Vintage Issues
It is a little hard to believe that something like a moon landing went from front page news to a small story in the back pages in less than a year. The first moon landing in July 1969 was a big event but, nine months later, Apollo 13 started out as a yawn-fest. A little space ship trouble on the way to the moon changed that program.
Most people now realize that a rocket launch is basically riding a huge bomb for the astronauts. They sit on top of a highly explosive hydrogen/ oxygen mix that would level giant chunks of real estate if the two elements were allowed to run free together with no checks and balances.
But rocket scientists have a different plan for hydrogen and oxygen that will place the highly explosive duo into a controlled bomb mix that launches people into space. It is always a risky proposition and lives have been lost in the space program.
Apollo 13 had an early explosion shortly after launch that forced NASA into a brand new game plan to save the three men aboard the spacecraft. Apollo 13 was back on the front page because of a massive failure in the rocket system.
The plan to land on the moon was abandoned in favor of an on-the-fly plan to save the astronauts. The computer systems at NASA and onboard Apollo 13 were beyond primitive by today’s standards, so the calculations required a lot of human intervention.
Obviously things worked out for the Apollo 13 crew members, otherwise Tom Hanks would have starred in a much shorter movie when he did ‘Apollo 13′.
Now we have to look back about forty years to remember a big part of the lunar program. Entire generations have grown up with no recollection of any moment when we landed on the moon, let alone a frightening side bar moment when it looked like three men would be lost forever.
The fact that people were not interested in lunar landings nine short months after the first landing is very surprising forty years later. But that is how it went down in 1970.
Maybe Captain Kirk had already ruined the concept of space travel by 1970. A mere moon landing may have seemed a little boring by comparison to Kirk’s relentless pursuit of blue and green space babes. But science fact is a little different from science fiction, so an actual lunar mission should have been a huge event in 1970. The fact that a life and death situation was the only thing that made it newsworthy is hard to believe in hindsight.
I have to admit that I was alive and well in 1970, and Apollo 13 was barely on my radar screen. But I watched the adventure very closely when things went sideways on that mission. It was an incredible feat to get those guys back to earth, and I am glad that props have been given out to the people that made it happen. If we ever get back to the moon in my lifetime, I promise not to squander another opportunity to watch the missions.
More of Jim Sutherland at mystarcollectorcar.com
Jim Sutherland is a co-founder of mystarcollectorcar.com – dedicated to the average guy in the old car world.
We also like to take on non-car issues on a regular basis on our daily blog because it makes us look a lot smarter than we really are. Plus you can insult a car guy about his taste in music or movies but never hack on his car – those guys always have tire irons handy. It’s fun, it’s occasionally controversial and it draws women into the site – we’re like an automotive beer commercial we need the women in the picture to make it interesting.
But we’re still going to talk about 57 Chevys and vintage Mustangs.
http://www.mystarcollectorcar.com/
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1976 Thurgood Marshall, Civil Rights Leader [8 x 10 Photograph] $9.99 Thurgood Marshall was a memorable member of the Supreme Court as well as the lawyer for such pivotal cases as Brown versus The Board of Education. His intelligence and dedication to justice set Marshall apart as he served in America’s highest court. Also noteworthy were Marshall’s strong conviction to his ideals and his powerful character. This print makes a unique visual aid reference for those s… |
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12 X 18 Stretched Canvas Poster Age is an issue of mind over matter $49.99 This image is one a collection of vintage art, this excellent quality and durable Canvas Print measures 12 X 18 inches and arrives ready to hang on the wall with all necessary accessories already in place. The Canvas Print is stretched over a sturdy wood frame for maximum stability and tautness. Canvas prints are Gallery Wrapped. This means that the image will go around the edge of the stretched… |
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12 X 18 Stretched Canvas Poster Big Book Sports: Big Basketball Issue! $49.99 This image is one a collection of vintage art, this excellent quality and durable Canvas Print measures 12 X 18 inches and arrives ready to hang on the wall with all necessary accessories already in place. The Canvas Print is stretched over a sturdy wood frame for maximum stability and tautness. Canvas prints are Gallery Wrapped. This means that the image will go around the edge of the stretched… |
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Box Of Fudge $139.91 For a brief moment in 1967, Vanilla Fudge stood at the swirling center of the pop-music universe, satisfying fans searching for transformative musical experiences with its symphonic psychedelic rock. Sweetened by intricate vocal harmonies and classical flourishes, The Fudge’s innovative mix of rhythm and blues shone brightly as a new era of heavy music was dawning at the start of the 1970s. Track … |
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Fossil Vintage Re-Issue Lock Satchel Free Standard Shipping Over $100. Modeled after iconic silhouettes from the past, our Vintage Re-Issue Lock Satchel is part of our most vintage collection yet. Material: LeatherClosure: Flap and turnlockInterior: Zip, cell phone and PDA pockets; 1 exterior side pocketMeasurements: 13 3/4L x 5 1/2W x 11 1/2HDrop: Handle: 1 3/4 L Detachable Strap: 21 LOrigin: ImportedView Product Guide… |
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Fossil Vintage Re-Issue Satchel Free Standard Shipping Over $100. Modeled after iconic silhouettes from the past, our Vintage Re-Issue Satchel is part of our most vintage collection yet. Material: LeatherClosure: ZipperInterior: Zip, cell phone and PDA pockets; no exterior pocketsMeasurements: 15L x 4 1/2W x 10 1/4HDrop: 7 3/4 LOrigin: ImportedView Product Guide… |
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Fossil Vintage Re-Issue Flap Crossbody Free Standard Shipping Over $100. Modeled after iconic silhouettes from the past, the Vintage Re-Issue Flap Crossbody is part of our most vintage collection yet. Material: LeatherClosure: Flap with magnetInterior: Zip, cell phone and PDA pockets; no exterior pocketsMeasurements: 11L x 3 1/2W x 9HDrop: 20 LOrigin: ImportedView Product Guide… |
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Retro Sport Chicago Bears Re-Issue Short Sleeve T-Shirt Size: Large $39.99 Combine your favorite comfortable tee and your classic love of football in this stylish Vintage Re-Issue t-shirt from Reebok. Features distressed water based screen print team logo on chest that gives a spray paint effect, classic/silicone wash for retro look and feel, raw edge seams, vintage stitching, and Re-Issue canvas jock tag at bottom right. Made of machine washable 75% cotton/25% polyester… |
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Dick Berggren’s Speedway Illustrated Magazine March 2001 – Back Issue Collectible – Nascar, Racing, & Dale Earnhardt Sr. $9.99 … |
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Reebok Denver Broncos Re-Issue Hooded Crew Sweatshirt Size: Large $79.99 Old-school style and NFL® team logos combine to create the Reebok® Re-Issue hooded crew sweatshirt. It’s a must-have for any football fan, featuring distressed screenprints of the team’s name and logo on the center chest. Nicking and grinding detailing, along with the mélange ribbed cuffs, hem, collar and v-notch accent the vintage style…. |