Gene Cernan dies

[Allan F]

NASA has just made public, that Gene Cernan has died.

[onebigmonkey]

Ah what a shame. I have had the privilege of shaking his hand and the honour of hearing him speak.

[mako88sb]

Sad to hear. I didn't know much about him till I read his book. Quite the guy to not take the easy way out offered by Shepard when it came to his helicopter crash.

RIP

[Obviousman]

Wasn't that Deke who told him to say that?

[mako88sb]

Wasn't that Deke who told him to say that?

Been awhile since I read it but I could have sworn it was Shepard because I seem to remember something about the icy stare Shepard was famous for during the exchange. I'll have to dig it out and take a look unless someone else has it handy. Either way, he could have avoided a lot of embarrassing questions about it but his integrity wouldn't permit it.

[Zakalwe]

I re-watched his documentary the other weekend and remarked just how vital and full of energy he was. What a sad loss.

Only six Moonwalkers left. How sad. 

[Glom]

Sad. Didn't quite make it to his 45th anniversary.

[HeadLikeARock]

Another legend bites the dust. I read his autobiography a while back, great read.

[bknight]

I re-watched his documentary the other weekend and remarked just how vital and full of energy he was. What a sad loss.

Only six Moonwalkers left. How sad. 

Crashing to down to the right, RIP Gene.

[LunarOrbit]

It's disappointing that he didn't live to see the title "last man on the moon" taken away from him.

He seemed to have so much energy. I hope I have half as much when I'm in my 80s.

[Count Zero]

I re-watched his documentary the other weekend and remarked just how vital and full of energy he was. What a sad loss.

Only six Moonwalkers left. How sad. 

The mouse-over text for that comic reads as follows:

"The universe is probably littered with the one-planet graves of cultures which made the sensible economic decision that there's no good reason to go into space--each discovered, studied, and remembered by the ones who made the irrational decision." -- Randall Munroe

[Obviousman]

Re-read "Last Man on the Moon": it was Deke.

"So exactly when did the engine quit on you?"

"Like I said Deke, it didn't quit. I just screwed up."

I think you were getting confused with the fact that he said that he had always ragged on Al not to stumble in his preps for the mission. After Geneo crashed and got back to the crew quarters, he saw Al and said "Okay Al - you win. It's your flight".

[mako88sb]

Re-read "Last Man on the Moon": it was Deke.

"So exactly when did the engine quit on you?"

"Like I said Deke, it didn't quit. I just screwed up."

I think you were getting confused with the fact that he said that he had always ragged on Al not to stumble in his preps for the mission. After Geneo crashed and got back to the crew quarters, he saw Al and said "Okay Al - you win. It's your flight".

That must have been what I was thinking about. Good advice about re-reading his book. Might as well follow it with Deke's. Been awhile for both of them. Thanks for clearing that up.

[bknight]

Sad to hear. I didn't know much about him till I read his book. Quite the guy to not take the easy way out offered by Shepard when it came to his helicopter crash.

RIP

I learn something nearly everyday.  I didn't know he crashed a helicopter training for Apollo 14's back up role.  From what I did read last night, Mcdivitt wanted him grounded, taking away the commanders position in A17, but Slayton stood by him, probably because he manned up to the failure.

[Peter B]

Sad news, as such happenings always are.

I attended his talk in Canberra last year, and while I didn't think the whole special guest thing was quite worth the money I paid, it was still an honour to meet him.