WHEN in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary….
The Descent
byVanderleunonJuly 20, 2021
This footage answers the eternal question, “What is the hardest substance in the known universe?” with “Armstrong and Aldrin’s balls.”
A detailed account of every second of the Apollo 11 descent and landing. The video combines data from the onboard computer for altitude and pitch angle, 16mm film that was shot throughout the descent at 6 frames per second. The audio recording is from two sources. The air/ground transmissions are on the left stereo channel and the mission control flight director loop is on the right channel.
That was truly wonderful, thanks for sharing Gerard.
One of my earliest childhood memories.
bob sykesJuly 19, 2019, 1:37 PM
I was in grad school at Purdue. I spent hours watching the whole thing from separation to the first Moon walk. I was drinking Jim Beam. Cronkite screwed up, but I didn’t care. It was one of the highlights of my life.
At one point, I had watched on TV every manned launch and landing from Mercury through the Shuttle. I cannot express how sad and angry I am that our manned space program is dead.
Thanks for the beautiful clip. It really moved me. I almost cried.
Bob, the NASA program may be dead, but Elon Musk and Space X is more than making up for it. His new BFR/Starship will make nasa shit their pants. He’s landing his rockets and re-using them.
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
That was truly wonderful, thanks for sharing Gerard.
One of my earliest childhood memories.
I was in grad school at Purdue. I spent hours watching the whole thing from separation to the first Moon walk. I was drinking Jim Beam. Cronkite screwed up, but I didn’t care. It was one of the highlights of my life.
At one point, I had watched on TV every manned launch and landing from Mercury through the Shuttle. I cannot express how sad and angry I am that our manned space program is dead.
Thanks for the beautiful clip. It really moved me. I almost cried.
Bob, the NASA program may be dead, but Elon Musk and Space X is more than making up for it. His new BFR/Starship will make nasa shit their pants. He’s landing his rockets and re-using them.
Much better if one skips past the sensationalized and overdramatic introduction and get right to the actual descent at 3:05.
I was sixteen, watched with neighbors.
“
:Go
:Go
:Go
:Go
“
It was a great goddamn country.
Wow ! I certainly remember that era. What a fantastic country we had.
Thank you for the wonderful post Gerard.
Imagine that, and I always thought the hardest substance to understand was a woman’s mind.
They landed with 15 seconds of fuel left.
THE coolest thing I’ve seen today. Hell, all month.
Back when men were men, and Americans were proudly American.
Thanks!!
I was 11. I am choking back a tear.