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Post by Glom on Mar 1, 2011 16:23:26 GMT -4
I started it as soon as I finished Failure is not an Option. Collins is pretty funny writer. The tone is his book is certainly more irreverent than Kranz's. Chapters are bit long though. The long buildup to Gemini X paid off though. It was a gripping chapter. Damn wifferdils!
I also never knew Lovell was brought in to Apollo 8 from the backup role due to Collins's spinal troubles. I guess that explains why he ended up prime on three crews after Gemini XII. Also ditto on Stafford and his Gemini 9 assignment.
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Post by supermeerkat on Mar 7, 2011 17:29:51 GMT -4
Carrying the Fire is undoubtably the best of the Astronaut biographies - Collins is articulate and witty, with a wonderful sense of self deprecation. He's also surprisingly modest, and seems something of an odd man out in the Apollo program amongst so many raging alpha males.
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Post by banjomd on Mar 8, 2011 8:18:52 GMT -4
I love Collins' bit about space suits and claustrophobia!
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Post by Glom on Mar 16, 2011 17:02:38 GMT -4
It was most interesting reading his thoughts on his fellow astronauts and the wee bit envy at how he perceived Conrad's Apollo 12 crew were gelling more than his Apollo 11 crew.
Exciting tonight. Re-entry for Apollo 11. I wonder how it'll turn out.
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Post by laurel on Mar 17, 2011 16:59:13 GMT -4
How did the re-entry turn out? Don't keep us in suspense!
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Post by Glom on Mar 18, 2011 3:32:35 GMT -4
It went okay. More interesting was reading about quarantine.
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Post by supermeerkat on Mar 18, 2011 18:58:02 GMT -4
It went okay. More interesting was reading about quarantine. Did they survive?
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Post by Glom on Mar 18, 2011 19:32:12 GMT -4
That was so beautiful. The way he worked in the title at end was very poetic.
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Post by laurel on Mar 18, 2011 20:10:20 GMT -4
There were two beautiful parts of the book that particularly stayed in my mind after I read it. His description of how the stars looked on his first Gemini 10 EVA, and the part about the contrast between the Moon and the Earth. "The moon is so scarred, so desolate, so monotonous, that I cannot recall its tortured surface without thinking of the infinite variety the delightful planet earth offers: misty waterfalls, pine forests, rose gardens, blues and greens and reds and whites that are missing entirely on the gray-tan moon." He is indeed articulate.
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Post by Glom on Mar 19, 2011 4:52:07 GMT -4
I was struck by how firm he seemed in his decision during Apollo 11 that it would be his last.
Also, it's interesting about Aldrin.
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Post by laurel on Mar 24, 2011 15:27:09 GMT -4
I forgot to mention that I liked how Collins included the poem "High Flight" in this book. I sometimes heard it recited at Remembrance Day ceremonies when I was growing up. A very vivid description of the poet's enthusiasm for flight.
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Post by Glom on Mar 25, 2011 15:23:40 GMT -4
I'm hearing that Deke! is worth a read. It contains lots of stuff on how he chose astronauts for crews. I imagine that would be fascinating.
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Post by supermeerkat on Mar 25, 2011 17:59:53 GMT -4
I'm hearing that Deke! is worth a read. It contains lots of stuff on how he chose astronauts for crews. I imagine that would be fascinating. Along with Mike Collin's biog, it's the best of the astronaut biographies. Deke was a real no nonsense guy, an all American hero. He was notoriously taciturn, and many astronauts said they only found out the reason why they chosen for missions when they read his biography, published 20 years after Apollo ended. Treat yourself! Buy now! You won't be dissapointed! www.amazon.com/Deke-Autobiography-Donald-K-Slayton/dp/031285918X
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Post by Glom on Mar 25, 2011 20:51:56 GMT -4
Amazon is recommending Last Man in the Moon as well. Might as well.
There's also so many good deals on DVDs too. But no. Must have disciprine. Disciprine come from within.
So that's two books and two DVD's for less than £25. No wonder the high street is dying.
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Post by ka9q on Mar 25, 2011 23:22:26 GMT -4
There were two beautiful parts of the book that particularly stayed in my mind after I read it. His description of how the stars looked on his first Gemini 10 EVA, I didn't think astronauts could see stars from space. :-) All of the lunar astronauts seem to have been deeply affected in this same way. Alan Bean, in his talks, says that after his trip to the moon he'd be happy to live even in the most inhospitable place on earth.
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