These Two Replies Punched Me In The Face, I’ve Never Thought About It From This Perspective. Imagine

They Put a Flag on the Moon

It’s 1969 and Apollo 11 astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong are the first humans to land on the Moon. In now iconic footage, Aldrin and Armstrong carefully assemble and maneuver an American flag to place on the lunar surface. The fabric unfurls, staying suspended without any wind to animate the stars and stripes. The flagpole sways precariously as the crew work to anchor it in the Moon’s low gravity at just 1/6th that of Earth’s. How did this moment come about? On Flag Day, let’s dive behind-the-scenes of what led to getting the American flag on the Moon 50 years ago.

Image: Astronaut Buzz Aldrin poses for a photograph beside the deployed United States flag during the Apollo 11 mission.

Seeking to empower the nation, President John F. Kennedy gave us a grand charge. The human spaceflight program of the early 1960s was challenged to work on missions that sent humans to the surface of another world. Following President Kennedy’s death in 1963, President Richard Nixon stressed a more international perspective to the Apollo missions. To reconcile the need for global diplomacy with national interests, we appointed the Committee on Symbolic Activities for the First Lunar Landing.

Image: NASA Administrator Thomas Paine and President Richard Nixon are seen aboard the USS Hornet, Apollo 11’s splashdown recovery vessel.

The committee, and the U.S. at large, wanted to avoid violating the United Nations Outer Space Treaty, which prohibited any nation from taking possession of a celestial body. After some debate, they recommended that the flag only appear during the Apollo 11 spacewalk. A plaque would accompany it, explaining that the flag was meant to stand for peaceful exploration, not conquest. 

Image: The plaque reads “Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon July 1969 A.D. We came in peace for all of mankind.” Under the text are signatures by President Nixon, Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins.

A team of engineers at Johnson Space Center had three months to resolve several issues regarding the flag’s assembly. First, was the Moon’s lack of atmosphere. The flag, quite literally, could not fly the way it does on Earth. To address this, a horizontal crossbar was added to support the flag’s weight and give the illusion of it waving.

Image: NASA technician David L. McCraw shows the flag next to a Lunar Module mockup.

Second was the flag’s assembly, which had to be as lightweight and compact as possible so as not to take up limited storage space. The completed package, which was attached to Lunar Module’s ladder, weighed just under ten pounds. It received an outer case made of steel, aluminum, and Thermoflex insulation and blanketing to shield the flag from the 2,000 degree Fahrenheit spike from the Eagle’s descent engine.

Image: Component pieces of the flag assembly.

The last issue was mobility. Bulky spacesuits significantly restricted the astronauts’ range of motion, and suit pressurization limited how much force they could apply. To accommodate these limits, the team included telescoping components to minimize the need to reach and maneuver the poles. A red painted ring on the flagpole indicated how far into the ground it should be driven. Hinges and catches would lock into place once the pieces were fully extended.

Image: Diagram from the 1969 Apollo 11 press release illustrating astronaut spacesuit reach capabilities and ideal working height.

Fifty years after Apollo 11, the flag we planted on the lunar surface has likely faded but its presence looms large in United States history as a symbol of American progress and innovation.

Image: A close-up view of the U.S. flag deployed on the Moon at the Taurus-by the crew of Apollo 17, the most recent lunar landing mission.

The story doesn’t stop here. Anne Platoff’s article “Where No Flag Has Gone Before” sheds more light on the context and technical process of putting the United States flag on the Moon. You can also check out Johnson Space Center’s recent feature story that details its presence in later missions. Happy Flag Day!  Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com.

The Star Wars Wiki says, “While C-3PO underwent a memory wipe, R2-D2 was allowed to preserve his memories.” And I am delighted, because 1) I was pretty sure this was the case, but couldn’t remember exactly (R2 is a conniving sneak and I was pretty sure it wouldn’t have worked even if anyone had been foolish enough to try), and 2) this means one of my favorite Star Wars headcanons is actually canon. 

It means that during that one scene in Empire Strikes Back, these two assholes know EXACTLY who the other one is.

You are decorated war veterans, you absolute trolls. 

me, last night, at work

#me

Houston Convention 2015 [X]

You’re not a murderer, Sam.

“The loneliest moment in someone’s life is when they are watching their whole world fall apart, and all they can do is stare blankly.”

—F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

some ways to help your fellow american citizens in puerto rico

over the last few days i have received many messages asking where and how to help those in need in puerto rico. as always, i went to my go-to person for more information on all things relating to my homeland: my father - who is not only a pillar of the puerto rican community, but also a dedicated philanthropist whose specific focus has been to support charitable organizations with low overheads, administrative transparency, and a commitment to insuring that donations make their way to those who need in the fastest and most efficient way.

we would also truly appreciate your sharing this post!

if you are interested in giving to help rescue and rebuilding efforts in puerto rico, here are some organizations that we believe will work diligently to make sure you make a difference:

THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE ROTARY CLUB (La Jolla) As a family with four generations of Rotarians (my father is a former president of this chapter) we know and trust this organization - not to mention that there are multiple Rotary Clubs on the island whose volunteers are standing by to help. Here is the Golden Triangle Rotary Club’s statement:

“All our fundraising will result in donations that will benefit people in Puerto Rico. Every penny of your donation will go from our Rotary Club directly to Rotarians in Puerto Rico who will convey to victims of the hurricane the food, drinking water, clothing, and other supplies they may need. There is no overhead, the work is all carried out by Rotarian volunteers on site in Puerto Rico; there are no intermediaries; there are no costs, fees, overhead. Rotary International has set up a Puerto Rico Donor Advised Fund (DAF-PR) initially funded at $1 million by an anonymous donor. The Rotary District Governor for Switzerland has been contacted by one of our members and has indicated that they are already sending 1,000 Shelter Boxes to the island. More and more good things are happening every day. We are here to help mankind, to make a difference.”

Donations can be made by check to: Pamela Russell, Treasurer La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club Foundation 7954 Auberge Circle San Diego CA 92127

Please specify “Puerto Rico” in the memo box on your check. Rotary is a 501c3 foundation - all donations over $250.00 are tax deductible. Please ask for a receipt in your correspondence.

http://lajollagtrotary.org

THE FOUNDATION FOR PUERTO RICO Mission statement:

“The Foundation for Puerto Rico, a well-respected local non-profit foundation, is dedicating all of its efforts to hurricane relief. Given the logistical challenges of moving supplies to those most in need, financial donations will support the Hurricane María Relief Fund and will directly put dollars to work for immediate relief, providing food, water, and basic needs on the ground. They will also provide recovery assistance to the small business sector that is the backbone of the local economy, and the rehabilitation of Puerto Rico’s unique natural assets.”

http://foundationforpuertorico.org

UNITED FOR PUERTO RICO An organization spearheaded by the First Lady of Puerto Rico in conjunction with local and international businesses - here is their mission statement:

“United for Puerto Rico: Together Changing Paths is a 501©3 organization, operating under the guidance of the First Lady of Puerto Rico Beatriz Rosselló, that will be providing funds for immediate emergency aid needs of citizens that are not otherwise being funded, and then eventually will be provided to help rebuild homes and local community facilities. Any and all support will be highly appreciated by the 3.4 million U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico affected by hurricanes Irma and Maria.”

www.unitedforpuertorico.com

Humans Are Weird

So there has been a bit of “what if humans were the weird ones?” going around tumblr at the moment and Earth Day got me thinking. Earth is a wonky place, the axis tilts, the orbit wobbles, and the ground spews molten rock for goodness sakes. What if what makes humans weird is just our capacity to survive? What if all the other life bearing planets are these mild, Mediterranean climates with no seasons, no tectonic plates, and no intense weather? 

What if several species (including humans) land on a world and the humans are all “SCORE! Earth like world! Let’s get exploring before we get out competed!” And the planet starts offing the other aliens right and left, electric storms, hypothermia, tornadoes and the humans are just … there… counting seconds between flashes, having snowball fights, and just surviving. 

Location Map for Perseverance Rover

Get the day-by-day location of the Mars Perseverance rover as it explores Jezero Crater in this interactive map.

In case people were wondering…

Dayton, Ohio 1967- source AmeriCar The Beautiful.