|
Author
|
Topic: Some fathers winging it at NASM
|
KC Stoever
Member Posts: 1012
From: Denver, CO USA
Registered: Oct 2002
|
posted 06-17-2007 11:49 AM
   
A very funny story in the Washington Post this morning, about gotta-have-the-answer dads at the Air and Space Museum (and the eavesdropping docents who despair): Father Knows Best? So happy father's day to those who know, among other things, that the Mercury capsule never journeyed as far as the moon! |
Rob Sumowski
Member Posts: 466
From: Macon, Georgia
Registered: Feb 2000
|
posted 06-17-2007 12:02 PM
Now that story really made me chuckle. Perfect for today. Thanks, Kris.
Rob |
stsmithva
Member Posts: 1933
From: Fairfax, VA, USA
Registered: Feb 2007
|
posted 06-17-2007 12:37 PM
Kris, I read that article in the paper yesterday and I was just about to post it! I like the part with the forklift. |
ea757grrl
Member Posts: 729
From: South Carolina
Registered: Jul 2006
|
posted 06-17-2007 09:41 PM
Heh heh. Thanks for sharing that. It reminds me of something I read many, many years ago that a former F-106 pilot shared about the times when he had to do "airshow duty." For instance, when someone would point to the big pitot tube sticking out the nose and ask if the bullets came out the little hole in the front of the probe; if the ram-air turbine that deployed from the belly was actually a little propeller that could drive the airplane in an emergency; and my favorite, the little kid who asked about all those pockets in the flight suit. "Oh, those are for the special pencils we use. Yes, they're sort of like crayons. I guess you could call them Air Force crayons."  Thanks for sharing that article. jodie |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
|
posted 06-17-2007 09:47 PM
Reminds me of something that I overheard while a senior at the University of South Florida. While in the Physics building, which has a giant pendulem inside the staircase (about 5-6 floors), I observed what was obviously 2 new freshmen. One said to the other; the pendulem is not actually moving back and forth, the earth is moving back and forth underneath the pendulum. I hope these were lost English majors. |
saturn1b
Member Posts: 159
From: Westcliffe, CO
Registered: Jun 2006
|
posted 06-17-2007 10:59 PM
You mean you guys didn't know that the fork lift really went to the moon?? It's the one that John Glenn used to pick up all those moon rocks. Let's get with the program. I plan on putting one just like it in my museum! |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
|
posted 06-18-2007 06:18 PM
quote:
Originally posted by MCroft04:
pendulum. I hope these were lost English majors.
I woke up last night horrified just realizing that I spelled PENDULUM incorrectly. How embarrassing!
Edited by MCroft04 |
mdmyer
Member Posts: 900
From: Humboldt KS USA
Registered: Dec 2003
|
posted 06-18-2007 06:56 PM
Miranda and I spent the Sunday after the autograph show at the Cape. We took the Cape tour just so we could spend some time in the Saturn V building. While having lunch we heard one father telling his family about the launch escape system and how it had been added to the Apollo rockets after the Apollo 1 fire. Even Miranda knew better. Mike |
KC Stoever
Member Posts: 1012
From: Denver, CO USA
Registered: Oct 2002
|
posted 06-18-2007 10:35 PM
quote:
Originally posted by MCroft04:
I woke up last night horrified just realizing that I spelled PENDULUM incorrectly. How embarrassing!
Edited by MCroft04
I often have and live that nightmare, MCroft. But you have erased your understandable mishap with something approaching spelling greatness in these darkened times: Yup-- two r's and two s's in embarrass. |
Cliff Lentz
Member Posts: 655
From: Philadelphia, PA USA
Registered: Mar 2002
|
posted 06-19-2007 11:54 AM
The NASM is the one place in the world that I can't keep my mouth shut. My wife has stopped walking with me because I'm always overhearing some ridiculous story and I feel that's it's my duty to straighten things out. I suppose I enter into the "Know-it-all" status, but it's difficult not too! I started to correct a few people standing in front of Friendship 7 one day and ended up with a little tour of my own. |
tncmaxq
Member Posts: 287
From: New Haven, CT USA
Registered: Oct 2001
|
posted 06-19-2007 01:08 PM
Sad thing is if people don't know about a certain spacecraft or program, the info is usually right there for them to check out. Either there is printed material on the exhibits, or they can ask a docent or employee.Many of us had the pleasure of being in the Apollo-Saturn 5 building on the evening of June 9. I remember the first time I went there, shortly after it opened. The crowd saw the movie about the Saturn 5, and the simulated launch. Then the doors opened to the museum and people got to see the Saturn 5 for the first time. One child asked his father "what did this rocket do?" "I don't know for sure," was the reply. I was going to say were you watching or listening at all to the presentation we just saw?? |
advertisement