Author Topic: HBO Miniseries From the Earth to the Moon  (Read 178 times)

Offline bknight

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HBO Miniseries From the Earth to the Moon
« on: February 01, 2025, 12:25:14 PM »
I searched for and didn't find any post newer than about 4 years, so I thought I would start a new thread.
I watched for the first time the first few episodes of this miniseries.  I found it somewhat enlightening in an astronauts perspective.  It did bring up some questions concerning the true rendition of history.  For example the Buzz Aldrin wish to exit prior to Armstong and the ensuing fuss he made prior to the launch.  All the information I have seen has not depicted this "issue", even if he harbored tis desire.  So did he make his issue a reality to management?  And the dispute with Armstong on a simulator crash that Armstrong did not listen to/act on Aldrin's suggestion to abort the landing?
I was unaware that the Apolo 1 capsule was completely disassembled during the investigation, was that accurately shown?
Wally's insistence on a wind speed/direction prior to Apollo7 launch, I assumed there was always a wind speed/direction prior to any of the launches. This fed his desire to "not follow orders" to wear his helmet during reentry, fearing ear damage due to his cold.  One of his reasons were that since management overrode the wind speed or direction during launch, he was justified not wearing his helmet.
I was pleased that the close personal relationship nature of the A12 crew members was brought out.  Exiting the LM without uniforms because Gordon told them to clean up prior to exiting the LM and rejoining him in the CSM?  That I had never heard of and the following mission had more regolith on the suits due to the length of the EVAs.  Besides they would have needed the suits for reentry 3-4 days hence.
That's all I have because I am on A13 mission next.
Truth needs no defense.  Nobody can take those footsteps I made on the surface of the moon away from me.
Eugene Cernan

Offline Peter B

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Re: HBO Miniseries From the Earth to the Moon
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2025, 05:15:03 PM »
I searched for and didn't find any post newer than about 4 years, so I thought I would start a new thread.
I watched for the first time the first few episodes of this miniseries.  I found it somewhat enlightening in an astronauts perspective.  It did bring up some questions concerning the true rendition of history.

There are a few places where the series perhaps "illustrates" the truth, rather than directly showing it. That is, I think there are scenes which aren't literally true, but which instead summarise a situation or attitude. For example, the character of Emmett Seaborn allows the show to ask and explain things which weren't ever directly asked or explained by journalists at the time.

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For example the Buzz Aldrin wish to exit prior to Armstong and the ensuing fuss he made prior to the launch.  All the information I have seen has not depicted this "issue", even if he harbored tis desire.  So did he make his issue a reality to management?

Apparently he did. According to the ALSJ: "Readers interested in the question of how the decision was made as to who went out first should consult Andy Chaikin's excellent book "A Man on the Moon", together with Buzz's "Return to Earth". In the simplest terms, the decision hinged (if my readers will pardon the pun) on the design of the hatch, which swung into the cabin to the right, blocking Buzz's access to the exit until after Neil was out. Despite this engineering reality, Buzz expended some effort prior to the flight in trying to convince Deke Slayton, the former Mercury astronaut who was Director of Flight Crew Operations, and others that he, rather than Neil, be the one to go out first. His efforts were in vain."

However, one thing I've never found out was how and when the decision about the side of the door hinge was made. In the Seaborn interview of the Apollo 11 crew in the "Mare Tranquilitatis" episode, Seaborn suggests it was a 50/50 coin toss of a decision made years prior. Yet I'm also sure I've read in various books about Apollo that there was a very conscious decision by NASA management that the CDR should be the first out of the hatch. Does that mean that NASA management spoke to Grumman and told them to position the hinge to lock in that decision? Or was some sort of post hoc rationalisation of an engineering decision they had no control over?

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And the dispute with Armstong on a simulator crash that Armstrong did not listen to/act on Aldrin's suggestion to abort the landing?

Yes, this is also described in Chaikin's book. I don't remember for sure, but it may also be in Michael Collins's book "Carrying the Fire".

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I was unaware that the Apolo 1 capsule was completely disassembled during the investigation, was that accurately shown?

The process is described in the Murray and Cox book "Apollo: The Race to the Moon". It includes a description of the folding work platform the engineers built so they could work inside the capsule without touching it; and how the disassembly process was so painstaking that when engineers used a torque wrench to loosen each screw, they recorded the amount of force needed to loosen it, and compared it with the force used to tighten it during construction.

ETA: As I understand it, the capsule wasn't "completely disassembled". Rather, they removed enough material from inside the capsule to serve the purpose of the accident investigation.

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Wally's insistence on a wind speed/direction prior to Apollo7 launch, I assumed there was always a wind speed/direction prior to any of the launches. This fed his desire to "not follow orders" to wear his helmet during reentry, fearing ear damage due to his cold.  One of his reasons were that since management overrode the wind speed or direction during launch, he was justified not wearing his helmet.

I'm not sure about this one either way.

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I was pleased that the close personal relationship nature of the A12 crew members was brought out.  Exiting the LM without uniforms because Gordon told them to clean up prior to exiting the LM and rejoining him in the CSM?  That I had never heard of and the following mission had more regolith on the suits due to the length of the EVAs.  Besides they would have needed the suits for reentry 3-4 days hence.

Yeah, I think "That's All There Is" is one of the best episodes in the series. I don't know about the stripping off scene. It's not directly described in the Apollo Flight Journal. However there's a possible implication given that at one point Conrad asked Mission Control whether his and Bean's Liquid Cooled Garments could be left in the LM because they were so dirty. So, obviously at one point they'd stripped to remove them.

The problem with the scene in the episode is that it implies the crew were so busy they didn't have time to dress before LM jettison. Obviously I don't know for sure, but I doubt they were under that much time pressure.

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That's all I have because I am on A13 mission next.

Enjoy!  :)
« Last Edit: February 01, 2025, 05:17:43 PM by Peter B »
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Offline bknight

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Re: HBO Miniseries From the Earth to the Moon
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2025, 05:30:20 PM »
Thanks
Truth needs no defense.  Nobody can take those footsteps I made on the surface of the moon away from me.
Eugene Cernan

Offline Dalhousie

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Re: HBO Miniseries From the Earth to the Moon
« Reply #3 on: February 05, 2025, 08:43:18 PM »
I searched for and didn't find any post newer than about 4 years, so I thought I would start a new thread.
I watched for the first time the first few episodes of this miniseries. 

I first watched it in 2002, and probably rewatched every year or two since.  It's amazing.

Offline bknight

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Re: HBO Miniseries From the Earth to the Moon
« Reply #4 on: February 06, 2025, 11:01:39 AM »
I searched for and didn't find any post newer than about 4 years, so I thought I would start a new thread.
I watched for the first time the first few episodes of this miniseries. 

I first watched it in 2002, and probably rewatched every year or two since.  It's amazing.
Yes it presents a more personalized viewpoint of the program.  I enjoyed it also and will most likely view it again in the future.
Truth needs no defense.  Nobody can take those footsteps I made on the surface of the moon away from me.
Eugene Cernan