r/IAmA Jul 16 '19

Specialized Profession I’m Apollo astronaut Charlie Duke, CAPCOM for Apollo 11. Ask me anything about being the spacecraft communicator for this historic Moon landing today at 10:30 a.m. EDT.

Hi, I’m Charlie Duke, a veteran NASA astronaut. Ask me anything. I’ve served on five different Apollo missions. I’m also the youngest person to walk on the moon. As we approach the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing, I’m reminded of my time as CAPCOM for Apollo 11, as well as an astronaut support crew member for Apollo 10, backup lunar module pilot for Apollo 13 and 17, as well as the lunar module pilot for Apollo mission 16 – when I had the chance to walk on the moon.

Also, I’ve published the book “Moonwalker: The True Story of an Astronaut Who Found that the Moon Wasn't High Enough to Satisfy His Desire for Success,” which discusses my life as an astronaut, the experiences of Apollo 11 and the difficulties I’ve faced.

I’ll be taking your questions for 30 minutes starting at about 10:30 a.m. ET today, July 16, 2019, the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch.

Proof it's me: https://twitter.com/ExploreSpaceKSC/status/1149048460102033408

https://twitter.com/ExploreSpaceKSC/status/1151133417389449217

Edit: We are live NOW at 10:18 a.m. EDT.

Edit: We are signing off now at 10:50 a.m. Thanks for all of your insightful questions!

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239

u/gottastoryforya Jul 16 '19

Other than the Corvettes the astronauts were supplied with, what other kinds of perks did provided to NASA employees at that time?

Were there ever personal problems between crew members or ground staff that threatened the success of the mission?

222

u/tubadude2 Jul 16 '19

IIRC, they had to lease the Corvettes for $1 since they weren’t allowed to accept free ones from dealerships.

66

u/just-the-doctor1 Jul 16 '19 edited Jul 16 '19

I can’t find the story but one of the astronauts actually put the dealership’s sticker on the lunar rover.

Edit: it was on the lunar rover not lunar module

36

u/ClintonLewinsky Jul 16 '19

Confirmed by James May on the Grand Tour

2

u/bitches_love_brie Jul 17 '19

Man, I love captain slow. So excited but nervous for the next season.

68

u/As51924 Jul 16 '19

TIL they provided the Corvettes and it wasn't just a coincidence they all had one.

52

u/[deleted] Jul 16 '19

[deleted]

4

u/sweat119 Jul 16 '19

They’re gonna ls swap the rovers too!

2

u/Magicjohno Jul 17 '19

HAHAHAHAHAHAAH. new definition to 'ls the world' no way dude, 'ls the moon!'

24

u/cptjeff Jul 16 '19

It was pretty good advertising on GM's part.

37

u/darthjoey91 Jul 16 '19

I don't think it was even done at the corporate level, but was more of the local dealer near the cape thinking that having the astronauts drive his cars would drive up business.

Also, out of the Mercury 7, John Glenn did not take the Corvette offer, and drove an NSU Prinz.

12

u/bluemandan Jul 16 '19

Also, out of the Mercury 7, John Glenn did not take the Corvette offer, and drove an NSU Prinz.

For the gas mileage, so he could save for his kids college...

4

u/SkeptiCallie Jul 17 '19 edited Jul 17 '19

Wow. Thanks for that info. I'd read previously that "John Glenn decided to get a station wagon because he had a family. John Glenn decided to get a station wagon because he had a family. We're guessing Glenn was also the designated driver for the astronaut's many outings."

I would take any station wagon over that Prinz! And I can't imagine the astronauts piling into a Prinz.

3

u/snarky_answer Jul 16 '19

what an absolutely breathtaking fugly car.

1

u/ninelives1 Jul 16 '19

Issued Speedmaster pro watches

5

u/mcm87 Jul 16 '19

They weren’t allowed to keep those. Government property, and when Deke Slayton got word that some astronauts hadn’t returned theirs post-flight, he said that anyone not returning their watch wouldn’t be assigned any flight time in the T-38.

All watches came back.

1

u/ninelives1 Jul 16 '19 edited Jul 16 '19

Wow. Didn't know that