Anniversary of Apollo 11

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  1. Posts : 8,135
    Windows 10 64 bit
       #1

    Anniversary of Apollo 11


    Today is the 45th Anniversary of Apollo 11.

    I was working at the NASA Apollo Tracking station on Ascension Island. I worked in PCM Telemetry (processor). We were involved in tracking them to moon orbit. When the Eagle made the descent and landed on the moon, the Ascension Island tracking station and the NASA tracking station in Spain were the two stations that tracked the Eagle to the moon landing.

    I have a commemorative coin that was struck using metal from the Eagle that was brought back to earth. Considering there were probably 1000 coins struck the percentage of the Eagle part in the coin is probably very small. The coin was part of a recognition "Award" that was given to me as part of the "Apollo Support Team" (I worked for Bendix Field Engineering, who had the Manned Space tracking station staffing and support Engineering staff stationed at Goddard Space Flight Center). I was involved with the entire Apollo program, from the ill fated Apollo 1 until the end of the project.

    Subsequent Apollo missions, I worked at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD. I was classified as a "Telemetry Engineer" and my job was as Programmer on the PCM Telemetry Processors.
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  2. Posts : 524
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
       #2

    Very cool, can you post a picture of the coin?

    I have a clear recollection of watching the Apollo 11 launch (I was a month and a half shy of 7 years old) on live TV but I don't recall seeing the moon landing anywhere except on the news.
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  3. Posts : 6,458
    x64 (6.3.9600) Win8.1 Pro & soon dual boot x64 (6.1.7601) Win7_SP1 HomePrem
       #3

    That really is cool Jack, to be part of the moon mission.

    I recall the landing well.
    Friends of a particular stripe were half jokingly saying it would be the end of the world - Man was not meant to....

    As I watched the historic landing (100 meters, 50 meters....), holding my breath, the power went out!

    I thought, hey those folks were right - the end of the world is nigh! I missed the actual landing, but watch it again from time to time.

    40th: July 20, 1969: One Giant Leap For Mankind | NASA
    45th: Apollo 11 and NASA's Next Giant Leap | NASA

    Thanks for reminding me, that surely was a spectacular accomplishment and an amazing time for mankind.

    Bill
    .
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  4. Posts : 8,135
    Windows 10 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    I would love to post a picture of the coin. Unfortunately I've "put it in a place for safe keeping" :)

    Whenever I find the "secret" place I'll post.

    Jack
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  5. Posts : 5,956
    Win 7 Pro x64, Win 10 Pro x64, Linux Light x86
       #5

    Great piece of history fireberd thank you, I was not born then but I have watched the landing a few times, very cool
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  6. Posts : 548
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #6

    I know I'm going to sound cheesy, but reading that story about your involvements with the Apollo project was a blast. Many thanks, fireberd.
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  7. Posts : 364
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
       #7

    Cool must feel awesome to have been part of history like that. :)
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  8. Posts : 3,371
    W10 Pro desktop, W11 laptop, W11 Pro tablet (all 64-bit)
       #8

    I wasn't involved in the space landing as you were Fireberd, that sounds cool!

    I was attending The Boy Scout National Jamboree at Faragut State Park, Idaho on this day 45 years ago. We listened to the moon landing on the radio. We were thrilled when Neil Armstrong sent greetings to his fellow scouts at the jamboree from space.

    1969 was also the year I became an Eagle Scout. My scoutmaster presented me with this coin at my Eagle ceremony:


    I'm sure it's not as nice or meaningful as your coin (can be bought on Ebay for $30), but it's one of my most treasured possessions.
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  9. Posts : 8,135
    Windows 10 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Here are some pictures of the front of the inside of the folder, showing the front of the coin and of the back. Best I can do with the camera I have
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Anniversary of Apollo 11-front-coin.jpg   Anniversary of Apollo 11-rear-coin.jpg  
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  10. NoN
    Posts : 4,166
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 - x64 [Non-UEFI Boot]
       #10

    I was a year and half when it had happened...amazing days was that period of 20th century.
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