Author Topic: Apollo 8  (Read 745 times)

Ashy

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Apollo 8
« on: Sep 15, 2020, 09:04:48 AM »
Just think it's just under 52 years since man first went round the moon in December 1968. What wonderful times they were. And all before we had a fast computer, a mobile phone, a geostationary communications satellite, or digital radio.
I mention it because it's on the NASA channel on the  telly.

cheddar-caveman

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Re: Apollo 8
« Reply #1 on: Nov 24, 2020, 05:17:17 PM »
Had to reply to this...........
Background:
During my time in Bahrain I was one of only two Amateur Radio stations allowed to operate from there firstly under the callsign MP4BHL, then A9XT and finally as A92T. I also had permission from the then ruler, Sheik Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, to use the Royal Crest on my QSL (contact acknowledge card), once he heard that they would be sent all over the world!
Related story to the thread:
I had just come off night shift at the airport one morning in May 1969 and, as was my custom, after a quick breakfast went out into my radio shack and fired up my station. I always spent most of my time listening for as soon as I put my (rare) callsign out there everybody wanted to contact me.
After a short time I heard WA6VHD/MM calling, the MM meaning that they were a ship at sea, so I called him up. The operator was Ernie and he said they they were the prime recovery vessel for the Apollo 10 space mission, in the Pacific to retrieve the capsule after splashdown at the end of the mission. We chatted a while and he casually asked whether I'd like to chat with the spacecraft!! WOULD I!!! He said I'd have to wait a few minutes as it was currently in the moon's shadow and there was no coms, and then he patched me through to Thomas Stafford, the mission commander, via their UHF link. We had about an eight minute chat and then they went back behind the moon.
I chatted with Ernie a bit longer and he said he'd send me a signed photo of the crew and send me a piece of the cake made especially for the successful mission - which he did!!



This post is my opinion, which you may not like, but I'm entitled to it.
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Michael Rolls

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Re: Apollo 8
« Reply #2 on: Nov 24, 2020, 05:23:15 PM »
Good Lord! What a fantastic experience!
Mike
Thank you for the days, the days you gave me.
The older I get, the better I was!

GrannyMac

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Re: Apollo 8
« Reply #3 on: Nov 24, 2020, 05:23:43 PM »
Wow CC. Thats certainly something to remember!
Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right.

R. Gervais

Ashy

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Re: Apollo 8
« Reply #4 on: Nov 24, 2020, 06:00:14 PM »
Phenomenal CC

klondike

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Re: Apollo 8
« Reply #5 on: Nov 24, 2020, 06:18:41 PM »
Contact of a lifetime CC. Congratulations.
So long and thanks for all the fish

crabbyob

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Re: Apollo 8
« Reply #6 on: Nov 24, 2020, 07:57:29 PM »
wow, namedropping dont often impress me...
but consider me impressed  :o :o :o
“Life may not be the party we hoped for, but as we are already here we may as well dance”

Michael Rolls

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Re: Apollo 8
« Reply #7 on: Nov 24, 2020, 07:58:50 PM »
Impressed? I'm blown over!
Mike
Thank you for the days, the days you gave me.
The older I get, the better I was!

zoony

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Re: Apollo 8
« Reply #8 on: Nov 24, 2020, 08:40:38 PM »
What a brilliant memory to have C-C.. Good job it wasn't me..I'd probly have asked them about the weather..
"Listen to the wind, it cleans the mind."

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Cee Gee

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Re: Apollo 8
« Reply #9 on: Nov 25, 2020, 12:07:23 AM »
 8) 8)

cheddar-caveman

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Re: Apollo 8
« Reply #10 on: Nov 25, 2020, 08:49:28 AM »
The not so funny part of this story was that I phoned my fellow shift worker and Ham, John to get him on the air but his wife answered to say he'd already gone to bed and didn't dare wake him! I told her it was pretty important but she wouldn't get him up.
That evening when we met at the airport for the shift he cemented that his wife had mentioned that I'd called and didn't want to disturb him, and asked what it was about.
I cannot print what he said but death was mentioned amongst his rant!
This post is my opinion, which you may not like, but I'm entitled to it.
mjodeard@gmail.com
https://www.flickr.com/photos/63508234@N06/with/255625

Alex22

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Re: Apollo 8
« Reply #11 on: Nov 25, 2020, 03:33:09 PM »
Wow that's certainly something to tell the grandkids, what an amazing experience !
.

crabbyob

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Re: Apollo 8
« Reply #12 on: Nov 25, 2020, 03:36:16 PM »
i remember when they were doing the moon-walk my wife was in the kitchen so i called for her to come and see... her response 'Do you want your dinner or not"...sigh
“Life may not be the party we hoped for, but as we are already here we may as well dance”

Ashy

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Re: Apollo 8
« Reply #13 on: Nov 25, 2020, 04:26:06 PM »
Priorities, dear Crabby.