Sixth Human On The Moon
| 24-05-00 Hello Astronomy Interest Group & SETI@home Team Last week the Planetarium was privileged to receive a visit from Dr Edgar Mitchell, the Apollo 14 astronaut who walked on the Moon on the 9th February 1971, becoming the sixth person out of 12 to ever do so (photo attached). The Apollo 14 mission has been described as the most significant one beside Apollo 11 - as it followed directly after the failed but nonetheless heroic Apollo 13. In fact, Dr Mitchell was originally scheduled to fly on Apollo 13, and was one of the experts that worked frantically on the ground to ensure the safe return of the crippled Apollo 13 module. Some of the highlights of Apollo 14 were Commander Alan Shepard's striking of a golf ball on the Moon (he missed twice); the first use of a hand cart and the return of 42kg of Moon rock. I attended an evening reception organised by the Irish Astronomical Association, where Dr Mitchell also spoke about The Institute of Noetic Sciences (http://www.noetic.org/) which he founded 30 years ago and is still chairman. The Institute is engaged in the scientific investigation of esoteric matters. On a personal note, I found it very motivating to hear that as a young man in October 1957 after the launch of Sputnik (the first satellite) Dr Mitchell made up his mind he was going to be an astronaut - and that was before the word had even been invented. Regards Mario Di Maggio Science Education Officer Armagh Planetarium Northern Ireland PS - if you have friends or family whom you think would enjoy receiving these occasional e-mails, please send me their e-mail addresses and I will gladly add them to my astronomy mailing list. |
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