[SteveMD]

Apollo 11 blasted off 40 years ago this Thursday at 9.32AM EDT.

I was 6 and can vaguely remember Armstrong stepping on the moon on the 20th but I don't recall the launch.

Anyway, for those of you who don't remember it or were too young, here is what about 190 million HP looks like lifting 3000 tons.

FYI, the first stage had five rocket engines each developing 1,500,000 lbs of thrust. The turbopump in each one (that pumped the fuel into the combustion chamber) was rated at about 55,000 HP. Incredible.

[Amir87]

To this day it amazes me that we put a man on the moon 40 years ago!

Some NASA show they were showing on Discovery channel said the LM had the computing power equivalent to a modern calculator!

[CollinsE90]

some people still believe they really didnt land haha!

[SteveMD]

Originally Posted by CollinsE90

some people still believe they really didnt land haha!

And most of them likely do not have a firm understanding of Physics, Aeronautics or any branch of Engineering Science. They read a wacko website and are instant experts.

The fact is, we went for one reason. It wasn't science. It wasn't so that we would have Tang and microwave ovens as a side benefit...it was to beat the Russians and had we not succeeded or tried to fake it, they would have blown the hoax wide open.

[Inspired]

nice find..

what is nasa main mission now a days? Mars?

[in5ane_3]

Originally Posted by SteveMD

And most of them likely do not have a firm understanding of Physics, Aeronautics or any branch of Engineering Science. They read a wacko website and are instant experts.

The fact is, we went for one reason. It wasn't science. It wasn't so that we would have Tang and microwave ovens as a side benefit...it was to beat the Russians and had we not succeeded or tried to fake it, they would have blown the hoax wide open.

The Russians did technically send a shuttle with humans to the moon before we did. It also did land, but the landing killed the crew. So we were the first to successfully land a human on the moon but the Soviets, to be precise, actually sent a shuttle first.

[in5ane_3]

Originally Posted by SteveMD

And most of them likely do not have a firm understanding of Physics, Aeronautics or any branch of Engineering Science. They read a wacko website and are instant experts.

The fact is, we went for one reason. It wasn't science. It wasn't so that we would have Tang and microwave ovens as a side benefit...it was to beat the Russians and had we not succeeded or tried to fake it, they would have blown the hoax wide open.

A very common argument against the US actually landing on the moon is that the US Flag is waving on the moon, where there should be no atmosphere or winds. It was because of the moon's gravitational field that the flag was "waving."

The KGB did a great job of revealing secrets so I agree with Steve that if it indeed were a hoax it would've been expressed LOUDLY by the Soviets.

[SteveMD]

Originally Posted by in5ane_3

The Russians did technically send a shuttle with humans to the moon before we did. It also did land, but the landing killed the crew. So we were the first to successfully land a human on the moon but the Soviets, to be precise, actually sent a shuttle first.

Umm...no they didn't. That is untrue. The Russians never perfected a launch vehicle large enough, in time, to beat the US to the moon in the 60s and gave up. They crash landed a couple of small probes on the moon but that was it.

The Russian Shuttle - 'Buran' was developed in the 70s and made one unmanned flight to orbit. It never flew again.

Originally Posted by in5ane_3

A very common argument against the US actually landing on the moon is that the US Flag is waving on the moon, where there should be no atmosphere or winds. It was because of the moon's gravitational field that the flag was "waving."

First, the flag had a stiff wire along the top to keep it unfurled. Secondly, even in a vacuum, if you bump or touch the flag, it will oscillate or 'wave' for a while and look like it is flying in the wind like a regular flag.

[SteveMD]

Originally Posted by twinturbo335

nice find..

what is nasa main mission now a days? Mars?

The Shuttle has 8 flights left through late 2010. Then, a new program known as Constellation will take over. It is based on some STS technology - the first manned flight should be about 2012. We're supposed to be back on the moon by 2020 and then on to Mars by 2035..

[ejazbmw]

IMO NASA is the biggest waste of government money why the fuck do we need to spend billions upon billions of dollars each year to send a bunch of people to space. Who gives a crap about landing on the moon or just for going to space to explore. I remember like 8 months ago they were repairing something and during the operation they let a 1.7 million dollar tool box get away from them in space.

I personally think they should close nasa down no one really gives a shit anymore as to who does want in space now.........and /rant lol

[MCS]

IMO - Nasa is a better use of govt money than some of the other pork barrel spending projects that we have funded

Many of the projects that Nasa funds goes directly in to advanced robotics, thermodynamics, propulsion research, advanced physics that directly influences products that we buy and use (aircraft comes to mind). Programs at the top universities are funded by various Nasa initiatives.

i'm not quite old enough to remember Apolo 11, but we took a trip to Cape Canaveral last year and my kids got a kick out of seeing the space shuttle...

My input into the rant...

[SteveMD]

Plus don't forget that NASA doesn't build the spacecraft and rockets. It is done by private and public corporations. For example, Boeing built the first stage booster for the Saturn V. Grumman built the LEM etc. These companies employ people like you and I.

[SteveMD]

NASA just announced that photos of the landing sites taken by the recently launched Lunar Reconnaisance Orbiter will be released tomorrow (7/17) at noon. The LRO has cameras that can resolve down to about two feet so the photos should clearly show the Lunar Modules and other stuff left on the moon.

That should put the hoax believers out of business

Linky: http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009...llo_sites.html