
Challenge Of Space - SA 69-07-07 (08) 10 Miles to the Moon
Loading summary
Charles B. Ryan
With the American Express Gold Card, I can earn four times membership rewards points at US Supermarkets. So I'll grab some chili oil points and fish packed with points. Bucatini. That's a lot of points. Heirloom tomatoes, perfectly ripe and packed with points. Get more than just your groceries for the American Express Gold Card. Learn more@americanexpress.com us Explore goals, terms and points Cap Apply.
William McCrory
The Challenge of Faith Carling World brewers of the great American beer Carling Black Label presents another story in the dramatic series the Challenge of Space.
Charles B. Ryan
Good evening. This is Charles B. Ryan, head of the Department of Space Research here at the New Mexico Center. Tonight I have a story for you that is as fresh as tomorrow's headlines, a story that takes us but one step away from mankind's greatest adventure. And I call this story 10 miles to the Moon.
William McCrory
When the sun burns straight overhead and the grass lies scorched underfoot. When the breeze is gone and the air hangs heavy as lead, when the red dust cakes on a man's face and the dryness bites deep in his throat, that's when a man needs a beer. Garling Black Label Beer Husky, lusty and strong, Carling is the man's brand. Extra Strength Carling Black Label is now brewed right here in South Africa so you don't lose a day of that lusty, lively taste Carling is world famous for. If you've got a thirst, put our brand on it. Carling Black Label, brewed for men in 18 breweries around the world.
Charles B. Ryan
Through the ages, man has always reached out for the moon. Religions have been founded with the moon as an idol. Astrologers even today claim to plot the course of human lives as influenced by the moon. Madmen were supposed to come under the spell of this earthly satellite. Even our word for madman comes from the Latin for moon lunatic. The moon is romance and the moon is madness. And now that man has grown wings, this romantic madness is still upon us. For we are the people who are blessed with the technology and the ability to do what man through the ages could only long to do, to reach out and touch the moon, to walk upon it, and to say, in truth, we have known the moon and it is ours. In 1961, a young man took his place in front of Congress in Washington and spoke his name was John Fitzgerald Kennedy, President of the United States, and he spoke about the moon. I believe this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal before this decade is out, landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth. No single space project will Be more impressive to mankind. None will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish. And I asked this Congress for funds to enable an impossible dream, another instance of moon madness. At the time, that's what it seemed to be, because the Russians were far ahead in the race toward the stars. America had not even been able to place an unmanned lunar probe closer than 20,000 miles to the lunar surface, and that's a good distance away. Nobody believed then, even remotely, that it could be done. And yet, in 1962, President Kennedy spoke again, spoke on the same subject. No nation which expects to be the leader of other nations can expect to stay behind in this race for space. That challenge is one that we are willing to accept that we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win. The challenge of space, the title of this series of programs, and the words of President John Kennedy. But of course, there were immediate problems. Nobody knew just how to go about reaching the moon, far less landing a man on its surface. Rocket expert Vernon von Braun, looking far into the future, saw it like this. I would use two Saturn rockets, One carrying a manned capsule and the other one carrying extra fuel. Both these rockets would be launched into Earth orbit, and there they would rendezvous, like the rocket, with the capsules refueled from the other. The refueled capsule was then shot out of orbit towards the moon and return, in effect, quite simple. That was one approach from Vanner von Braun. Maxime Fager, one of the designers of the Mercury spacecraft, had yet another and possibly simpler idea. Here is how he described it. Naturally, everyone knows that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. So I envisage a rocket larger than any rocket yet on the drawing boards, which will simply lift the from the earth directly to the moon. The capsule, which has a certain amount of power of its own, would then lift from the surface of the moon and return to Earth. Two very sound theories from two of the leading exponents of rocket research. Both were worth considering. But the final answer had not yet been reached. An American spaceman had to reach the moon. President Kennedy had given the green light. But how would it be done? It was at a meeting in Washington that the answer was finally reached. And from the most unexpected source. Ah, gentlemen. Gentlemen. Cheers. Thank you. Now we thank Dr. Von Braun for his very enlightening talk. This is, I think, worth serious consideration. Now, our next speaker, some of you may already know, although he prefers to stay out of the limelight. Gentlemen, Dr. John C. Hubo. Thank you. Thank you. Well, it's nice to know my friends are out in force today. Thank you. Now, gentlemen, I've examined the theories put forward by my eminent colleagues, maxim Fager and Dr. Bernard von Braun. And the one fault that I have confined with them is that they will not be practicable for quite some time yet. Certainly not within the time period asked for by President Kennedy. Now, it occurs to me that rendezvous around the moon is like being in a living room. You need parts. O'Reilly Auto Parts has parts. Need them fast. We've got fast. No matter what you need. We have thousands of professional parts people doing their part to make sure you have it. Product availability. Just one part that makes O'Reilly stand apart. The professional parts people.
Tom Stafford
Auto parts.
Charles B. Ryan
Now, why should we take the whole darn living room down to the moon when we could get there in an easy chair? A little tiny craft rather than the big one? So I've evolved this theory which falls right within my field of work called Lunar Orbit Rendezvous, or lor. Now, gentlemen, tables of my figures have been handed to you. If you have any queries. Yes, you are being misleading, Doctor. Your figures lie. Point of order, Dr. Fletcher, please control yourself. Yes, Dr. Von Brown, you have the floor with respect to Dr. Hobert. Mr. Chairman, I'm afraid this idea is no good, no good at all. John C. Hubolt idea was dismissed. He was asked to drop the subject of Lunar Orbit Rendezvous entirely from talks he gave at NASA meetings and conferences. And still men talked and planned on the best way to reach the moon, now so close, yet still so far away. Finally, desperately, after months of frustration, Dr. Hubolt bypassed the administration with a letter direct to the associate administrator of NASA. NASA gave Hubolt a hearing. And at last, Max Faget and Wernher von Braun came round to his way of thinking. Now, nothing stood in the way of the Apollo project. The fastest way to the moon. Work began on the Apollo modules, the three man capsule in which the astronauts would live on their way through a quarter million miles of space. And on the lunar excursion module, the lem, in which they would actually land the two craft which would orbit together, then separate, then rendezvous above the surface of the moon. The two craft which would become affectionately known as Charlie Brown and Snoopy. But first there were experiments. The first ended in tragedy when Apollo 1 burst into flames and the lives of three pioneer astronauts were snuffed out in seconds. But work went on, schedules were kept, men were trained. And then the first manned flight aboard Vana von Braun's gigantic Saturn rocket was made in the capsule named Apollo 7. Aboard were astronauts Wally Sharrard Don Isler and Walter Cunningham. These men and the Apollo mission were gold. They practiced the intricate maneuvers of docking in orbit, then returned to their native Earth. But then America gave the world a Christmas present unlike any it had ever had before. Astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell and Bill Anders flew their Apollo 8 capsule around the moon. Chris the horizon here is very, very stark. The sky is pitch black and the sun is white. We can see the lunar craters. Caspar and Gilbert. Further on the horizon, the mountains are coming up now. They're heavily impacted with numerous craters.
William McCrory
There's a beautiful moon out tonight.
Charles B. Ryan
Frank There's a beautiful Earth out there that we can see. Chris I can see the entire Earth now out of the Senate window. Hey, do you suppose there's any solid light down there? Who's the joker? That's Bill Anders. But you know, as we headed out toward the moon coming up here, the Earth got smaller and smaller. The continents blended together. Maybe man's problems will also blend together and get smaller and we can start generating a spirit of cooperation. Merry Christmas, Frank. And so Apollo 8 circled the moon and came home. Then came the little publicized Apollo 9. But all this was prelude nothing more than the overture to the symphony which had yet to come. Because now, now came the second to last step in man's greatest achievement. Now wheeled out on its enormous gantry to the launch site at Cape Kennedy comes the mightiest rocket the world has ever seen, the titanic Saturn V. The brainchild of Vana von Braun, the Saturn V rocket, the most powerful of all the Apollo boosters, consists of three stages. The first two stages are jettisoned immediately after burnout, by which time the third stage and the modules will be in a parking orbit around the Earth. Now a five minute burn of the third stage boosts the spacecraft past escape velocity, the speed needed to escape the Earth's gravitational pull, and sends it on its way to the moon at 24,000 miles an hour. After this first stage is jettisoned, old motive power comes from rockets contained in the service module, which is only jettisoned shortly before splashdown. Dr. Verona von Braun atop his powerful Saturn V rocket, waiting for the fire which will send them hurtling toward the moon, said three skilled men, command pilot Tom Stafford and fellow astronauts Eugene Cernan and John Young. And as they wait to hear the countdown reach the zero mark, let's hear from command pilot Tom Stafford.
William McCrory
Apollo 10 Command Pilot Stafford describes the.
Charles B. Ryan
Mission for Apollo 10.
Tom Stafford
The major reason behind the Apollo 10 mission is to pull together all of the nine factories had in the past for Pred missions and find out the final unknowns before the actual lunar landing mission. Tom Stafford, you're going to be a very busy man. Those few minutes before liftoff from Cape Kennedy. Would you describe what you and John Young and Gene Cernan are doing inside the spacecraft there from about T minus 10 on down to zero? All right, at this time, we're going through the final switch position checks with the spacecraft test conductor. And I'm monitoring the booster tank pressures and the booster parameters down below. And I have the board handle. John Young is looking at the computer in the center seat and looking at some of our basic small engine parameters. And Gene serves on the right, checking the fuel cells, electrical power around each, AC power, DC power, and the systems on the right hand side.
Charles B. Ryan
Tom Stafford interviewed by William McCrory and Red Turner on the Voice of America. And at this moment in the Houston Space Control center, tension is mounting. Among controlled activity. The time is 18 seconds and counting.
Tom Stafford
17 seconds and counting. Guidance internal. 15, 14, 15, 12, 11, 10, 9. We have a missile crown cloud. Engines on. 5, 4, 3, 2. There's the fire. Engines running.
Charles B. Ryan
Let's commit. There it goes.
Tom Stafford
It's moving.
Charles B. Ryan
The pioneers of Apollo 10 are on their way to the moon.
William McCrory
Know something? In these mellow after supper hours, there's nothing like a beer to make a man feel good, relaxed and good. And there's no beer like a Carling Black Label. Carling is the man's brand, the great American beer that's now brewed right here in South Africa so you don't lose a day of that lusty, lively taste Carling is world famous for. Got a thirst? Then why not get your hands on a Carling right now? Cold and frosty in the can. Man, oh man, isn't that just what real beer is all about? No wonder Carling is enjoyed by men in more than 50 countries around the world. Go for the man's brand. Go for Carling. Carling Black Label.
Charles B. Ryan
At this point, I'd like to backtrack slightly in time to just a few moments before the launch of Apollo 10 from pad 39B at Cape Kennedy. Because it is at this point that the story of this voyage, the voyage of the astronauts themselves, begins. Over then to Red Turner at Cape Kennedy for a description of the vehicle that these men will ride.
Tom Stafford
On top, we can clearly see the Apollo spacecraft and the command and service module below. The spacecraft standing on the pad stretches over 130 meters into the sky. The weight out there on the pad at this moment is 2,945,134 kg. This is the heaviest weight ever lifted into space by the atomic sp. We believe the heaviest ever lifted into space in history. Scheduled to go toward the moon will be 94,500 pounds, or 42,865 kilograms of Apollo and lunar module spacecraft to be slung away from the Earth and headed for the moon.
Charles B. Ryan
That's the machine that Vernon von Braun built. Perched high above it, the three men wait their long journey, a journey of eight days and more than half a million miles.
Tom Stafford
On 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, all engine once commenced. Lift on.
Charles B. Ryan
We have lift on. There it goes.
Tom Stafford
It's moving.
Charles B. Ryan
Clear the tower. Here comes the roar past the gate. Listen to that rocket.
Tom Stafford
Rock and roll. Disappearing into the clouds.
Charles B. Ryan
That's William McCrory at the Apollo News center in Washington describing the launch of Apollo 10. Now, just how fast does a rocket this size travel? How long does it take to place three men, their equipment and a booster rocket into orbit? Let Jack Riley answer that question from the Apollo Mission Control center in Houston. With all systems go, just more than three minutes into the ride.
Tom Stafford
Downrange. 81 miles, 46 miles high.
Charles B. Ryan
81 miles downrange, 46 miles high. At three minutes and nine seconds into the mission and just one minute and 40 seconds later, the ship was all of 230 miles downrange and 76 miles high. Some ride. And maybe Eugene Cernan said it best just shortly after liftoff when he spoke with his buddies up there. What a ride. Oh, babe, what a ride. Beautiful. Applesauce is looking good. It's fantastic, babe, really fantastic. Just like old time. Then, scarcely 10 minutes after liftoff, this was the news from Apollo 10.
Tom Stafford
Fifteen minutes after liftoff from the Earth, and the spacecraft is now moving fast out across the Atlantic. It is safely in orbit during its first revolution of the Earth.
Charles B. Ryan
The raw power of the gigantic Saturn ship placing the three men in their orbit less than 15 minutes after liftoff. Now they began their first swoop around this Earth of ours, crossing even the sprawling continent of Africa In a handful of exciting minutes.
Tom Stafford
They're well into orbit fast over the Canary Islands, going over the continent of Africa, over Mali, Niger, chad. In another 12 minutes. Central African Republic, Uganda.
Charles B. Ryan
Over Nairobi, right over Nairobi and out over the Indian Ocean. Two easy orbits of the Earth, and then the big jump to the moon. Now the powerful S4B rocket had to be fired for just less than six minutes to boost the three adventurers to a speed of more than 23,000 miles per hour escape velocity for trans lunar injection. Tom Stafford, John Young and Eugene Cernan are on their way.
Tom Stafford
Translunar injection PLR underway now as Apollo 10 is in truth on the way to the moon.
Charles B. Ryan
Now the pace of work eased out for Tom Stafford, John Young and Eugene Cernan. There was still work to do, sure, but now there was also time for rest and relaxation and for much needed sleep. And with the moon in the region of three Earth days away, there was even time for kidding around with the ground staff. Hey, is Charlie Juke there? He sure is. Go ahead, Gene. Hey, Charlie. Babe, Play us a favorite song, will ya? I forget the title. A one about fly me someplace or something. You know the one I mean, babe. But there was still work to do. Plenty of it. Flight paths, systems, communications figures. All these had to be regularly checked and rechecked between Apollo 10 and Houston Control to make sure of a perfect lunar orbital entry. Then, on the night of May 21, 1969, at 10:45pm South African time, the rockets of Apollo 10 fired twice and Tom Stafford spoke. Charlie, you can tell the world that we waited. Man was once more in orbit around the moon. And now the pace quickened. After a few minor difficulties. With insulation that had come loose and a slip docking collar between the two modules. Snoopy and Charlie Brown. The goal was given for the separation of the modules in orbit 60 miles above the moon. Expert hands at the controls. The two modules move slightly apart in their lunar orbit.
Tom Stafford
The separation turn. This is a maneuver in which the command module will slowly fire. It's RC Astro Reaction Control System cluster and on the way from the lunar nitro. Okay, separate. There we go. There's the burn. That's John young. Confirming is 2.5 firing, John. And you're moving away. 5.3 on the NISI and 5.0 on EMS and zero on AMS. John doing readout radio. Back in about six hours. Stanford said adios and we'll see you in about six hours. For the first time heading around the moon, men are going off into a maneuver in a spacecraft designed only to operate in space. The Lunar Micro.
Charles B. Ryan
The first flight of a spacecraft designed and built only for travel in space. See you in six hours, says Charlie Brown to Snoopy. And now there's just one more step to go on this important mission. The descent to 10 miles of the moon. But suddenly there's trouble. Snoopy fails to pick up the signals from Charlie Brown's radar transponder. Stafford calls John Young to check the transponder. And John Young replies, my transponder is on.
Tom Stafford
That's John Young. The lunar module now wants to check out its rendezvous radar mechanism, transponder and electronic device on the command module, which says, here I am when you're looking for me. Hello, Houston. Houston, we have our new uplink on a CFP that was being. Shut up. Asking Houston for an update on the guidance system. Standby, we'll have in a moment. Okay, am I below you or above you? Oh, you're right up. That's gone. Young, for a little better transponder lock from the Charlie Brown transponder. Roger, we've been copying your problems. We're working it down here. Standby. This is a no go for DOI It's a no go for the ship. If this radar doesn't work, this thing is red zero. Let me check the signal as John Young saying that the instrument's working properly. Me on the command module. How about trying to recycle the power switch? Charlie Brown, turn the switch off and back on again. The Earth is coming. Hey, thank you, guys. It's od. Now I can kiss you.
Charles B. Ryan
A cry of relief from Eugene Cernan. Babe, I could kiss you. And now descent. And the lunar module goes down. Skimming over the craters and hills, Snoopy searches for a landing site for those who will follow in a few weeks time on the dark side of the moon, communication from the little spacecraft blacks out. And for 50 suspenseful minutes, the world holds its breath until speeding through the lunar dawn, an exultant voice calls out.
Tom Stafford
Now.
Charles B. Ryan
The mission appears successful, but the troubles are not yet over. Halfway through the second orbit, only 9.4 miles above the moon, Snoopa's controls go out of kilter. A moment of nightmare for the two men aboard. This is Houston. What's the matter, Smith? I don't know what the heck wrong. Hey, Ed's got it. It's okay. I'll tell you, that was wild, baby. Don't worry about it. We'll forget a simple switch yet. Two men might today be lost because of it. The rest of the mission went without a hitch. Snoopy and Charlie Brown redocked in lunar orbit. And Charlie Brown, now with all three men aboard, sailed back home to a splashdown which today is almost routine. But two friendly, heartwarming messages had yet to reach astronauts Tom Stafford, Eugene Cernan and John Young. The first came as they sped back toward the Earth.
Tom Stafford
Hey, I've got a message for you guys.
Charles B. Ryan
Here it is.
Tom Stafford
Congratulations to Snoopy for doing what I've.
Charles B. Ryan
Been trying to do for a long time. Signed Red Barrel. And the other came from the crewman of the astronauts pickup ship, the USS Princeton. As the three pioneers were plucked from the waters of the Pacific, painted on.
Tom Stafford
The bottom of that helicopter, a special welcome sign, shooting eyes and a message, hi there Charlie Brown.
Charles B. Ryan
And that's the story. A story as new as tomorrow's headlines. The story of the trail which is being blazed to our mysterious satellite right at this moment. A story of hope, of endeavor, of frustrations, and most of all, of supreme courage. Only a few days from now, God willing, man will have set foot on the moon for the first time. An impossible achievement. But for those who blaze the exciting trail and next week I hope I'll be here to tell you about the preparations for this historic journey. Until then, this is Charles B. Ryan here at the New Mexico center. Wishing you all good night. Recorded material in tonight's program was used by courtesy of the Voice of America.
William McCrory
Got a man size thirst? A thirst for a beer that's strong, husky and lusty to the last lively drop. Then go for the man's brand now in new man size cans. Big new 16 ounce man size cans of Carling Black Label are available now in the Transvaal Free State and Northwestern Cape areas. Man, oh man, this is what real beer is all about. Go for the man's brand Carling Black Label beer in big new man size cans. Carling Black Label Beer Carling. Invite you to listen again next week to another story in this dramatic series, the Challenge of Facebook.
Podcast Summary: "Challenge Of Space - SA 69-07-07 (08) 10 Miles to the Moon"
Introduction In this riveting episode of Harold's Old Time Radio, hosted by Charles B. Ryan, listeners are transported back to the Golden Age of Radio to witness the dramatic journey of Apollo 10—the critical mission that paved the way for humanity's first steps on the Moon. Released on March 20, 2025, this episode meticulously chronicles the challenges, triumphs, and human spirit behind one of NASA's most pivotal space missions.
Historical Context Charles B. Ryan sets the stage by delving into humanity's longstanding fascination with the Moon, intertwining historical beliefs with the technological advancements that made lunar exploration feasible. He references President John F. Kennedy's iconic 1961 speech, where Kennedy declared, "I believe this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal before this decade is out, landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth" (01:30). This declaration ignited the fervor and urgency within NASA to develop feasible strategies for lunar missions amidst the intense Space Race with the Soviet Union.
Mission Planning and Technical Challenges The episode highlights the initial skepticism surrounding the feasibility of a manned Moon landing. Experts like rocket scientist Wernher von Braun and Mercury spacecraft designer Max Faget presented differing strategies:
Wernher von Braun's Approach: Utilizing two Saturn rockets—one for the manned capsule and another for extra fuel, facilitating a rendezvous in Earth orbit (02:56).
Max Faget's Proposal: Advocating for a single, large rocket to transport the capsule directly to the Moon, simplifying the mission profile (02:56).
Despite these theories, consensus remained elusive until Dr. John C. Hubo introduced the Lunar Orbit Rendezvous (LOR) method. Ryan recounts the intense debates and eventual adoption of LOR, emphasizing Hubo's pivotal role: "We've got thousands of professional parts people doing their part to make sure you have it. Product availability" (08:56)—a metaphor highlighting the practicality and efficiency of the LOR approach.
Apollo 10 Mission Details Apollo 10, dubbed "Charlie Brown and Snoopy," was the final test before the actual Moon landing. The mission involved two spacecraft:
Launch and Orbit The launch sequence is vividly described, capturing the tension and excitement of liftoff:
Countdown and Liftoff: "15 minutes after liftoff from the Earth, and the spacecraft is now moving fast out across the Atlantic" (16:55).
Tom Stafford's Interview: Providing an inside look, Stafford explains the crew's roles during the final countdown and launch process (14:38).
The powerful Saturn V rocket propelled the astronauts into Earth orbit swiftly, demonstrating unprecedented engineering prowess.
Rendezvous and Lunar Maneuvers Once in orbit, Apollo 10 executed complex maneuvers to test the rendezvous between the Command Module and Lunar Module:
Separation and Re-docking: The episode details the precise operations required to separate and then successfully redock the two modules, highlighting the crew's expertise and the mission's technical demands.
Challenges Faced: Mid-mission, the crew encountered issues with the rendezvous radar transponder. Tom Stafford recounts the tension: "Houston, we have our new uplink..." (25:55), showcasing the critical communication between the spacecraft and mission control.
Troubles and Resolution A moment of high suspense occurs when the Lunar Module's controls malfunction, threatening the mission:
Technical Glitch: Snoopy (the Lunar Module) experiences control issues just 9.4 miles above the Moon, leading to a tense situation where two astronauts risked their lives: "This is Houston. What's the matter, Smith? I don't know what the heck wrong..." (24:32).
Resolution: Through quick thinking and technical adjustments, the crew restores functionality: "How about trying to recycle the power switch?... Okay, am I below you or above you? That's gone. Young, for a little better transponder lock..." (25:55).
Return and Conclusion Despite the challenges, Apollo 10 successfully completed its mission objectives, orbiting the Moon and returning safely to Earth. The episode underscores the mission's significance as a precursor to Apollo 11's historic landing:
Celebratory Moments: Upon re-entry, the crew received heartwarming messages, symbolizing the world's anticipation and support: "Congratulations to Snoopy for doing what I've been trying to do for a long time." (29:05).
Future Endeavors: Ryan concludes with optimism, hinting at the imminent Moon landing: "Only a few days from now, God willing, man will have set foot on the moon for the first time." (29:35).
Notable Quotes
"I believe this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal before this decade is out, landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth." — President John F. Kennedy (01:30)
"We've got thousands of professional parts people doing their part to make sure you have it. Product availability." — Dr. John C. Hubo (08:56)
"This is, I think, worth serious consideration." — Dr. John C. Hubo (06:00)
"Hey, you've got our message loud and clear. We're on our way home." — Tom Stafford (27:15)
Conclusion "10 Miles to the Moon" masterfully blends historical facts with engaging storytelling, offering listeners an immersive experience into the Apollo 10 mission. Through detailed narratives, authentic dialogue, and emotional depth, the episode not only educates but also inspires, highlighting the indomitable human spirit that drives exploration and achievement. Whether you're a space enthusiast or a history buff, this episode is a testament to mankind's quest to conquer the final frontier.