And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
I have that book. Wonderful read and told me things about Apollo that I didn't know (and I'm a space nut...) Michael Collins must have been a hoot to be around.
Apparently, when Neil Armstrong was trying to come up with his famous first words on the Moon, Michael Collins suggested his first words be “My God! What is that thing?” Followed by a scream and cutting all communication. One small prank for Man, so to speak.
Best book on space faring yet written. Collins' peers were all test pilots and used to learning multiple technical manuals on each aircraft they flew. When solving problems in space, the people on the ground in Houston had the manuals in hand. The astronauts would be directed to relevant passages -all of which had been memorized. All of this occurred under stress at all times because, apart from the flights being extremely dangerous, the astronauts were constantly being evaluated. Collins give you a feel for this. Collins also conveys the ebb and flow of a military career accurately and with humor. The Pic of the Apollo 11 Astronauts at the National Air and Space Museum was taken three years after it opened. Collins had managed the project and brought it in under budget and ahead of time. For thirty years, it was the most visited attraction in DC. Godspeed to MGEN Collins. V/R JW
Carrying the Fire is a very good read. Collins was the best writer of all the astronauts who penned an autobiography. His book Liftoff is another good read - the history of US spaceflight from Mercury to the shuttle Challenger accident.
I have that book. Wonderful read and told me things about Apollo that I didn't know (and I'm a space nut...) Michael Collins must have been a hoot to be around.
ReplyDeleteApparently, when Neil Armstrong was trying to come up with his famous first words on the Moon, Michael Collins suggested his first words be “My God! What is that thing?” Followed by a scream and cutting all communication. One small prank for Man, so to speak.
ReplyDeleteBest book on space faring yet written. Collins' peers were all test pilots and used to learning multiple technical manuals on each aircraft they flew. When solving problems in space, the people on the ground in Houston had the manuals in hand. The astronauts would be directed to relevant passages -all of which had been memorized. All of this occurred under stress at all times because, apart from the flights being extremely dangerous, the astronauts were constantly being evaluated. Collins give you a feel for this.
ReplyDeleteCollins also conveys the ebb and flow of a military career accurately and with humor.
The Pic of the Apollo 11 Astronauts at the National Air and Space Museum was taken three years after it opened. Collins had managed the project and brought it in under budget and ahead of time. For thirty years, it was the most visited attraction in DC.
Godspeed to MGEN Collins.
V/R JW
Carrying the Fire is a very good read. Collins was the best writer of all the astronauts who penned an autobiography. His book Liftoff is another good read - the history of US spaceflight from Mercury to the shuttle Challenger accident.
ReplyDeleteI first read it many years ago and several times since. It's well worth reading.
ReplyDeleteI first read it many years ago and several times since. It's well worth reading.
ReplyDelete