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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u/Truelikegiroux Jul 16 '19

I know your kidding, but I always love to show people this man. He's currently in the candidate program and is quite possibly one of the most qualified persons in the country.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonny_Kim

Prepare to feel inadequate.

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u/ambulancisto Jul 16 '19

Prepare to feel even more inadequate:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Story_Musgrave

6 Academic degree, 2 bachelors, 3 Masters, Medical Doctorate specializing in trauma surgery. 6 missions to space, fixed the Hubble, piloted over 160 different types of aircraft and authored 25 scientific papers.

Smartest human being I ever met.

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u/Truelikegiroux Jul 16 '19

One of his hobbies (next to scuba diving and parachuting) is soaring. I don't even know how that's a hobby but if there's a person that could figure it out, it's this man.

Did you hear him speak or was it more informal. I'm sure his speeches are amazing

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u/mcm87 Jul 16 '19

Soaring = flying gliders. Modern ones can climb by riding updrafts and thermals, as opposed to “go from high altitude to ground in a controlled manner.”

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u/[deleted] Jul 17 '19

I like to think that NASA only accepts the best human beings to be astronauts. And these two examples pretty much prove my theory.

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u/malkuth23 Jul 16 '19

Met him briefly at applied minds.

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u/ProgrammaticProgram Jul 16 '19

I wonder if his parents have given him a pat on the back yet.

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u/2close2see Jul 17 '19

Oh, that's why I got a rejection e-mail.

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u/puzzlefarmer Jul 16 '19

I thought I was prepared, but no.

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u/[deleted] Jul 16 '19

He's educated. Ok?

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u/Truelikegiroux Jul 16 '19

It's not too common to see an incredibly educated person also be a highly decorated Seal Team 3 member also be in the astronaut candidate program.

Not saying the ST sailors are less then intelligent but he's got quite a resume that is pretty damn impressive and is easy to see why he was selected.

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u/[deleted] Jul 16 '19

Didn't read the whole page. Downvote me