Echoes Among the Stars: The Original Website
Echoes Among the Stars — Chapter Eight
Before the Short Day Ends: Apollo in Twilight
“There was a respectful sadness to the flag raising, as everyone associated with the space effort absorbed the melancholy image of the final Apollo moon crew saluting the nation that had birthed the long day of America’s moon journey, and which now hastened it to safety as night began to fall.” -- page 121
• Topics Covered in This Chapter
• Topics for Discussion
• Historical Context
• Possible Writing Assignments
Topics Covered in This Chapter
• Effects of the Apollo 13 Accident: Cutbacks and Safety Improvements
• Apollo 14: Exploring the Moon
• Docking Problems, Lunar Module Short Circuit
• Apollo 14 Geology EVA: A Long, Hard Climb
• The Soviets Change Plans: Sample-Return and Remote Rover Programs
• Soviets Deny Existence of Their Lunar Landing Program
• Apollo 15: Toward a Better Understanding
• Discovery of the Genesis Rock, and Science Experiments on the Moon
• Apollo 16: Twenty Hours on the Moon
• Apollo 17: Lunar Science Advances
• Accomplishments of the Apollo Program
Topics for Discussion
The final moon landing missions might provide a good background for discussing the concrete achievements of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs, including the ways in which they broadened the nation’s understanding of the role that science, engineering, and electronics might play in our “every day” lives. Another good reflection to be explored after reading about the last trips to the moon is the issue of when a return trip might best be planned.
Historical Context
1972 Presidential Election
Pentagon Papers published by New York Times
Nixon visit to China
Mining of North Vietnamese ports
Attempted Assassination of George Wallace
Nixon visit to Soviet Union (SALT I treaty)
Watergate break-in and investigation
Israeli athletes killed by terrorists at 1972 Olympics
Last American troops leave Vietnam
Possible Writing Assignments
College
Write an essay contrasting America’s commitment to its space program and its involvement in the Vietnam war.
High School
Write an essay that argues in favor of human beings returning to the moon. Explain why such a flight might be a good idea, and provide some details about how such a program might best be structured (i.e. who would be on the crew, what would they do once they got there, etc.).
K-8
Answer the question “why should human beings go back to the moon?”
The final moon landing missions might provide a good background for discussing the concrete achievements of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs, including the ways in which they broadened the nation’s understanding of the role that science, engineering, and electronics might play in our “every day” lives. Another good reflection to be explored after reading about the last trips to the moon is the issue of when a return trip might best be planned.
Historical Context
1972 Presidential Election
Pentagon Papers published by New York Times
Nixon visit to China
Mining of North Vietnamese ports
Attempted Assassination of George Wallace
Nixon visit to Soviet Union (SALT I treaty)
Watergate break-in and investigation
Israeli athletes killed by terrorists at 1972 Olympics
Last American troops leave Vietnam
Possible Writing Assignments
College
Write an essay contrasting America’s commitment to its space program and its involvement in the Vietnam war.
High School
Write an essay that argues in favor of human beings returning to the moon. Explain why such a flight might be a good idea, and provide some details about how such a program might best be structured (i.e. who would be on the crew, what would they do once they got there, etc.).
K-8
Answer the question “why should human beings go back to the moon?”
