Conversations With Apollo

Tonight's DeepGeek has been CANCELLED

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 17:18:00 GMT

Tonight's Deep Geek as been cancelled! We just realized tonight is the BCS National Championship Game! Sorry gang, we'll be recheding for next wk.

Correction to the Talkshoe podcast link ....

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 03:15:00 GMT

Slight correction to tomorrow's live podcast link - http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=57606

Deep Geek LIve Apollo 12 - this Thursday

apollotalks@gmail.com — Wed, 6 Jan 2010 23:08:00 GMT

Join us this Thursday night for Deep Geek Live Apollo 12:
Hosts James DeRuvo, Mike Smithwick and Tim Callender will be talking about the 40th anniversary of the flight of Apollo 12. And there may be a few surprise guests as well.

Date: Thu, January 7,... 2010
Time: 10:30 PM EST

To listen, go to TalkShoe.com by clicking on the link.

To participate in the call, dial: (724) 444-7444 Enter: 57606 # (Call ID) Enter: 1 # or your PIN if a Talkshoe member.

Facebook user? You can join this Call directly through the TalkShoe Community Calling Facebook application.
Don't miss it!

STAN LEBAR, RIP 1925-2009

Sat, 26 Dec 2009 03:33:00 GMT

Sad news has come that Stan Lebar, developer of the lunar TV camera has passed away. Stan was a guest of Conversations with Apollo in 2008, and as a tribute to him, we present a rerun of one of our most interesting interviews.

You can listen to it here.

RIP, Stan. We couldn't have seen the moon without you.

Season 2, Episode 2 - Captain Chuck Smiley and Helicopter 66

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:21:00 GMT

To close out 2009, our guest is Retired Navy Captain Charles Smiley, XO of Helicopter Squadron 4 , tasked with fishing astronauts from Apollo 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13 out of the Pacific Ocean after Splashdown. Chuck was the pilot of the astronaut recovery helicopter #66 for Apollo 10 and Apollo 13.

A Motley Cost Benefit Analysis of Apollo

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:26:00 GMT

There's a great article here by one of the Motley Fools about how Apollo was a great investment outside of it's historical and Cold War implications.

And though I completely agree with the author's premise, there's a few things he gets wrong. First, Apollo ended in 1975 with the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. Skylab, as part of the Apollo Applications program was part of the Apollo Budget and used leftover Apollo hardware from three cancelled moon missions (the last CM was used for Apollo Soyuz).

Additionally, there are economists that feel that the steps taken by Roosevelt actually prolonged the depression, suggesting that the steps taken with the Stimulus and Tarp Bills could do the same. Only time will tell and there seems to be come good news coming at the moment. Great article though.

Walter Cronkite, 1916-2009

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 05:03:00 GMT

Walter Cronkite has passed away at 92, after suffering from a long illness. He was once known as "The Most Trusted Man in America." He was NASA's number one fan. He was Walter Cronkite. And with his trusted sidekick's Eric Severeid and Mercury/Gemini/Apollo veteran Wally Schirra, Cronkite covered every mission and was THE news anchor that America turned to for news - especially when it came to landing on the moon.

Godspeed, Walter. Thanks for the coverage.

DEEK GEEK LIVE PROGRAM UPDATE

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:52:00 GMT

Quick program note ... the Talkshoe Show ID has been changed to 57606. Repeat. 57606.

Episode: Deep Geek Live - Apollo 11
Scheduled Time:

Date: Thu, July 16, 2009
Time: 07:00 PM PDT

How to participate:

Call in:

   1. Dial: (724) 444-7444
   2. Enter: 57606 # (Call ID)
   3. Enter: 1 # or your PIN

Join from your computer:

   1. Click here to join the call or just listen along -
http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/57606
   2. (Optional) Become a TalkShoe member

Facebook user? You can join this Call directly through the TalkShoe
Community Calling Facebook application.

Deep Geek Live - Apollo 11 Tonight via TALKSHOE

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:43:00 GMT

http://cs86.clearspring.com/u/46dff17ccb8aec6c/4a5f671de9e65539

Episode: Deep Geek Live - Apollo 11
Join us as we remember that "One Small Step ..." on the 40th
anniversary of Apollo 11.
Call ID: 51511

Personal Message from the Host:
Hello Gang. Due to technical difficulties with Blog Talk Radio's
server today, I am creating a BACKUP for our show on TalkShoe.com. It
may actually be a blessing in disguise as TalkShoe allows far more
people to be online at once. So, 7pm PT tonight.

Scheduled Time:

Date: Thu, July 16, 2009
Time: 07:00 PM PDT

How to participate:

Call in:

1. Dial: (724) 444-7444
2. Enter: 51511 # (Call ID)
3. Enter: 1 # or your PIN

Join from your computer:

1. Click here to join the call or just listen along -
http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/51511
2. (Optional) Become a TalkShoe member

Facebook user? You can join this Call directly through the TalkShoe
Community Calling Facebook application.

Send us your Special Apollo 11 Tributes

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 18:17:00 GMT

Apollo Talks asks you to send us your Apollo 11 Tributes for use in our upcoming Apollo 11 Deep Geek Live!

SEASON TWO: Episode 1 - Jack King, Tower Clear

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 22:22:00 GMT

Season Two launches with "The Voice of Apollo," Jack King.

Paul Haney, 1928-2009

Sun, 31 May 2009 17:51:00 GMT

When born on July 20th, it's not really surprising to end up working for NASA during the Apollo Program. Paul Haney, NASA's first news director died this week of cancer. Known for his "cool and detached voice," as Time Magazine put it, Haney served from Mercury to Apollo and was known as the "voice of Mission Control."

Neil Armstrong Elementary mindful of legacy

Sat, 23 May 2009 16:24:00 GMT

Neil Armstrong Elementary in San Antonio, TX is celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Apollo with a great exhibit of school built moon projects (don't you just love the Jeep rover?) including a moon walk lab, and one of only 6 moon rock displays available for public use

Pretty cool school if you ask me.

Follow us on Friendfeed!

Sun, 17 May 2009 19:47:00 GMT

Deep Geek Live - Apollo 10 coming May 18th

Thu, 14 May 2009 18:33:00 GMT

Monday, May 18th, 7pm PT we'll be breaking down the Apollo 10 mission on http://www.blogtalkradio.com/apollotalks. This month is the 40th Anniversary of Apollo 10, the mission that served as the dress rehearsal for the lunar landing on Apollo 11.

Join James DeRuvo, Mike Smithwick, Tim Callendar and a few
surprise guests, as we break down the mission and talk about it's impact.

Listeners will be able to call in, ask questions, and join us in on he
conversation! Our last episode, the premiere episode of Deep Geek Live: Apollo 9 is available now to listen to.

Call-in Number: (347) 215-7847

Lunar Module Technician dies ... Joseph Mazzochi

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:00:00 GMT

From the Orlando Sentinel:

Joseph J. Mazzochi, a longtime Huntington resident and electrical engineer who worked on Grumman Corp.'s Lunar Excursion Module, which carried astronauts to the moon's surface in 1969, died Saturday at his home with his wife, Carol, at his side He was 81.

During his career at Grumman, he worked on the communication systems for the F-14 Tomcat fighter jet as well as the lunar module, known as the LEM, which carried astronauts from the Apollo spacecraft to the moon. He retired in 1989.

"He was very proud of his work with the LEM," Carol Mazzochi said, adding that he was at NASA's Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston when the LEM descended to the moon's surface.

THE DEEP GEEK GOES LIVE TONIGHT AT BLOG TALK RADIO

Sun, 8 Mar 2009 20:02:00 GMT

Episode 3 of THE DEEP GEEK goes live tonight at 8pm PT through BlogTalkRadio.com. This is an experiment to see if we can take phone calls and open up the Geek to other Apollo fans. Tonight, we'll be talking about Apollo 9 and taking calls at (347) 215-7847.

Bear with us, this is an experiment. But it should be fun!

See you then!

Now Follow us on Twitter!

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 03:48:00 GMT

http://twitter.com/apollotalks

Konrad Dannenberg (1912-2009)

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:48:00 GMT

German rocket pioneer Konrad Dannenberg passed away on Monday at age 96. As one of the last surviving members of Wernher von Braun's team, Dannenberg participated in the design the Redstone, which ultimately launched the Alan Shepard and Gus Grisssom into their suborbital Mercury missionss.

Dannenberg also served as NASA's deputy manager for the Saturn program.

We had hoped to interview Mr. Dannenberg, but sadly that opportunity has passed, but we are hopeful that his story will live on in the pantheon of Apollo lore.

R.I.P.

Twitter and Apollo

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:48:00 GMT

Historical Tweets are hysterical.

BTW you can follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/apollotalks

Deep Geek Apollo 8 Audio fixed

Fri, 2 Jan 2009 23:52:00 GMT

The audio for our second episode of The Deep Geek has been fixed. Seems as I was outputting from GarageBand, I forgot to activate the voice track! Won't make that mistake again.

Anyway, TDG Apollo 8 is up now for all to enjoy, along with the first episode on Apollo 7!

Deep Geeking Apollo 7

apollotalks@gmail.com — Fri, 2 Jan 2009 23:38:00 GMT

Our first episode of a new companion podcast called THE DEEP GEEK, where we break down each mission on it's 40th anniversary. Joining me are Mike Smithwick, author of Distant Suns, and Tim Callendar of the Babylon Podcast.

One production note - audio on this is rough as I had a hot mic for the first episode. So apologies in advance. Future eps will be better.

Deep Geeking Apollo 8

apollotalks@gmail.com — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:25:00 GMT

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Apollo, a new podcast makes it's way to the Apollo Talks network. It's called The Deep Geek. Where we delve deep into each mission as only Apollo Geeks can.

Episode 2 (I haven't edited 1 yet) covers the epic Christmas voyage of Apollo 8. Guests include Mike Dinn (dir. Honeysuckle Creek), Colin Mackellar, Tim Callendar, and Mike Smithwick (Distant Suns).

Episode 12 - Dr. Edgar Mitchell Outside the Box

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:24:00 GMT

In our first conversation with one who's been there, we talk to Dr. Edgar Mitchell about Frau Mauro, new science, and the kind of out of the box thinking that will lead us back to the moon, Mars and beyond.

Edgar Mitchell interview coming soon ...

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:35:00 GMT

Just finished with interviewing Dr. Edgar Mitchell, LMP on Apollo 14 about his Apollo journey and life after. We talk about the Frau Mauro Highlands, why looking at the world from outside it changes your perception, and how thinking outside the box can save it.

No, we didn't talk about that other thing. But it's a good interview. Should be up later today or tomorrow.

JOHN BULL, Astronaut , RIP

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:17:00 GMT

According to CollectSpace, Astronaut John Bull died on August 14th. He was 73.

Selected in 1966 with NASA's fifth group of astronauts, Bull's class of 19 trainees, dubbed the "Original 19", also included future moonwalkers Charles Duke, James Irwin and Edgar Mitchell.

Training for an assignment as a lunar module pilot, Bull was named with Irwin in early 1967 to the crew of LTA-8, a thermal vacuum test of the moon lander. Citing sinus problems however, Bull was replaced by his backup prior to the test starting at the Space Enviroment Simulation Laboratory in Houston, Texas.

Together with Thomas Mattingly and Gerald Carr, Bull was then named on November 20, 1967 to the support crew for the second Apollo manned flight of the Saturn V, to assist prime and backup crew members â including Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins â as they trained.

Ultimately, that mission with its crew of Jim Lovell, Frank Borman and Bill Anders would launch in December 1968 as Apollo 8, becoming the first manned flight to orbit the Moon.

Bull would leave the astronaut corps before then however, never flying in space himself. Diagnosed with a rare pulmonary disease, he was forced to resign in July 1968.

Bull is survived by his wife, Nancy, and their two children Scott and Whitney.

Still yet another reason to get these stories told. So, if you know anyone who wants to tell their story of their work on Apollo, Gemini, Mercury, or even Skylab, please drop us a line at apollotalks at gmail dot com.

Apollo Book Club Ep. 3 - Digital Apollo by David Mindell

apollotalks@gmail.com — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:46:00 GMT

MIT Professor David A. Mindell joins us to talk about the Apollo Guidance Computer and his cool book DIGITAL APOLLO. Get it at Amazon here - http://tinyurl.com/apollobkclub3

Frito Snackin' on the moon

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:40:00 GMT

Ah, the images from the day. We were so moon happy then ...
http://www.youtube.com/v/XPVHOzeGXuA&hl=en&fs=1

Episode 10 - Live from Cape Canaveral

Wed, 6 Aug 2008 00:47:00 GMT

NBC New space reporter Jay Barbree is my guest. He's the only reporter to have covered every manned flight in US History. It's a goodie.

APOLLO BOOK CLUB Ep. 2 - HOW APOLLO WENT TO THE MOON

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:10:00 GMT

In this episode of our companion series, we interview David Woods about his book.

Episode 9 - A Day at the Races

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:04:00 GMT

We're back! This episode, we talk to Ron Creel about the development and performance of the Lunar Rover.

Last surviving German rocket scientist passes ....

Tue, 27 May 2008 18:40:00 GMT

Dr. Ernst Stuhlinger, former director of science at the Marshall Space Flight Center has died at the tender age of 94.

Dr. Stuhlinger was one of the original German rocket scientists that came to the United States with Von Braun and served as Braunie's chief scientist in developing the Saturn V.

In the 1950s, he conceived what would eventually become the Hubble Space Telescope ...

If we're building space exploration on "the shoulders of giants," Dr.Ernst Stuhlinger would be one of them.

New episode of Conversations with Apollo coming this week. Stay tuned.

Episode 8: I'm Ready for my Closeup Stan Lebar

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:26:00 GMT

How does someone with no depth perception end up developing the Apollo Lunar TV cameras? Stan Lebar is our guest.

Gordon McCay, 1945-2008

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:37:00 GMT

NASA Watch reports that lunar receiving scientist Gordon McCay has passed away. McCay began his career as a PhD student in the Lunar Receiving Lab studying lunar samples returned to earth by Apollo.

Episode 7: Saving Skylab - Tom Hancock

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 23:51:00 GMT

It didn't go to the moon, but Skylab can easily be considered Apollo's victory lap. Tom Hancock is my guest talking about Save Skylab, the lessons Apollo is teaching us about Ares, and the thirty plus year side-trip that was the Space Shuttle.

AJ ROY, RIP

Fri, 4 Jan 2008 22:14:00 GMT

NASAWATCH reports that veteran NASA pilot Arda J. 'AJ' Roy has died. Arda acted as capcom on the tracking ship Rose Knot and at the NASA Australia tracking station for the early test flights of the Apollo/Saturn (AS202 and 203).

We lose more every year, so if you know anyone, ANYONE who has worked on the program, put them in touch with us at Conversations with Apollo so we can get their story online.

Christmas 39 Years Ago ...

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 15:34:00 GMT

To say "thank you" for all who have made Conversations with Apollo a success, we close out 2007 with these sage words from the crew of Apollo 8. Happy Holidays!

(courtesy of our friends at ApolloArchive.com)

Episode 6 - The Big Chair

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 04:21:00 GMT

Gerry Griffin, Lead Flight Director for Apollo 12, 15 & 17 talks the Apollo 1 fire, Apollo 12, and the costly tendency towards risk aversion.

Episode 5: The AFJ - David Woods and Frank O'Brien

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 20:25:00 GMT

In Episode 5, editors of the David Woods and Frank O'Brien are my guests to talk about the Apollo Flight Journal.

Episode 4 - Apollo Team Support - David Ballard

Tue, 4 Sep 2007 05:13:00 GMT

Episode 4: David A. Ballard joins us to talk Apollo Team Support, Apollo 9, ASTP, Skylab and more. Don't miss a minute.

Three Ways you can help the show get the word out ...

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 17:34:00 GMT

First way is to DIGG it. The more diggs we have, the more people will find it. Secondly, write us an iTunes review. Third, comment on groups like sci.space.history, the various Apollo Groups on Yahoo, and even the comment sections right here.

Other ways include buying an iStronaut TShirt or coffee mug from our Cafe Press or Zazzle stores. Doing so will help defray costs associated with producing the podcast including bandwidth.

Helping us get the word out will make Conversations with Apollo not only more popular, but will allow us to court many more Apollo vets to tell their story.

Episode 3 - John Saxon, Honeysuckle Part Deux

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 02:30:00 GMT

Rounding out our two part series on the Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station is John Saxon. And it's a great interview.

Apollo Book Club Episode 1 - Catherine Thimmesh, author of Team Moon

Tue, 7 Aug 2007 21:34:00 GMT

Launching a new feature on the podcast called The Apollo Book Club, Catherine Thimmesh, Author of "Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon" is our first guest.

Now available at http://www.apollotalks.com or via iTunes.

New Feature ... the Apollo Book Club!

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 23:57:00 GMT

Launching a new feature for Conversations with Apollo - called THE APOLLO BOOK CLUB. Our first guest will be Catherine Thimmish, author of Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon.

Look for it this weekend!

Episode 2 - Mike Dinn, Honeysuckle Creek part 1

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 23:13:00 GMT

Mike Dinn, Retired director of the Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station is our guest for episode 2.

Now on Podcast Alley

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 18:41:00 GMT

We've signed up with Podcast Alley. So we're "claiming" it.

My Podcast Alley feed!
{pca-515e740126b1515c0760e017d23dc77c}

Thirty Eight Years ago today ...

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 05:11:00 GMT

Apollo 11 began that great, thundering journey. So this special episode, we'll relive it all over again. (courtesy Apollo Archive)

Finally on iTunes

Fri, 6 Jul 2007 00:26:00 GMT

Today, we were finally accepted and are now available through ITunes.

Episode Zero - what this podcast is all about

Wed, 4 Jul 2007 04:26:00 GMT

Episode 0 - what this podcast is all about and how you can help.

SEASON ONE: Episode 1 - The ALSJ

Mon, 2 Jul 2007 23:19:00 GMT

Episode 1 - Eric Jones, Editor of the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal