John Aaron

BJo Trimble, a US Navy veteran and passionate science fiction fan, campaigned for the Space Shuttle's name, while John Aaron, a former Apollo flight controller, managed crucial systems during its inaugural flight. They discuss the drama of the shuttle's first free flight, including a critical computer failure that put the crew's quick thinking to the test. The impact of science fiction on the shuttle's naming and the fierce grassroots advocacy behind it reveals a fascinating intersection of culture and aerospace history.

Reflecting on President Kennedy's Moon speech at Rice University in Houston, Apollo astronauts discuss challenges faced during the Apollo program, evolution of technology in space exploration, hurdles for NASA's future exploration, intense moments of Apollo 11 moon landing, and psychological impact of space travel.

Guests on this episode include Apollo 11 astronaut Charlie Duke, pioneer of mission control Poppy Northcutt, former director of NASA's Johnson Space Center George Abbey, and more. They discuss topics such as radio static issues during the descent, communication challenges faced by mission control, the significance of the computer in the success of the mission, the tense final descent to the lunar surface, and Capcom Charlie Duke's desk on July 20th, 1969.