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Author
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Topic: Jim Lovell as Apollo 11 command module pilot
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Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 675
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 07-30-2015 07:39 PM
  
If Jim Lovell had been Apollo 11 command module pilot as originally planned, would he have ever had the chance to walk on the moon? None of the actual Apollo 11 crew ever flew in space again.Also do you think he would have been more famous as the Apollo 11 CMP then he ended up being? (By the way, I'm a VERY big Jim Lovell fan.) |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 07-30-2015 07:58 PM
Wasn't Michael Collins offered a chance to back up Apollo 14, which would have put him in line as commander of Apollo 17? |
mach3valkyrie
Member Posts: 719
From: Albany, Oregon
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 07-30-2015 11:13 PM
That's correct. Collins turned it down.
I feel Jim Lovell probably would have taken it, had it been offered. |
Headshot
Member Posts: 864
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 07-31-2015 07:22 AM
Agreed, Lovell would have accepted the Apollo 14 backup crew/Apollo 17 prime crew scenario. |
Skylon
Member Posts: 274
From:
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 07-31-2015 09:07 AM
That does throw an interesting wrench into planning Apollo 11's crew - mainly, the backups. With Borman and Collins both deciding one Apollo flight was enough, who would be backup CDR on 11 and then fly 13? |
Rusty53
Member Posts: 50
From: Rochester, NY USA
Registered: Jun 2010
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posted 07-31-2015 10:05 AM
How about Bill Anders? He was the original back-up CMP for Apollo 11. With Lovell out of the picture for Apollo 13 commander, maybe Slayton would have turned to Anders. |
Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 675
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 07-31-2015 11:45 AM
So Lovell would have been CDR of Apollo 17? Do you think he would have done the whole 'last man on the moon' thing? |
Delta7
Member Posts: 1505
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 07-31-2015 12:33 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Skylon:
That does throw an interesting wrench into planning Apollo 11's crew - mainly, the backups. With Borman and Collins both deciding one Apollo flight was enough, who would be backup CDR on 11 and then fly 13?
I'm thinking Collins would have re-considered had he flown Apollo 8 instead of 11. The latter was the pinnacle of the program and my thinking is that is what may have caused him to consider it being a good point to call it quits. I'm thinking Collins/Anders/Mitchell as backup crew for Apollo 11 (Haise having likely been assigned to the Apollo 10 backup crew) and Collins/Mattingly/Mitchell flying Apollo 13. If Collins had been adamant on retiring after Apollo 8, imo Slayton would have talked Borman into backing up Armstrong. Borman/Anders/Mitchell as Apollo 11 backup crew. |
Kite
Member Posts: 831
From: Northampton UK
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 08-01-2015 06:01 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Paul78zephyr:
Do you think he would have done the whole 'last man on the moon' thing?
I think Lovell would have been an excellent last man, as he has been an exemplary Apollo 13 leader and spokesman, but so is Cernan. Both are gregarious and superb ambassadors for space exploration. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3120
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 08-02-2015 11:26 AM
Agreed, but I think it's safe to add that Jim Lovell would willingly have donned the mantle of "last man on the Moon." |
Fra Mauro
Member Posts: 1587
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 08-02-2015 05:15 PM
If Anders was offered a chance to walk on the moon, he likely would've accepted. A reason he left was that he didn't just want to orbit the moon again. |
Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 675
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 08-03-2015 10:17 PM
Thanks all. Just to be clear I've got nothing against Gene Cernan — he is a good man. I've always felt so terrible that Jim Lovell never got to walk on the moon. If anyone was deserving (and yes he was given the chance) it was him. |
RobertB
Member Posts: 160
From: Israel
Registered: Nov 2012
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posted 08-07-2015 11:17 AM
Similarly, I've always thought that Collins would have been a fantastic Last Man.CapCom for First Voyage to the moon.
CMP for First Landing.
CDR for Last Landing. Imagine what a book Carrying the Fire would have been! |
Fra Mauro
Member Posts: 1587
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 08-07-2015 07:13 PM
I'm certain that each of us could come up with three astronauts who deserved to leave footprints up there. |
Delta7
Member Posts: 1505
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 08-07-2015 08:33 PM
My ideal crew made up of those who didn't land on the moon (but were alive and eligible):CDR: Jim McDivitt
CMP: Vance Brand
LMP: Bill Anders |
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