50th Anniversary Thread Of Apollo 11

Thankfully we got to von Braun before the Russians/Soviets did. With due respect to Dr Goddard, he probably pushed us ahead 5 years. In today's political climate, we probably wouldn't be able to use von Braun's work. Originally Posted by gnadfly

We can just use their shuttle to the space station and life boat..... not to mention the years of re-supply trips .... and return trips to their space port to get home! I recall 20 years or so ago meeting two cosmonauts and a Russian engineer on Galveston beach down to the Southern end with three identical Ford Tauruses with the hoods popped inspecting the engine and AC configurations. Very pleasant folks. Excitedly jabbering away.

They were "colluding" at NASA.

Yeah it took real balls to do what they did , I respect them and honor them.

He was a test pilot for the P-80 shooting star jet, america's first jet. He was killed in the crash.


allegedly, he forgot to turn on the fuel pump which caused the jet to crash. Originally Posted by dilbert firestorm

How do you forget to do that. Sounds fishy.

How do you forget to do that. Sounds fishy. Originally Posted by Levianon17

yes, its kinda fishy.. there were some people who dispute this story.


its is kinda of strange that the test pilot would advise every pilot to make sure to turn on the pumps in a training session and does exactly that.


possible that there was a coverup regarding the aircraft's suitablity.


P80/F80 turned out to be a lousy aircraft.