A Moonwalk for the Ages
Moonwalk Success, Redux!
Seriously I wanted to mention this, as my virtual "Moonwalk for the Ages" was done to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing.
On July 20, exactly 50 years after the famed Lunar walk, I hit the Samsung 837 Superstore in the Meatpacking District NYC for another Virtual Reality "Moonwalk for the Ages" as MY way to honor Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and the Gang!
(Don't mean to minimimize the importance of 3rd crew member Command Module pilot Michael Collins as "the Gang", but this post is all about "The Walk.")
An Apocryphal Moment in Human History
Neil Armstrong was the first human to step foot on the Moon on July 20, 1969. He was followed by Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin. This was an apocryphal moment in human history.
Everyone remembers Neil Armstrong's amazing footprint on the Moon followed by his famous quote back to Mission Control, "That’s one small step for Man, and One Giant Leap for Mankind."
However, here's a, interesting tidbit of trivia: Did you know that Buzz Aldrin was the first and only person to hold a religious ceremony on the Moon?
When he followed Armstrong, Aldrin radioed Earth: "I'd like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours, and to give thanks in his or her own way."
Using a kit given to him by his pastor, Aldrin took Holy Communion and read Jesus's words from the New Testament's John 15:5.
In Aldrin’s own words as he recorded it: "I am the vine. You are the branches. Whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me."
But what was most interesting, he kept this ceremony secret because of a lawsuit over the reading of Genesis on Apollo 8 from the previous year.
A Successful Re-Entry
After the first debacle from my post "Moonwalk Failed Attempt", this time I also knew exactly what to avoid.
Once again I made certain that the operators didn’t strap me into the harness so tight to the point it would be cutting off some of my oxygen supply, not to mention that the suit would be prohibitively uncomfortable!
Second, I made sure my virtual reality visor was not blurred. This was a major problem before as I kept adjusting the wheel on top of my visor, but the clarity never was quite optimum.
Yesterday, I made certain the operators would take the extra time to where everything finally felt “right.”
They finally succeeded!
All Systems Ready to Go
Oxygen attenuator...Check!
Harness Apparatus….Check!
Virtual Reality Visor...Check!
All systems were clear, here comes the “Green Light.”
On my second virtual walk on the moon, there would be no “abort the mission” this time!
Unlike after 3 minutes of the first go-round, there would be no experience of nausea or any severe headache. There would be no unanticipated problems from the onset.
It was Fabulous!
Well, after this sensational mind-bending virtual experience they agreed with me: that not eating for at least 4 hours prior to the virtual walk made all the difference.
Despite having done many thrill-seeking activities in the past that were actually REAL such as skydiving from a plane, and avid snowboarding, this still was a thrilling experience!
Mission control, what a Success!
It was a fun Virtual Way for me to honor and commemorate the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing and the Great Walk of Armstrong and Aldrin on that fateful day in July 1969.
Cheers,
Kaju
Recent Comments
49
Indeed Jimmy, it does feel like a "reality", although to tell you the truth, no one really knows what "reality" feels like other than the Lunar astronauts from the Apollo program.
I would hope and imagine this was pretty close!
Kaju
Hi Kaju,
I was not born to see this big day, but even seeing the archive footage is always so moving. the United States made the world dream the day they set foot on this magnificent pebble which is the moon. I remember my grandfather telling me that that day the whole world was American. I think that's what America is, it's a country that does not limit itself to success and that can produce the best.
Virtual reality really looks like a very interesting and funny activity. I tried to do it once, but I had a terrible headache. it's a shame because it can really be a great experience.
Ingrid
Hi Ingrid,
Wonderful story of your grand-father Ingrid, that's very moving to me.The Apollo 11 Moon Landing was one of those rare apocryphal moments in human history where the entire world of 220+ nations joined together as one Single Community.
If you remember, the 1st time I tried this Moonwalk VR I ended up nauseous with a TERRIBLE headache, and had to "abort the mission", but 7 months later I succeeded, then succeeded once again on Jul 20 for this "Moonwalk for the Ages."
My recommendation: Try it again, get plenty of rest beforehand. don't eat heavy, and take a draumamine. And think you will succeed and Enjoy It the 2nd time!
Some of us are old enough to remember the first suborbital flight and then the first orbital by John Glenn.
The moon landing and anything related over the years I have seen. I also lived in Florida and visited Kennedy Space center see the space shuttle moved to the launch pad. Great memories!
I would love to do the simulation of the moonwalk. We have nothing in Columbus like that, so I am sure it was awesome.
Take care,
Bill
It was an awesome simulation Bill. I believe there are only 2 3 cities where this Samsung simulation exists: New York, Houston, and LA.
Thanks so much again Bill:) Check out our great Tokyo story as well as my Efren match win video play by play:)
Send me your YT link and I will Subscribe. You can Subscribe to my channel here:)
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If you don't yet, I will happily return the favor when yours is up.:)
One small step for Kaju, a giant leap for WA! Congrats on another successful moon mission.
Thanks so much again Cal:) Check out our great Tokyo story as well as my Efren match win video play by play:)
Send me your YT link and I will Subscribe. You can Subscribe to my channel here:)
http://bit.ly/2T21P2N
If you don't yet, I will happily return the favor when yours is up.:)
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Hi Kaju,
What you experienced (and others will too) is as close to experiencing the thrill of setting foot on another planet.
I will not be able to do the virtual experience as we live far from NYC, but as I study the Appollo missions I can dream and image what it must have been like.
Thanks for sharing.
Bill
Thanks for sharing this Bill, I didn't know you were studying the Apollo missions. A great endeavor:)
Houston has this Samsung VR as well as NYC. You're right, its as close to the "real thing" as we will ever experience.
Kaju
Thanks again Bill:)! Here's a great Tokyo story for you on my new YT channel:) Send me your YT link and I will Subscribe. You can Subscribe to my channel here:)
http://bit.ly/2T21P2N
If you don't yet, I will happily return the favor when yours is up.:)