The New Yorker Radio Hour: Tom Hanks Reads His Tale of Going to the Moon

Episode Date: July 18, 2019
Host: WNYC Studios and The New Yorker
Feature: Tom Hanks reads his short story "Alan Bean +4"

Episode Overview

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, The New Yorker Radio Hour presents a special bonus episode. Rather than focusing on historical astronauts, the show features Tom Hanks reading his humorous and imaginative short story, "Alan Bean +4." The tale follows four modern-day misfits who cobble together their own lunar mission, blending whimsy, everyday details, and pop-culture with the spirit of space adventure.

Key Discussion Points & Story Highlights

1. A DIY Moon Mission for the Modern Age (00:58–03:30)

• Premise: The story opens with the unnamed narrator and three friends—Steve Wong (Home Depot employee), M. Dash (science whiz), and Anna (math expert/web designer)—deciding to go to the moon after discussing the physics of slingshotting a hammer around the moon.
• Modernization: Instead of NASA heroes and millions in funding, this crew assembles their rocket from scraps, with a capsule run on an iPad and held together by duct tape.
• Humorous Skepticism: Anna doubts the narrator's expertise.
  • "She is ever doubtful of my space program bonafides. She says I'm always Apollo 13 this and Luna called that and have begun to falsify details in order to sound like an expert. And she is right about that too." (02:19)

2. Mission Prep and Amateur Engineering (03:31–07:05)

• Crew Roles:
  • M. Dash: Heat shields & pyrotechnics
  • Anna: All orbital mechanics & calculations
  • Narrator: Acquired and retrofitted the command module, named "Alan Bean" in honor of Apollo 12's lunar module pilot.
• Rocket Assembly:
  • Capsule acquired from the widow of a failed would-be space entrepreneur for $100.
  • Capsule is stripped, rebuilt with duct tape, and privacy ensured with a shower curtain.
• Community Reaction:
  • The neighbors in Oxnard are bemused; kids want a look inside, adults demand a "show."
  • "Most of Oxnard came around to Steve Wong’s driveway to ogle the Alan Bean. Not a one of them knowing who Alan Bean was or why we’d named the rocket ship after him." (06:11)

3. Launch and the Journey Out (07:06–12:34)

• Takeoff:
  • The launch is described with comical gravity:
    • "24 seconds after clearing the tower, our first stage was burning all stops and the Max Q app 99 cents showed us pulling 11.8 times our weight at sea level. Not that we needed iPhones to tell us we were fighting for breath with Anna screaming get off my chest. But no one was on her chest. She was in fact sitting on me, crushing me like a lap dance from an offensive lineman." (08:37)
• In Orbit:
  • Weightlessness is fun—and nausea-inducing.
  • M. Dash blows the "dynamite bolts" for stage separation.
  • The iPads prove far more powerful than Apollo-era computers.
  • On the way to the moon, the crew takes selfies, watches “Breaking Bad,” and invents zero-gravity ping pong.
• Trans-Lunar Injection:
  • The ship crosses the “Equagravisphere,” switching from Earth’s to the Moon’s gravity:
    • "But for the Alan Bean, the Rubicon... Once we crossed, the moon grabbed hold, wrapping us in her ancient silvery embrace, whispering to us to hurry, hurry, hurry, to wink in wonder at her magnificent desolation." (12:15)
  • Anna awards everyone origami cranes made from aluminum foil as pilot wings.

4. Orbiting the Moon: Awe, Laughs, and Sentiment (12:35–16:55)

• Far Side and Moon-Gazing:
  • The crew orbits the Moon, the surface “as chaotic as a wind-blown gray capped bay.”
  • They match craters using apps and guides.
  • The narrative captures the awe and chaos of speed and cosmic scale.
• Earthrise and Emotional Peak:
  • Steve cues up “Circle of Life” from The Lion King for their Earthrise moment:
    • "I was expecting something classical... but the Circle of Life from the Lion King scored our home planet’s rise over the Plaster of Paris moon. Really a Disney show tune, but you know, that rhythm and that chorus and the double meaning of the lyrics caught me right in the throat and I choked up. Tears popped off my face and joined the others, tears which were floating around the Alan Bean." (16:10)
  • The crew is overwhelmed with emotion, crying together at Earth’s beauty.

5. Return, Snafus, and a Humbling Splashdown (16:56–19:01)

• Reentry Drama:
  • A nail-biting reentry with the ever-present threat of burning up.
  • Anna shouts "Whoa, Kamchatka" as the heat shield burns away.
• Splashdown Mishaps & Comic Details:
  • The command module begins to take on water.
  • Steve loses his Samsung phone ("the Galaxy—ha").
  • The rescue boat is full of tourists; the spacefarers are met with curiosity and disgust (“smelled horrid”).
  • Humorous conclusion at the hotel buffet:
    • '"Yes, I told her, I had gone all the way to the moon and returned safely to the surly bonds of Earth. Just like Alan Bean." ‘‘Who?’’ she said.' (18:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Space DIY:
  • "I replaced every bolt, screw, hinge, clip and connector with duct tape. Three bucks a roll at Home Depot." (05:28)
• On Crew Qualifications:
  • "Astronauts in the Apollo era had spent thousands of hours piloting jet planes... We did none of that." (03:59)
• On Perspective:
  • "I was expecting something classical, Franz Joseph, Haydn or George Harrison, but the Circle of Life from the Lion King scored our home planet’s rise..." (16:10)
• On Returning to Earth:
  • "The Alan Bean’s second historic voyage was going to be to Davy Jones Locker... Anna, thinking fast, held aloft our Apple products, but Steve Wong lost his Samsung, the Galaxy—ha, which disappeared into the lower equipment bay as the rising seawater bade us exit." (18:25)
• On Oblivion:
  • “Just like Alan Bean. ‘Who?’ she said.” (18:55)

Important Timestamps

• 00:58: Story introduction—Tom Hanks begins reading "Alan Bean +4"
• 03:59: Comparison between the amateur crew and Apollo-era astronauts
• 05:28: Stripping and rebuilding the command module (duct tape moment)
• 06:11: Neighborhood’s reaction and launch window explanation
• 08:37: Launch sequence with comedic narration
• 12:15: Crossing the "Equagravisphere"—shift from Earth's to Moon's gravity
• 16:10: Earthrise set to “Circle of Life” and the group’s emotional reaction
• 18:25: Splashdown mishaps; destruction and loss of personal items
• 18:55: Story’s comic denouement with the “Who?” punchline at the buffet

Tone and Style

Tom Hanks delivers the story with warmth, humor, and a keen sense of wonder. The narration’s tone oscillates between nerdy exuberance, wry self-deprecation, and genuine awe, making cosmic adventure feel both relatable and poignant—even as it pokes fun at gadget culture, space ambition, and the fleeting nature of fame.

Conclusion

"Alan Bean +4" is both a parody and a tribute—to old-school space heroes, tech-obsessed DIYers, and the spirit of adventure that transcends generations. Hanks’s reading amplifies the humanity and absurdity that make the tale memorable, offering a whimsical, evocative reflection on why reaching for the stars—and coming home again—matters.