures. (Fig. 2) Missed airline bus so we had to wait 45 minutes. Waiting, we watched the astronauts (as they waited too). [To be continued.]
June 17, 1969 Dear Dave: I'm now editor of the College Press Service wire network and it is only after this, and two weeks of red tape, talking to high NASA officials, etc. that I have finally gotten you and your friend some press credentials. A few notes: 1) Please realize that your authorization for the Cape Kennedy press group is extremely important. NASA has never authorized any scholastic, non-scientific or other people for press credentials. It took a two-page letter informing the (NASA) public relations of our importance and impact to get the OK... You received credentials over newsmen from several African countries and Kuwait. You will be the only ungraduated people there. Be nice to our capitalistic friends...
Fig. 1: Astronauts Alan Bean and Jim Irwin (right) at Melbourne, Florida airport on July 13, 1969 prior to Apollo 11 launch.
Fig. 2: Astronauts Alan Bean, Jim Irwin, Charlie Duke and Bruce McCandless (left to right) on July 13, 1969, before Apollo 11 launch.
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