S8 Ep954: (4) Bob Zimmerman recounts how, during the critical Lunar Orbit Insertion, the crew fired the SPS engine behind the moon with no communication and no backup; failure meant certain death. Upon arrival, the astronauts were initially disappointed by the moon

(4) Bob Zimmerman recounts how, during the critical Lunar Orbit Insertion, the crew fired the SPS engine behind the moon with no communication and no backup; failure meant certain death. Upon arrival, the astronauts were initially disappointed by the moon's skull-like, colorless appearance, comparing it to a barren sandbox. However, the guest notes that their observations settled a decades-old scientific debate by confirming that lunar craters were the result of impacts rather than volcanic activity. This successful orbital maneuver demonstrated the power of the Saturn 5 to reach anywhere in the solar system, mirroring modern goals for space settlement.1940 GODDARD AT ROSWELL