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Author
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Topic: Photo of the week 209 (November 1, 2008)
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heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 10-31-2008 03:59 PM
   
 The family of Jim Lovell watch the launch of Apollo 8 from KSC on December 21, 1968. I can not begin to imagine what it must feel like when you see a loved one climb into the sky on that monster-rocket, knowing that in three days he will be 384,000 kilometers away. In my opinion the families were heroes, too. Ed Hengeveld |
Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 10-31-2008 04:49 PM
Great shot, Ed. Never seen that one before.Have to agree, watching them go in person is truly emotional... can't imagine what it would be like with a family member on board. |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1512
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 10-31-2008 05:54 PM
I remember seeing the pictures of the families back then when I was still a kid and thinking "who cares - I wanna see pictures of the astronauts and the hardware!"Now with a few decades (ok, a LOT of decades!) more life behind me, I have to agree with Heng and Tom. I don't know how the families managed to cope. Many families fell apart afterwards. But the Lovell family seemed to cope well and hang together... |
spacecraft films
Member Posts: 802
From: Columbus, OH USA
Registered: Jun 2002
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posted 10-31-2008 06:18 PM
I strongly disagree with this assessment.If I ever got to go into space, with my wife and children knowing how much it meant to me, they would be overjoyed that I was getting to do something that meant so much to me. Yes, there is risk. But hell, there is risk in getting in the car every morning. Much better to face the risk doing something that you feel so strongly about.... I just don't think the emotions are being interpreted correctly.... It isn't like they were being sent off to nearly certain death! Or even a high probability of it! I see a completely different picture... watching someone you love on one of humanity's great voyages... not much more awe-inspiring and incredible than that... |
Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 10-31-2008 07:27 PM
Mike Mullane's recent book describes very well what his wife went through everytime her husband launched.To put it mildly, she didn't look forward to launch day. |
heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 11-01-2008 06:18 AM
quote:
Originally posted by spacecraft films:
I just don't think the emotions are being interpreted correctly.... It isn't like they were being sent off to nearly certain death! Or even a high probability of it!
Maybe you should ask how Susan Borman feels about this...Ed |
spacecraft films
Member Posts: 802
From: Columbus, OH USA
Registered: Jun 2002
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posted 11-01-2008 09:12 AM
My point is that emotions at a time such as this are far more complex than an automatic default to dread. Fear seems to be the instant interpretation, which tends to capture a disproportionate share of the story when projected historically through several decades, for the sake of drama. And Ed, I've talked to many people about the probabilities on Apollo 8, but not Susan Borman. I am aware of her concerns. There was apprehension among many because of the single point SPS failure possibility, and relief when they got past that mission event, but I have interviewed several involved directly with the decision and the mission, and as I specifically said, they were not being sent on a mission with a high probability of death. |
heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 11-01-2008 09:39 AM
OK, the emotions of the families during the mission are no doubt complex; a mix of pride, awe, fear and more.But I think during a launch, especially to the moon, the overriding feeling is probably grave concern for the safety of the loved-one. Didn't Harriet Eisele say "It is agony"? Somebody can tell me a thousand times that it is perfectly safe for my wife to go bungee-jumping and that technically it isn't dangerous, but I would be very concerned every time. Ed |
mark plas
Member Posts: 385
From: the Netherlands
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 11-01-2008 11:59 AM
During that time it was probably more dangerous for an astronaut to fly a T-38, than to sit on top of a Saturn V for a flight to the moon. |
APG85
Member Posts: 306
From:
Registered: Jan 2008
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posted 11-01-2008 03:18 PM
Great picture. They seem to be looking in different directions... |
ejectr
Member Posts: 1751
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 11-01-2008 03:37 PM
What can you say about a picture of a family that is watching their loved one climb through the sky on a thundering 300 foot long shaft of power that has a firey tail as long whose sound just knocked you off your feet as it left the ground not that far from you?I can just imagine the emotions inside them all. Even the little guy is captured by it. Great human study photo Ed. |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1306
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 11-01-2008 03:38 PM
Happy, Proud, Thrilled. |
ejectr
Member Posts: 1751
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 11-01-2008 03:40 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Lou Chinal:
Happy, Proud, Thrilled.
Maybe the second time, Lou, but I doubt this time! |
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