for NASA, he tells himself. Yet, when he casts a stray glance in Ryer’s direction, he’s vaguely surprised to see that her own mouth is moving silently, and he doesn’t have to be a lip-reader to know what she’s saying: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name …
“Roger, Launch Control, we’ve got APU green-for-go, over.”
“Main engine gimbal complete, all systems configured for launch.”
“Roger that …”
Then Ryer’s eyes move in his direction, and when she finds him looking at her, the words stop as her face blanches. Before she can look away again, though, Parnell smiles and gives her a sly wink as he silently completes the verse: Thy kingdom come. Thy will he done in earth, as it is in heaven ….
She reluctantly returns the smile.
“Main engine start on three.”
“Five …”
“Four …”
The countdown reaches T-minus three seconds, and five thousand two hundred and fifty tons of hydrazine and nitric acid ignite beneath them in a deafening roar which shakes the vessel as if an earthquake had erupted directly beneath the pad. For an instant, the ferry sways back and forth within its cradle as the monster struggles against the invisible bars of its prison.
“Main engine start.”
“Two …”
“One …”
And then the countdown reaches zero, the cradle opens wide, and Constellation slowly begins to rise.
Editorial from The Manchester Union-Leader, Manchester, New Hampshire; August 28, 1968
A “Lunatic” Idea
If one needs any further reason to question the fitness of Democratic Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, it’s his campaign promise to dismantle the U.S. Space Force and replace it with a civilian space agency.
During a campaign speech delivered last Wednesday at the McDonnell Douglas Corporation’s manufacturing facility in St. Louis, Senator Kennedy told aerospace workers that as President of the United States he would phase out the USSF, and in its place, substitute a new Federal space organization which would concentrate on “peaceful and scientific” uses of outer space instead of “strictly military goals.”
Unfortunately, Little Bobby the Boy Senator has considerable support for his proposal from the liberals in Congress, who have begun to question the Pentagon’s oft-stated intent to use the Moon as a base for scientific research as well as in the pursuit of national security. It should also be noted that Little Bobby’s cohorts in the so-called Youth International Party have seconded the notion. “If we can go to the Moon for some other reason than making war,” says Jerry Rubin, “then that’s fine with me.”
Of course Red Jerry would agree! He and his gang of hippie radicals have already made headlines by protesting at the front gates of Cape Canaveral, including the “sit-ins” which have prevented military personnel from reporting to duty. If Kennedy got his way, he would probably appoint Abbie Hoffmann to be the director of the space program. That way they could have a “love-in” with “Hanoi Jane” Fonda on the Moon!
What the Senator and his de facto Communist friends don’t mention is that this idea has been floated already. In 1959, Little Bobby’s older brother, Little Johnny, proposed much the same thing with his Space Act, which was supported by Little Johnny’s former Democratic running mate, Senator Lyndon B. “Claim-Jumpin’” Johnson of Texas. This was only one of the reasons why the Kennedy/Johnson ticket was soundly defeated in the 1960 presidential election; the American people recognized the fact that we need a strong military presence in space in order to offset the international Communist conspiracy.
Now, eight years later, we’ve got old whine poured into new bottles. It’s clear that Little Bobby wants to vindicate Little Johnny’s political reputation, although Boston’s mayor could care less since he’s busy destroying the city’s schools with his desegregation program. It doesn’t seem
“Roger, Launch Control, we’ve got APU green-for-go, over.”
“Main engine gimbal complete, all systems configured for launch.”
“Roger that …”
Then Ryer’s eyes move in his direction, and when she finds him looking at her, the words stop as her face blanches. Before she can look away again, though, Parnell smiles and gives her a sly wink as he silently completes the verse: Thy kingdom come. Thy will he done in earth, as it is in heaven ….
She reluctantly returns the smile.
“Main engine start on three.”
“Five …”
“Four …”
The countdown reaches T-minus three seconds, and five thousand two hundred and fifty tons of hydrazine and nitric acid ignite beneath them in a deafening roar which shakes the vessel as if an earthquake had erupted directly beneath the pad. For an instant, the ferry sways back and forth within its cradle as the monster struggles against the invisible bars of its prison.
“Main engine start.”
“Two …”
“One …”
And then the countdown reaches zero, the cradle opens wide, and Constellation slowly begins to rise.
Editorial from The Manchester Union-Leader, Manchester, New Hampshire; August 28, 1968
A “Lunatic” Idea
If one needs any further reason to question the fitness of Democratic Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, it’s his campaign promise to dismantle the U.S. Space Force and replace it with a civilian space agency.
During a campaign speech delivered last Wednesday at the McDonnell Douglas Corporation’s manufacturing facility in St. Louis, Senator Kennedy told aerospace workers that as President of the United States he would phase out the USSF, and in its place, substitute a new Federal space organization which would concentrate on “peaceful and scientific” uses of outer space instead of “strictly military goals.”
Unfortunately, Little Bobby the Boy Senator has considerable support for his proposal from the liberals in Congress, who have begun to question the Pentagon’s oft-stated intent to use the Moon as a base for scientific research as well as in the pursuit of national security. It should also be noted that Little Bobby’s cohorts in the so-called Youth International Party have seconded the notion. “If we can go to the Moon for some other reason than making war,” says Jerry Rubin, “then that’s fine with me.”
Of course Red Jerry would agree! He and his gang of hippie radicals have already made headlines by protesting at the front gates of Cape Canaveral, including the “sit-ins” which have prevented military personnel from reporting to duty. If Kennedy got his way, he would probably appoint Abbie Hoffmann to be the director of the space program. That way they could have a “love-in” with “Hanoi Jane” Fonda on the Moon!
What the Senator and his de facto Communist friends don’t mention is that this idea has been floated already. In 1959, Little Bobby’s older brother, Little Johnny, proposed much the same thing with his Space Act, which was supported by Little Johnny’s former Democratic running mate, Senator Lyndon B. “Claim-Jumpin’” Johnson of Texas. This was only one of the reasons why the Kennedy/Johnson ticket was soundly defeated in the 1960 presidential election; the American people recognized the fact that we need a strong military presence in space in order to offset the international Communist conspiracy.
Now, eight years later, we’ve got old whine poured into new bottles. It’s clear that Little Bobby wants to vindicate Little Johnny’s political reputation, although Boston’s mayor could care less since he’s busy destroying the city’s schools with his desegregation program. It doesn’t seem
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