Al Bean

Last night after going into work (Sunday) because our project deadline is today, I got the opportunity to hear speak, Al Bean, one of the Moon Walkers.

He was the fourth person to walk on the Moon as pilot of Apollo 12 and since leaving NASA he has devoted his time to being a painter. So I had two reasons why I wanted to hear him speak my interest in all things Space, since a little boy and including getting a degree in Physics, and my hobbies in Art, including evening classes for the last couple of years.

It was a really uplifting experience as he is a delightful speaker with warmth and a great sense of humour and he gave some insight to how human, and down to Earth (sorry!) the other Moon walkers are. Like talking to Neil Armstrong about which hand he used to steady himself before the first big step (micro gravity is very difficult to stand in until your body learns not to overreact when you start to lose balance) and Harrison Schmitt wishing he had drawn his daughter's name on the side of a boulder while he was up there.

He spoke about the feeling of travelling with out moving in space where as there are no mile markers the journey is very still and feels motionless with just the Earth moving away quickly at the start and the Moon rushing to meet you at the end. And he spoke of the desire to try and look over the top of the Moon to see if he could see the far side.

The talk gave some insight into the fear and excitement he felt through the experience and brought the whole subject down to a very human level, where you could image yourself trying to balance in the Lunar gravity or being in awe at the size and beauty of the Earth.
He describes the Earth as paradise and is very thankful to have made it back and at the sheer wonder of the everyday things, like simple ordinary people, that he sees around him.

The main message he had to give was make the best of your opportunities as your won't believe what you can do if you try and everyone has a 'song' or a story to tell and if you don't try and make it happen then it will never be heard in all eternity.

Very positive and I for one am very glad I had this once in a lifetime change to hear him.