Before the Moon Blog
Exploring the past, present, and future of space.
Tag: Cold War space race
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When Apollo 11 touched down on the Moon, millions watched history unfold. Dr. Lawrence Kuznetz was not watching from home. He was on console. He had not expected to be there. When he arrived at NASA in 1967, he was given a problem that did not exist in textbooks. Model the human body inside a…
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Few figures in NASA’s history embody the courage, discipline, and leadership of America’s space age like Gene Kranz—the legendary Apollo Flight Director whose white vest became a symbol of cool resolve under pressure. From the Mercury missions to Apollo 13, Kranz didn’t just manage flights; he built the culture that made them possible. When I…
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Would You Strap Yourself Into a Machine That Simulates Death? Imagine climbing into a steel gondola, being locked into a seat, and flung in a giant circle at 175 miles per hour—until your vision tunnels, your breath seizes, and the world darkens to black. Now imagine doing it… on purpose. This wasn’t a thrill ride.…