Yeah, I remember it. It was the official kick-off point of all things space-related in pop culture for the next 8 or 10 years. In Seattle we still have the vestiges of that in the form of a restaurant downtown - the Space Needle.
The main thing I remember about that time though, was all the paranoia about the Rooskies kicking our butts in the "space race", and how they were gonna take over the world through space-domination or some sort of vague threat like that.
So we quicklike got our stuff together and joined in the race, (and started practicing getting under our desks and cover our eyes and ears in case they dropped the big one on our block). An odd time in history - sorta like now...
Yeah, I remember about it. Not too much, though. I definitely remember the aftermath, though. JFK announcing we would go to the moon. Alan Shepherd, Gus Grissom, John Glenn.
What a lot of money and what are the results? Freeze dried food, for one thing. Any other benefits to all mankind, other than the Russians are taking potshots at us from the moon?
According to what I read, it is based on a book called Rocket Boys.
The article goes on to say that the title of the movie was changed to October Sky (which is an anagram for Rocket Boys) in an effort to appeal to a wider audience.
I think I'm going to visit the local library and see if I can get a copy of both.
It's a good cine...fairly accurate rendition of the young years of Homer Hickam. Google his name for more info. Went on to become a NASA engineer in the shuttle program. If you remember Sputnik you'll enjoy this movie a good bit. Completely safe for kids of any age as well.
Rumrunner
I had never heard of that movie so I googled it.
It sounds like my kind of flick.
According to what I read, it is based on a book called Rocket Boys.
The article goes on to say that the title of the movie was changed to October Sky (which is an anagram for Rocket Boys) in an effort to appeal to a wider audience.
I think I'm going to visit the local library and see if I can get a copy of both.
I wasn't even a twinkle in my daddy's eye at that time, but I do remember reading with fascination about Laika. She was on the Sputnik II, though.
I do remember watching 'October Sky' and marvel at how "boring" history was when I was growing up - now I can't get enough of it. Thanks for that link, Waysider! I didn't realize some of those things came from the space program. But, where isTANG??I don't see Tang on the list?? :P
I wasn't even a twinkle in my daddy's eye at that time, but I do remember reading with fascination about Laika. She was on the Sputnik II, though.
I do remember watching 'October Sky' and marvel at how "boring" history was when I was growing up - now I can't get enough of it. Thanks for that link, Waysider! I didn't realize some of those things came from the space program. But, where isTANG??I don't see Tang on the list?? :P
Why did they have to send a cute dog up there? Why not alligators? The world would be a much better place if we knew that there were hundreds of frozen Alligators in space, locked in suspended animation by the deep freeze, just waiting to fall from the sky and be re-animated to eat all of us. They recently said that germs sent to outer space come back more deadly -- can you imagine what would happen with an alligator?
I think I'll go outside tonight and look up at the sky just for "shirts and girdles".
Probably won't see many neighbors this time, though.
Kinda makes me wonder what is happening in the world today that people will be discussing 50 years from now like we've been discussing Sputnik.
Do you think you realize it when you are "living in a moment"?
In other words, if you were present that momentous day when Dr. King gave his "I have a dream" speech, did you feel you were part of history in the making, or does that realization only appear in retrospect?
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doojable
Sorry, I was asleep in my bassinet.
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George Aar
Yeah, I remember it. It was the official kick-off point of all things space-related in pop culture for the next 8 or 10 years. In Seattle we still have the vestiges of that in the form of a restaurant downtown - the Space Needle.
The main thing I remember about that time though, was all the paranoia about the Rooskies kicking our butts in the "space race", and how they were gonna take over the world through space-domination or some sort of vague threat like that.
So we quicklike got our stuff together and joined in the race, (and started practicing getting under our desks and cover our eyes and ears in case they dropped the big one on our block). An odd time in history - sorta like now...
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Watered Garden
Yeah, I remember about it. Not too much, though. I definitely remember the aftermath, though. JFK announcing we would go to the moon. Alan Shepherd, Gus Grissom, John Glenn.
What a lot of money and what are the results? Freeze dried food, for one thing. Any other benefits to all mankind, other than the Russians are taking potshots at us from the moon?
WG
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RumRunner
Go rent the movie "October Sky"
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waysider
Here are some resultant effects of the space program.
In other words, "Space Spin Offs"
http://www.thespaceplace.com/nasa/spinoffs.html
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Rocky
I saw the movie when it was first in theaters... good movie.
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waysider
Rumrunner
I had never heard of that movie so I googled it.
It sounds like my kind of flick.
According to what I read, it is based on a book called Rocket Boys.
The article goes on to say that the title of the movie was changed to October Sky (which is an anagram for Rocket Boys) in an effort to appeal to a wider audience.
I think I'm going to visit the local library and see if I can get a copy of both.
Thanks for the suggestion.
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RumRunner
It's a good cine...fairly accurate rendition of the young years of Homer Hickam. Google his name for more info. Went on to become a NASA engineer in the shuttle program. If you remember Sputnik you'll enjoy this movie a good bit. Completely safe for kids of any age as well.
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Belle
I wasn't even a twinkle in my daddy's eye at that time, but I do remember reading with fascination about Laika. She was on the Sputnik II, though.
I do remember watching 'October Sky' and marvel at how "boring" history was when I was growing up - now I can't get enough of it. Thanks for that link, Waysider! I didn't realize some of those things came from the space program. But, where is TANG?? I don't see Tang on the list?? :P
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Tom Strange
perhaps I didn't read the link thoroughly enough... but there's Tang and Velcro!
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Mister P-Mosh
Why did they have to send a cute dog up there? Why not alligators? The world would be a much better place if we knew that there were hundreds of frozen Alligators in space, locked in suspended animation by the deep freeze, just waiting to fall from the sky and be re-animated to eat all of us. They recently said that germs sent to outer space come back more deadly -- can you imagine what would happen with an alligator?
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Ham
Well.. we did end up with a couple hundred pounds of genuine moon rocks, didn't we?
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waysider
HA!
Tonight's the night!!!
(For Sputnik, that is.)
50 years ago tonight.
I think I'll go outside tonight and look up at the sky just for "shirts and girdles".
Probably won't see many neighbors this time, though.
Kinda makes me wonder what is happening in the world today that people will be discussing 50 years from now like we've been discussing Sputnik.
Do you think you realize it when you are "living in a moment"?
In other words, if you were present that momentous day when Dr. King gave his "I have a dream" speech, did you feel you were part of history in the making, or does that realization only appear in retrospect?
Just a thought.
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