The Space Programme: Apollo 11
Today we present something a little different… Space Music and a space documentary.
On this day, July 22, 1969, 54 years ago, the Apollo 11 spacecraft’s Command Module separated from the Lunar Excursion Module and began its return to Earth after the first human being had stepped out of the LEM and set foot upon the Moon early the previous day. Today, in programming we’ve broadcast annually from the start of the station (and beyond), we celebrate the mission’s achievement in music, and in a special music- and actuality-based documentary.
The Apollo 11 mission was launched on July 16, 1969, carrying Commander Neil Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins and Lunar Module Pilot ‘Buzz’ Aldrin, Jr. On July 20, Armstrong and Aldrin became the first humans to land on the Moon. The following day, Neil Armstrong walked on the Moon. And on this day in 1969, they began their successful return to Earth – fulfilling President John F Kennedy’s 1961 speech which included the words,
“…I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish.”
Today’s programme commemorates this momentous event. In addition to an eclectic collection of music from, and about, space, space travel, the Moon and more, we include Moonwalk! – a special radio documentary by Peter Carbines on the Apollo 11 mission based on actuality, painstakingly recorded from the broadcast coverage of the time, and woven into a story of the mission with appropriate, and equally eclectic, music of the period, including as it does everything from the Moody Blues to the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Holst and even Ron Goodwin. Listen on headphones for the best experience.
Moonwalk! will be broadcast at 12:30pm and 4:30pm Pacific/SLT and runs for 25 minutes.
It can be argued that we would not have the environmental consciousness we have today were it not for our view of the Earth from space afforded initially by Apollo 8 and then by later missions. Arguably, space research is important not for what we get out of it directly in terms of products like Teflon, Velcro and manufacturing ability, or for some kind of nationalistic superiority, but for the perspective and knowledge it gives us of our own planet and the Universe around us. In addition it is, perhaps, simply something we should do.
Today’s programme commemorates this momentous event with an eclectic collection of music from, and about, space, space travel, the Moon and more.
In addition, tune in at 12 noon or 4pm Pacific time / SLT, for the latest edition of “Where Have You Been?” — our twice-monthly show on things to do and places to go around the Second Life Grid. Plus the University of Houston Engineering Dept’s “Engines of Our Ingenuity” every four hours from 4am Pacific.
Moonwalk! was created by Peter Carbines of Pyramedia Productions in 1971.