Conversations with Apollo

CONVERSATIONS WITH APOLLO IS MOVING TO PODOMATIC

2011-12-29T10:11:00.001-08:00

Program note ... in preparation of our return to the internet airwaves, beginning January 1st, Conversations with Apollo will be moving to PODOMATIC.

Additionally, we'll be breaking out our three podcasts - Conversations, The Apollo Book Club and Deep Geek Live into three separate podcast feeds:

http://conversationswithapollo.podomatic.com/rss2.xml

http://apollobookclub.podomatic.com/rss2.xml

http://deepgeeklive.podomatic.com/rss2.xml

And if you'd like to join the conversation live on the Deep Geek Live, you can find us on TalkShoe at http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/57606.

Finally, we're planning new episodes for 2012, so if you know anyone who worked on the Apollo Program, including Mercury, Gemini, Skylab and ASTP, who would like to tell their story, we've love to have them on the show! And if you have a book about the Apollo Program that you'd like to plug on The Apollo Book Club, we'd love to hear from you! Please contact us at: apollotalks at gmail.com.

As always, thanks for listening!

Episode 5 - the AFJ: David Woods and Frank O'Brien

2007-09-12T14:34:00.000-07:00

In Episode 5, editors of the David Woods and Frank O'Brien are my guests to talk about the Apollo Flight Journal.

Available at http://www.apollotalks.com or via iTunes, keyword: Conversations with Apollo

Moon Base Slide Show from the 70s

2007-09-10T09:09:00.000-07:00

Ah, the memories ...

Episode 4 - Apollo Team Support, David A. Ballard

2007-09-03T17:49:00.001-07:00

Episode 4 of CwA features David A. Ballard talking about Apollo Team
Support, Apollo 9, Apollo Soyuz and Skylab. Don't miss a minute!

http://www.apollotalks.com or iTunes keyword: Conversations with Apollo

Helping get the word out ...

2007-08-16T10:43:00.000-07:00

First way is to DIGG it. The more diggs we have, the more people will find it. Secondly, write us an iTunes review. Third, comment on groups like sci.space.history, the various Apollo Groups on Yahoo, and even the "comment" sections right here.

Other ways include buying an iStronaut TShirt or coffee mug from our Cafe Press or Zazzle stores. Doing so will help defray costs associated with producing the podcast including bandwidth.

Helping us get the word out will make Conversations with Apollo not only more popular, but will allow us to court many more Apollo vets to tell their story. And that's what it's all about, gang.

Episode 3 - Honeysuckle Part Deux

2007-08-14T19:56:00.000-07:00

Rounding out our two part series on the Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station is John Saxon. And it's a great interview.

Now available at http://apollotalks.com and on iTunes.

APOLLO BOOK CLUB EPISODE 1: Catherine Thimmesh

2007-08-07T14:22:00.001-07:00

Catherine Thimmesh, Author of Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon is our first guest to open a new segment for the podcast entitled the APOLLO BOOK CLUB.

Now available at http://www.apollotalks.com or via iTunes.

2007-07-26T16:58:00.001-07:00

Launching a new feature for Conversations with Apollo - called THE APOLLO BOOK CLUB. Our first guest will be Catherine Thimmish, author of Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon.

Look for it this weekend!

Episode Two: Honeysuckle Creek Part One

2007-07-24T12:52:00.000-07:00

Episode Two.Mike Dinn, retired director of the Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station is our guest for Part One of our two part series on the Australian Tracking Station. You can download it now on iTunes or via our rss feed at http://www.apollotalks.com/rss

please consider leaving us feedback on the iTunes sight or via the comments section of our libsyn site.

Enjoy!

Coming Soon ... Mike Dinn, former director of Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station

2007-07-19T21:53:00.000-07:00

Next time on Conversations with Apollo, our will be Mike Dinn.

Mike worked at the Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station through the entire Apollo Program and on through the Shuttle Program. He also had a brief 10 year respite with the Australian Department of Defense, before returning to Honeysuckle for the Voyager, Magellan and Galilleo missions. He retired from the MDSN in 1994.

In the Shadow of the Moon ...trailer

2007-07-16T10:19:00.000-07:00

Looks like Tom Hanks' lunar enthusiasm is contageous and Ron Howard has caught the fever ... AGAIN.

And that's a good thing. I can't wait.

NOW ON ITUNES

2007-07-10T22:50:00.000-07:00

Conversations with Apollo is now available on iTunes. Spread the word.

Episode 1 - the ALSJ

2007-07-02T16:32:00.001-07:00

Episode 1 is up. Check our feed - http://apollotalks.libsyn.com/rss

Our first guest is Eric Jones, editor of the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal and co author of "On the Moon - The Apollo Journals" with former JSC geologist / Lunar Sourcebook editor Grant Heiken.

Although Eric spent his entire career at the Los Alamos National Laboratory doing defense-related research, his ongoing space interests led to the creation of the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal. The ALSJ consists of corrected transcripts of the radio traffic between Mission Control in Houston and the lunar surface crews,
interspersed with commentary and extracts from minute-by-minute mission reviews he conducted with the moonwalkers in the early 1990s. The Journal also contains recent high-resolution scans done by NASA Johnson from original film of all the photographs taken on the Moon, as well as all the audio and a large collection of background documents.

The ALSJ is available on the web at www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj or as a set of three DVDs from www.spacecraftfilms.com

"Babylon Rockets" theme music courtesy of Gemini V.

Oh, to be a kid in the late 60s again ...

2007-06-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

... with a dime burning a hole in your pocket!

Gene Kranz talks plain on America's space effort ...

2007-06-14T19:29:00.000-07:00

Story here.

In December 1972, America abandoned the moon. With the completion of the Skylab missions two years later, and after a brief rendezvous with the Russians, our nation’s human space effort was grounded. We had won the battle for space and demonstrated the power of a free people, but the Cold War, the emergence of global terrorism, an oil embargo, civil rights and other issues competed for our nation’s attention and priorities.

With the shuttle program on the distant horizon, the legacy of our first decade was surrendered and many of our leaders would move on. The most technically proficient and imaginative space team in the world would disperse. America had lost its will to explore.

Man, if that doesn't grab your attention, I don't know what will. Give it a good read cause he's right.

And we'll be talking about it on the next podcast. My guest ... ERIC JONES, editor of the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal.

Coming Soon ... Eric Jones, editor of the ALSJ

2007-06-11T15:35:00.000-07:00

Eric Jones, editor of the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal will be the inaugural guest of Conversations with Apollo. We'll be interviewing him today and hopefully have it up by later this week.

We'll also be featuring communications from Apollo 7, and talk about what's going on with NASAs return to the moon.

Fakery ...

2007-05-31T17:23:00.000-07:00

This is one of the best moon landing hoax fakes I've seen in quite some time. The moon landing hoax nutjob who did this, certainly did his homework on lighting. What gets by him is how the numbers on the CMs window don't move with the camera. That, and there never was an Apollo 20. In addition, he also has a video showing the Apollo 20 Saturn V shortly after lifting off from Vandenberg. Hardly something to keep secret as every missile launch from Vandyland is very easily seen, and the absolute impressiveness of the Saturn V would've prompted thousands to ask some serious questions.

But I certainly give an "A" for effort!

THE APOLLO EXPERIENCE

2007-05-30T16:36:00.001-07:00

An idea who's time has come:

THE APOLLO EXPERIENCE™, a space-based simulation entertainment center to be based on the historic Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs which sent this nation's astronauts to the Moon.

Endorsed by Sally Ride, Burt Rutan, and Dr. David M. Harland, THE APOLLO EXPERIENCE™ is a privately funded space simulation of the Apollo moon missions.

I like the idea. Head on over and take the survey to help them get this great idea off the ground.

GodSpeed, Jolly Wally - Schirra dead at 84

2007-05-03T09:58:00.000-07:00

MSNBC is reporting that Mercury Astronaut Wally Schirra has died. The only Mercury astronaut to command missions in all three Apollo era spacecraft, Schirra was known for his wisecracking personality and contentious command decisions that ruffled many a feather at NASA.

He commanded the first US rendezvous in space on Gemini 6, the first Apollo mission after the tragic fire that killed fellow Mercury astronaut Gus Grissom, and was Cronkite's right hand man in broadcasting Apollo missions and, of course, one of the original Mercury 7.

Schirra's death leaves John Glenn and SCott Carpenter as the only Mercury Seven astronauts to carry the fire.

Godspeed, Wally.

All the more reason we need to tell everyone's story before it's too late.

NASAs Lunar Condo ...

2007-02-27T12:37:00.000-08:00

NASA has unveiled a prototype structure which may become part of the lunar skyline. It's inflatible and designed for "activities when astronauts are visiting but will be durable enough to last long periods of inactivity."

Doesn't look any roomier than the LM if you ask me. But for longer term stays, it may prove to be a lightweight "tent" for lunar encampment.

Shades of Gray

2007-02-06T09:12:00.000-08:00

This is a cool image of the moon taken over 28 days.

Houston, we have a funny ...

2007-01-22T16:53:00.000-08:00

Going to school was never this spaced out.

Thanksgiving with the Kranzes

2007-01-19T22:11:00.000-08:00

With November 10 months away, I couldn't help but share with the audience this little diddy from YouTube. It's a tad too long, but still a priceless reminder of a great film Apollo 13.

We'll get another podcast up soon. Meanwhile, enjoy Thanksgiving with the Kranzes.

Is Ares the Way to Go?

2006-12-14T14:36:00.000-08:00

Sure looks like design by Congressional Committee to me. And what's up with using a modified Earth Orbit Rendezvous when we rejected it out of hand for Apollo? Anyway, here's episode 2 of the podcast.

Oriana Fallaci ... 1929-2006

2006-09-16T21:02:00.000-07:00

Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci has died of cancer. Though she was not directly involved in the Apollo program, this Italian reporter shares the unique distinction of having lost a bet to Pete Conrad. Fallaci didn't believe it when Conrad told her that NASA, nor the US Government controlled what the astronauts said on the moon over a live microphone. To prove it, Conrad bet her $500 US that he could say anything and he told her exactly what he would say. And the rest, is lunar history:

Whoopie! Man, that may have been a small one for Neil, but that's a long one for me.

Course, according to Conrad, she never paid off. I'm sure he's got his hand out at the pearly gates waiting for her.

We've lost another Apollo great ... Rocco Patrone

2006-09-06T14:35:00.000-07:00

This is the very reason why CONVERSATIONS WITH APOLLO is so important. With every passing day, America is closer to losing the experience of the only cadre of individuals who have actually gone or sent someone to another planetary body.

This time around, it was Apollo Program Director, Rocco Petrone, who died on August 24th. He was 80.

We'll get a show on out Petrone asap. Meanwhile, if you know anyone ... ANYONE who worked on Apollo and wishes to share their experience on this podcast, please contact me at apollotalks.gmail.com

We need to archive the experiences of the only people who know how to go to another planet and land on it. Before it's too late.

37 Years ago today - Neil Armstrong's "One Small Step ..."

2006-07-20T11:56:00.000-07:00

I remember being 8, staying up late at night and watching the grainy, black and white image. Armstrong looked like ghost as he came down the ladder and set foot on the moon, and at first came on upside down and stayed that way for several minutes. Then NASA fixed it just in time for Neil's immortal words.

Here's video to bring it all home. Still gives me goosebumps.

Almost as eloquent were the words on the plaque they left behind:

Video here.

37 Years Ago today ... Apollo 11 lifts off ...

2006-07-16T10:50:00.000-07:00

Thirty-seven years ago today, Apollo 11 lifted off from pad 39B at Cape Kennedy for their historic journey to the moon. The crew of Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins would become not only household names, but would become the namesake for a new element on the period table which was found on the moon.

Video here. (MPEG)

Conversations with Apollo Episode 0 - introduction

2006-06-12T13:57:00.000-07:00

This is the inaugeral podcast episode outlining our mission statement.
Here is the MP3. Enjoy.

Welcome to Conversations with Apollo

2006-06-07T22:15:00.000-07:00

Welcome to CONVERSATIONS WITH APOLLO. The podcast which seeks as it's goal to archive interviews with those who went to the moon and those who sent them there. Whether astonaut, flight director, technician or programmer, this podcast will seek to hear from those involved in man's greatest adventure ... to land on the moon and return, safely to the earth.

If you know anyone affiliated with the Apollo Program who would like to tell their story, please contact us at theapolloexperience-at-yahoo.com.