Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

Tommy Carcetti

(44,503 posts)

3. I missed out on the old Space Race rocket launches of the 60s and 70s.

Reply to LiberalArkie (Original post)

Wed Apr 1, 2026, 09:50 AM

Wednesday

And I always felt a little bit jealous of the people who did get to experience that excitement. One of my favorite movies of all time still is The Right Stuff, and the part featuring John Glenn's launch always thrilled me and I was sad I couldn't have been there to see it.

I have seen multiple rocket launches since then, including the Space Shuttle in its day. I even saw the Challenger disaster in person.

But all that singular attention that surrounded the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo launches was something else.

Then, in 1998, I actually got to see the shuttle launch where John Glenn returned to space. And seeing it happen live gave me just a sliver of that feeling I think I would have felt during his first trip back in 1962.

I have to admit, I am a complete sucker for space stuff.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

2 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

nocoincidences LiberalArkie

13 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

For us Old Farts who remember these events from childhood. NASA's Artemis II Live Mission Coverage (Official Broadcast [View all] LiberalArkie Wednesday OP

Thanks for posting this...I'm definitely an "Old Fart", I remember watching the 1969 moon landing live on B&W TV... wcmagumba Wednesday #1

Back when I was in elementary school in the late 50's, I used to get color photos in the mail of all the rockets LiberalArkie Wednesday #4

US proved we could do "the impossible" by working together. Kid Berwyn Wednesday #2

I missed out on the old Space Race rocket launches of the 60s and 70s. Tommy Carcetti Wednesday #3

"The Right Stuff" is a great movie, I still feel a little sad that Chuck Yeager missed out on going to space. wcmagumba Wednesday #5

Confirming my Old Fart status, we lived in Huntsville in the early 60s when I was a little kid . . . hatrack Wednesday #6

I feel equally bad for Scott Crossfield. cab67 Wednesday #10

I'll give you something else to be jealous about. House of Roberts Wednesday #7

I watched a rocket engine test in California about 25 years ago. cab67 Wednesday #9

I'm a scientist in part because of the Apollo missions. cab67 Wednesday #8

The astronauts had no guarantee that they would leave the Earth or get to the moon or get back to Earth. LiberalArkie Wednesday #11

Even today, to quote Mark Kelly, "You're riding bombs". hatrack Wednesday #12

Old? Get outta here! You're not old unless you remember watching live the Vanguard rockets Wonder Why Wednesday #13