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gurdymonkeyFrom the back of the hangar deck through the backs of people's heads in a standing-room-only crowd, that's what Dr. Aldrin looked like: somebody's Pop Pop. He spoke for about an hour, about going to the moon in 1969, about what we should be doing in the future, about what he'd been doing since then, his battles with alcoholism, articulate, candid and with humor. He's as much a hero for that 30 year AA chip he keeps in his pockets as for his ongoing contributions to astronautics. When asked why we went to the moon, he looked straight out of the video screen and said "We did it to beat the Russians." (Ironically, one of the space suits on display courtesy of the Chabot Space center is a late 1990's Russian model.) There's an entire generation now who grew up after the Cold War, but Aldrin served in Korea, followed by a stint in Bitburg, Germany as one of the Air Force's Cold Warriors. He then said he fervently hopes we do not end up in another cold war in this century with China. Or Korea. He discussed global cooperation in pursuing space exploration and development, and quipped that there's a monolith on Phobos that needs to be examined, promoting the idea of missions to Mars and its satellites.
The miracle of 12 megapixel technology in a dim hangarbay:
(I am disappointed to say I did not get my books signed. It turns out they had to be purchased AT the Hornet, so one could get an accompanying ticket to get it signed. Mope, mope. I'll definitely keep my copy and read it, but I need to tell Nancy on Monday what happened and that she's under no obligation to reimburse me for it.)
Detail of the Apollo-style suit they had on display, complete with Snoopy button.
Lynn, a docent from the Chabot Space and Science Center describes the construction of a Russian Sokol suit - the mass of fabric in her hands is a rubber lined "tunnel" the wearer had to climb through to get into and out of the suit.
The Hornet itself is well worth a visit on its own merits. The weekend docents are vets who served on her or other Naval vessels and are a wealth of information and stories. I was shooting planes on the flight deck and happened to walk up to one as a docent was explaining to a bunch of people how the catapult system worked, right down to the signal and procedure sequence. Another docent in Navigation explained the workings of a WWII vintage chart table with a mechanized system for determining position based on speed and course. The chart lies on a sheet of glass and a light underneath it moves in response to the gears in the box at right, which are given information from the gauges on the wall above the chart table (knots per hour and direction). I asked him something fairly techical, he answered, gave me a quizzical look and asked if I had "served." Oh, no, I'm a history buff, I explained, and mentioned having recently read Arthur Herman's To Rule The Waves. Had I read any of the Patrick O'Brien novels? Oh, yes!!!
I definitely want to go back some weekend when it's less of a mob scene, because I'd love to spend more time talking to some of these volunteers. There were just too many folks aboard for the Splashdown celebration to do very much more than I did. In fact, I even think it'd be fun to go out on a day when the weather is a bit more broody and shoot some more pictures under those conditions.
Me, being arty:
More photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/70104978@N00/sets/72157621831476240/
The miracle of 12 megapixel technology in a dim hangarbay:
(I am disappointed to say I did not get my books signed. It turns out they had to be purchased AT the Hornet, so one could get an accompanying ticket to get it signed. Mope, mope. I'll definitely keep my copy and read it, but I need to tell Nancy on Monday what happened and that she's under no obligation to reimburse me for it.)
Detail of the Apollo-style suit they had on display, complete with Snoopy button.
Lynn, a docent from the Chabot Space and Science Center describes the construction of a Russian Sokol suit - the mass of fabric in her hands is a rubber lined "tunnel" the wearer had to climb through to get into and out of the suit.
The Hornet itself is well worth a visit on its own merits. The weekend docents are vets who served on her or other Naval vessels and are a wealth of information and stories. I was shooting planes on the flight deck and happened to walk up to one as a docent was explaining to a bunch of people how the catapult system worked, right down to the signal and procedure sequence. Another docent in Navigation explained the workings of a WWII vintage chart table with a mechanized system for determining position based on speed and course. The chart lies on a sheet of glass and a light underneath it moves in response to the gears in the box at right, which are given information from the gauges on the wall above the chart table (knots per hour and direction). I asked him something fairly techical, he answered, gave me a quizzical look and asked if I had "served." Oh, no, I'm a history buff, I explained, and mentioned having recently read Arthur Herman's To Rule The Waves. Had I read any of the Patrick O'Brien novels? Oh, yes!!!
I definitely want to go back some weekend when it's less of a mob scene, because I'd love to spend more time talking to some of these volunteers. There were just too many folks aboard for the Splashdown celebration to do very much more than I did. In fact, I even think it'd be fun to go out on a day when the weather is a bit more broody and shoot some more pictures under those conditions.
Me, being arty:
More photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/70104978@N00/sets/72157621831476240/
