meeting apollo astronauts

This is a book signing at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the first footsteps on the Moon. Here I met Apollo 11 Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 Command Module Pilot Michael Collins, and Apollo 12 Lunar Module Pilot Alan Bean. I had the opportunity to ask each of them one question. I tried to ask a question that could be answered quickly and pertained to each of their individual interests (any question I've ever thought to ask to Mike Collins has already been answered, so the only thing I could come up with is a totally dumb question about a mounted fish he gave as a gift to "pad fuehrer" Guenter Wendt as a joke gift right before the Apollo 11 launch. I was wondering if Guenter wound up keeping it, but I couldn't articulate my words very well in my extreme excitement, so I sort of blew that opportunity. I was going to also ask him what the most appropriate wine and cheese combination would be for this anniversary, because he's a big wine connoisseur, but I forgot. I was also going to wish him a happy anniversary of his Gemini 10 flight as well, but also forgot. We were really hurried along, so I doubt I could have said all that anyway. But my favorite astronaut, Alan Bean, was such a great guy to meet. He seemed so happy to be there and greet space flight fans, and he REALLY seemed to like my t-shirt (a special Apollo 11 40th anniversary shirt from Kennedy Space Center). I guess it's the artist in him that really liked the way the shirt was put together. I don't know much of anything about art, and I also wanted to articulate this question better, but I think the main point got across, and I hope it's not a question he's been asked too much, but I think it probably was, which I was trying to avoid but failed. Even though this all only lasted a minute or two, it was the best minute of two of my life, because I've admired and respected these guys so much since I was 7 years old when the Apollo 13 movie came out. These three guys, Alan Bean and Mike Collins above all other astronauts, have influenced me to choose the studies and career I have, and I absolutely live for the rich history and promising future of human space flight. God bless these American legends.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Apollo
• 11
• Buzz
• Aldrin
• Mike
• Collins
• Michael
• Alan
• Bean
• 12
• Smithsonian
• National
• Air
• and
• Space
• Museum
• 40th
• Anniversary
• Magnificent
• Desolation
• Painting
• Carrying
• the
• Fire
• One
• Small
• Step
• for
• Man
• Giant
• Leap
• Mankind

[dublinrambler]

thats great! that woman by buzz seems like a total bitch though

[apolloalex34]

Love it, especially the very happy, very proud and very thrilled bit.

[MrThechase691]

Neil Armstrong stop signing autographs in 1994

[smnpayne]

its a shame neil armstrong wasnt there :-\

[EGMAG]

is there any possibility it was a hoax?

[andrewc247]

cool, i would have loved to have been there!!!

[mrmikespence1964]

APOLLO 11! COMMAND MODULE! PILOT! EXTRAORDINAIRE! MR! MIKE COLLINS! BUZZ ALDRIN! AND! ALAN BEAN! OF THE! APOLLO SPACE PROGRAMME!

[yavorpenchev]

i envy you soo much!

[therealrem]

What an honour! I visited Kennedy this summer for the first time and would have loved to meet one of the Apollo guys. Nice video.

[apollowoman]

What a thrill it must have been for you to meet all 3 of these living legends! I adore Alan Bean, he is such a sweetheart. Mike Collins in the most articulate and clever and charming of the astronauts. Buzz is a great inspiration, especially since he beat all of his personal problems. He is very brave to admit to depression and alcoholism, and I'm sure he has helped many people who look up to him to get help when needed.