For Apollo and Gemini fans, this is the book to read. 50th Anniversary edition HERE at Amazon. The best writer of all the astros, Collins’ style becomes apparent as soon as you start to read his work. A couple of quotes:
“We are off! And do we know it, not just because the world is yelling “Lift-off” in our ears, but because the seats of our pants tell us so! Trust your instruments, not your body, the modern pilot is always told, but this beast is best felt. Shake, rattle and roll!”
“I am alone now, truly alone, and absolutely isolated from any known life. I am it. If a count were taken, the score would be three billion plus two over on the other side of the moon, and one plus God knows what on this side.”
5 replies on “Carrying the Fire – Michael Collins”
from the InstaPundit comments on the post about Collins’ book comes this priceless gem:
“…The most wonderful thing in the book was not written by Mike Collins, though…it.is the poem that his wife Patricia wrote to him before the Apollo 11 launch. Here it is in its entirety. My wife and I have read it often. It never fails to bring tears.
To a Husband Who Must Seek the Stars
In your eyes the first glad token
As when first our love we proved,
So your mind to mine has spoken
Just as if your lips had moved.
You are saying—yes, I know—
That the lure of space beguiles.
You are pleading—”Let me go,”
Not unwilling, but with smiles.
Can you love me, and still choose
Whispers that I cannot hear?
Late to love, how can I bear to lose
Content for some inconstant sphere?
Tell me how you see my role—
To stay, to wait, yet yearn to go.
Where is the comfort for my soul?
You, my love, have helped me know:
I’ll be unafraid, undaunted.
Yes, of course! I need not face
Any peril; or be haunted
By the hazards you embrace.
I could have sought by wit or wile
Your bright dream to dim. And yet
If I’d swayed you with a smile
My reward would be regret.
So, for once, you shall not hear
Of the tears, unbidden, welling;
Or the nighttime stabs of fear.
These, this time, are not for telling.
Take my silence, though intended;
Fill it with the joy you feel.
Take my courage, now pretended—
You, my love, will make it real.
Wow.
Double Wow.
Apollo 10 astros briefing 11
Who’s who in the briefing? Some of the faces look familiar, but it’s been too long…