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Author
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Topic: Bill Anders in Long Beach
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Aztecdoug
Member Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 05-19-2004 06:48 PM
   
I had the opportunity to see Bill Anders speak at a function aboard the Queen Mary today in Long Beach.He spoke for awhile and I thought I would share some of the interesting points he made. In regards to Apollo 8, the local dignitaries repeatedly credited him with taking the famous color Earthrise photo. Honestly, I heard so many versions of who actually did take it I had lost track of who really did. But, back to General Anders. He said he was piloting the CM as it completed its first rev of the Moon. He says he tweaked the RCS thrusters just enough and reoriented the capsule such that his side of the capsule crossed the imaginary line first making him the first man to orbit the Moon! (He says that Frank Borman uttered something unprintable the first time he heard Bill's claim!) Of course I don't know if this is fact, or just some more of the one-upmanship shared among the crew as already seen in the picture credits for the Earthrise photo. Maj. Gen. Anders also said that Frank Borman had been offered the first lunar landing for him and I suspect the Apollo 8 crew based on Bill's inflection. Gen. Anders says to this day he sees Frank often at air races and is frightened to raise the topic with him. The final point of interest is in regards to his view of the latest initiative to return to the Moon and go onto Mars. He believes we should go back to the Moon, but doesn't think it will be as simple as people think to go to Mars. The main problem he cited was the radiation. Again, he spoke for awhile and was quite amusing in talking about his application to join NASA. He brought some people to tears when relating the story of telling Pat White that her husband had passed away. The General covered many topics and was quite entertaining. Time seemed to stand still for me while he spoke. It was a great time for everyone in attendance this afternoon.
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Warm Regards Douglas Henry Enjoy yourself and have fun.... it is only a hobby! |
General Lee
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posted 05-19-2004 06:54 PM
Did Mr. Anders sign any autographs? |
Aztecdoug
Member Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 05-19-2004 07:14 PM
The General signed a few things for people. It was not a NASA Litho and sharpie crowd though. (For lack of a better descriptor.) The group of people were more like what I would call the, "Sign my program please," types of people.Even then, the crowd was mostly happy to see him speak at their event. Most of the people who approached him left with a handshake or photograph. Again, it wasn't one of those events you go to where you see the school of sharks pulling lithos out of nowhere. It was a real nice peaceful day! ------------------
Warm Regards Douglas Henry Enjoy yourself and have fun.... it is only a hobby! [This message has been edited by Aztecdoug (edited May 19, 2004).] |
Jake
Member Posts: 464
From: Issaquah, WA U.S.A.
Registered: Jun 2002
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posted 05-19-2004 07:51 PM
Thanks for the report Doug... glad you could get out to hear his talk.... :-)------------------
Jake Schultz - curator,
Newport Way Air Museum (OK, it's just my home) |
spaced out
Member Posts: 3110
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 05-20-2004 03:19 AM
quote:
...it wasn't one of those events you go to where you see the school of sharks pulling lithos out of nowhere.
Hehe! A nice turn of phrase there Doug.  Actually, I always wondered... where do they pull those lithos out of?  |
Steve Procter
Member Posts: 1031
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 05-20-2004 04:22 AM
Where do they pull those lithos from?They have special orifices designed specifically for the purpose ! Steve |
John K. Rochester
Member Posts: 1292
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 05-20-2004 10:36 AM
.. out of their lithospheres, I would imagine.. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 05-20-2004 11:31 AM
"In regards to Apollo 8, the local dignitaries repeatedly credited him with taking the famous color Earthrise photo. Honestly, I heard so many versions of who actually did take it I had lost track of who really did."It was conclusively settled a few years ago, looking at when the frames were shot in conjunction with the onboard voice tapes, that Borman took the first shot - in black and white - followed by Anders taking the famous color shot. So the photo should rightly be credited to Anders, and the fact that Borman remembered taking it himself, but not necessarily what kind of film he was using, was where the confusion began. FF |
Aztecdoug
Member Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 05-20-2004 01:10 PM
Francis,Thank you! I knew it was settled who took the picture, it just didn't settle into my memory yet! Now we just need to settle who really was the first man to circle the Moon! :-) ------------------
Warm Regards Douglas Henry Enjoy yourself and have fun.... it is only a hobby! |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 05-20-2004 01:24 PM
One thing is for sure... if the Chinese ever send people to the moon, Bill can say he was the first at that too (he was born in Hong Kong...)FF |
William
Member Posts: 46
From: Terre Haute IN
Registered: Nov 2002
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posted 05-20-2004 09:18 PM
Lovell has said the same thing that Borman took a black and white and that Anders took the first color shot.
Bill Lower
Terre Haute, IN
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