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  Photo of the week 60 (December 28, 2005)

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Author Topic:   Photo of the week 60 (December 28, 2005)
heng44
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Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001

posted 12-28-2005 07:08 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for heng44   Click Here to Email heng44     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

Apollo 7 astronauts Wally Schirra (right) and Donn Eisele eat breakfast on launch morning, October 11, 1968, along with Walt Cunningham (not shown). As Cunningham wrote later in his book, the Florida Today newspaper had the glorious headline "GO 7!" in sky-is-falling type.

Ed Hengeveld

FFrench
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From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 12-28-2005 11:24 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for FFrench     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just coming into shot on the left hand side (and more visible in other photos taken that day), Donn Eisele's coffee mug, inscribed "What's-His-Name"...

FFrench
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From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 12-28-2005 11:31 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for FFrench     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That mug shown in full here!

Donn Eisele enjoys breakfast before going to work -- in Earth orbit.
October 11, 1968

"What's His Name?" questions the phrase on the coffee cup. To the left is Kenneth Kleinknecht, manager of the Apollo spacecraft office. Astronauts Eisele, Walter M. Schirra, Jr., and Walter Cunningham rode into Earth orbit in their Apollo 7 spacecraft. The spacecraft was launched at 11:03 a.m., EST, from Complex 34, Cape Kennedy, to begin an 11-day mission. Purpose of the flight was to qualify the spacecraft for a lunar voyage.

Michael Davis
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From: Houston, Texas
Registered: Aug 2002

posted 12-28-2005 12:01 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Michael Davis   Click Here to Email Michael Davis     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
When I look at the this photo, I can't help but think of the Apollo 7 segment in "From the Earth to the Moon." It was strongly implied there that Eisele showed up for this breakfast after having been out all night. It contained a bit of grumbling from Schirra and Cunningham about how that sort of behavior was just not acceptable for launch day.

But Eisele looks OK here...

FFrench
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Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 12-28-2005 12:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for FFrench     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Without breaking any confidences, I can tell you that that part of the series was strongly disputed by people who had been very close to Eisele, a monetary settlement was involved, and members of the Eisele family were hurt by that portrayal.

heng44
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Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001

posted 12-28-2005 01:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for heng44   Click Here to Email heng44     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by FFrench:
Just coming into shot on the left hand side (and more visible in other photos taken that day), Donn Eisele's coffee mug, inscribed "What's-His-Name"...

...the joke being that the crew was called "Wally, Walt and What's-His-Name".

All times are CT (US)

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