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Author
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Topic: Neil Armstrong e-mails NPR about moonwalk
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-08-2010 04:40 PM
   
National Public Radio's Robert Krulwich wrote on his NPR blog on Tuesday about how relatively short a distance Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin ventured on the Moon. On Wednesday, Armstrong e-mailed him to set the record straight. Well, this doesn't happen every day.In yesterday's post, I talked about Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's walk across the lunar surface back in 1969 and wondered, how come they walked such a modest distance? Less than a hundred yards from their lander? Today Neil Armstrong wrote in to say, here are the reasons... |
Jurg Bolli
Member Posts: 977
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 12-08-2010 06:36 PM
Very cool. |
Fezman92
Member Posts: 1031
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 12-08-2010 09:37 PM
Coolest email to get ever. |
ejectr
Member Posts: 1751
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 12-09-2010 05:55 AM
Of course Armstrong took the time to respond to the PBS article because everyone knows how reclusive he is from the public.  |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 12-09-2010 07:28 AM
Neil also makes some great points about the reasons for returning to the moon. His analogies are excellent. |
xlsteve
Member Posts: 391
From: Holbrook MA, USA
Registered: Jul 2008
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posted 12-09-2010 07:33 AM
quote:
Originally posted by ejectr:
Of course Armstrong took the time to respond to the PBS article because everyone knows how reclusive he is from the public.
Nice one.  |
sts205cdr
Member Posts: 649
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 12-09-2010 11:48 AM
Like I said, you can't swing a dead cat... |
LM1
Member Posts: 667
From: New York, NY
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 12-09-2010 12:53 PM
I loudly applaud Armstrong's comments. I wish that we could hear much more from this pathfinder. We need more of Neil's comments on the current state of NASA's manned-spaceflight plans. If Armstrong wishes to communicate with the space community by e-mail, I am all for it.
I also noted that Neil called our moon "Luna." I propose that we (the space community) should adopt this as the unofficial name of our moon from now on. As you know, our moon is the only moon in our solar system that does not have a name. |
hoorenz
Member Posts: 1031
From: The Netherlands
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 12-09-2010 01:06 PM
How can we know if it is really Neil Armstrong who wrote the e-mail? I remember seeing a long Armstrong letter to a sick child on eBay lately, with the same sort of detail, which was - according to cS - fake. Anyone can write an e-mail, with the sender show up like 'Neil Armstrong'. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-09-2010 01:14 PM
NASA has verified that it was indeed Neil Armstrong. |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 12-09-2010 01:19 PM
quote:
Originally posted by LM1:
As you know, our moon is the only moon in our solar syatem that does not have a name.
The Moon (with a capital "M") is the proper English name for our natural satellite. Of course, the word "moon" (with a small "m") is also a word that is used to describe the natural satellites of planetary bodies...probably because the satellites around other planets have positional similarities to their planet as the Moon does for the Earth. But there should be a distinction between the two uses of the word. Also, different cultures have had different names for our moon...Luna, Selene, etc. |
hoorenz
Member Posts: 1031
From: The Netherlands
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 12-09-2010 01:27 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
NASA has verified that it was indeed Neil Armstrong.
Okay, that is an important detail!
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LM1
Member Posts: 667
From: New York, NY
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 12-09-2010 03:11 PM
quote:
Originally posted by mjanovec:
The Moon (with a capital "M") is the proper English name for our natural satellite.
I agree that the Moon and the Earth should always be capitalized, if someone is speaking about our Moon and the planet Earth. However, this is rarely done by space writers, particularly in relation to our Moon (sometimes in relation to Earth). Both should be capitalized, but very often they are not.
Armstrong's use of the word LUNA in relation to our Moon is the first time that I have seen the use of this word as a name for the Moon. Of course, I have often seen the word "lunar or Lunar" when referring to features of the Moon or spacecraft. Does anyone agree with me that we should now begin calling our Moon LUNA? It is only a small thing to make this change, but it would differentiate our Moon from all other moons in the Solar System (all of which have their own names). Thanks to Neil Armstrong for commenting on current space matters. We need to hear much more from him. |
LM1
Member Posts: 667
From: New York, NY
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 12-09-2010 03:16 PM
quote:
Originally posted by hoorenz:
Okay, that is an important detail!
I agree that this IS a very important detail. HOW was this confirmed? Who would you contact if you wanted to confirm if Neil Armstrong sent an e-mail to you? |
Steve Procter
Member Posts: 1031
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 12-09-2010 03:30 PM
Err... Neil Armstrong??? |
LM1
Member Posts: 667
From: New York, NY
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 12-09-2010 03:39 PM
Err...yes. But how would you contact Neil Armstrong? You would either need his e-mail address or phone number or that of someone close to him or someone you trusted at NASA. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 12-09-2010 03:42 PM
If you look at Armstrong’s letter, you'll see that he copied NASA on it. My assumption is NASA would know if it was truly from him. NASA tweeted the story out pretty fast, so they seemed confident in it. |
LM1
Member Posts: 667
From: New York, NY
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 12-09-2010 04:22 PM
I am not doubting the source. I am only following the thread where it leads. I see from your link that Armstrong copied NASA. Again the question, how do we know that it really is Armstrong doing this? I hope that it is because I want Armstrong to be more forthcoming in his comments. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-09-2010 05:05 PM
quote:
Originally posted by LM1:
However, this is rarely done by space writers, particularly in relation to our Moon (sometimes in relation to Earth).
Most professional journalists follow Associated Press (AP) style. As referenced in the AP Stylebook under heavenly bodies: Lowercase sun and moon, but capitalize them if their Greek or Latin names are used: Helios, Luna. "Earth" (or "earth") has a dedicated entry: Generally lowercase; capitalize when used as a proper name of the planet. She is down-to-earth. How does the pattern apply to Mars, Jupiter, Earth, the sun and the moon? The astronauts returned to Earth. He hopes to move heaven and earth. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-09-2010 05:09 PM
quote:
Originally posted by LM1:
...how do we know that it really is Armstrong doing this?
The person at NASA who Armstrong copied on his e-mail to NPR is the same person who tweeted the story for NASA and knows Armstrong personally. |
Wehaveliftoff
Member Posts: 2343
From:
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 12-10-2010 12:39 PM
Neil should have PHONED in to make a more convincing impression so as not appear to be as reclusive he is, emailing NPR is quite Impersonal. I mean, really, is he above speaking to a non-profit national public radio forum? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-10-2010 12:51 PM
The original commentary to which Armstrong was responding was written on an NPR commentator's blog -- it was not broadcast on the radio. Armstrong's written reply was therefore quite appropriate. |
spaceman1953
Member Posts: 953
From: South Bend, IN
Registered: Apr 2002
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posted 12-11-2010 07:57 PM
I just think it is cool to think about all the other heroes and important people who might be listening to the same NPR broadcast I am listening to at the same time! And when you call in to make a comment, who knows who might be hearing what you have to say!I was a big non-NPR listener till about a year ago. I am learning TONS of stuff and having a great time.... my ex-wife and one of my best friends were always telling me about what they were hearing on NPR this and NPR that, and when my car radio started only getting FM stations, it is one of my favorite stations now on my 20 minute ride to work! |
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