Russell M. Middleton - Higher
This site originally published in MICHIGAN.
Any Browser.org Russell M. Middleton
Click to go Home 		Valid XHTML 1.0!

Higher And Higher

Saturn V, liftoff

Saturn V 1 - Credit: NASA. 25,339 bytes. 376 x 473 pixels
Source: http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/saturnv.htm
Source: http://www.apollosaturn.com/index.html
The Saturn V was the largest operational launch vehicle ever produced. Standing over 363 feet high with its Apollo Spacecraft payload, it produced over 7.5 million pounds (3,750 tons) of thrust at lift-off.
Happy Birthday Saturn V, Still The Biggest Rocket of All — Gizmodo.
Saturn V: The Largest Rocket Ever Made — Megaprojects with Simon Whistler.

SATURN V LIFTOFF

Watch this Apollo 11 - Saturn V Launch (3:31) or 1969 Apollo 11 Saturn V launch, 1969 TV broadcast (38:39).

Note: The lyrics below link to an mp3 file (3.83 MB) and opens another browser window so you can return to this page and follow along.
Blasting, billowing, bursting forth,
With the power of ten billion butterfly sneezes
Man, with his flaming pyre
Has conquered the wayward breezes

Climbing to tranquility
Far above the cloud
Conceiving the heavens
Clear of misty shroud.

Higher and higher
Now we've learned to play with fire,
We go higher
And higher
And higher. 		Vast vision must improve our sight
Perhaps at last we'll see an end
To our home's endless blight
And the beginning of the free.

Climb to tranquility
Finding its real worth
Conceiving the heavens
Flourishing on Earth.

Higher and higher
Now we've learned to play with fire
We go higher
And higher
And higher.

The Saturn V remains the tallest, heaviest, and most powerful rocket ever brought to operational status and still holds records for the heaviest payload launched and largest payload capacity to low Earth orbit (LEO) of 118,000 kilograms (260,000 lb). -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_V


by
Graeme Edge
The Moody Blues
To Our Children's Children's Children
Threshold (Decca), 1969
Vinyl stereo: Threshold THS 1
CD: Threshold 844 770-2

To Our Children's Children's Children album cover

On Tuesday 15 July 1969, I signed a contract with the United States Air Force, at the Air Force Recruiting Office in Kalamazoo, Michigan, joining their Delayed Enlistment Program, making a commitment of six years (4 years active duty and 2 years inactive reserve) until 14 July 1975.

On Wednesday 16 July 1969 at 9:32 a.m. EDT- On schedule to within less than a second, Apollo 11 blasted off from Launch Pad 39A at Cape Kennedy, Florida to start what is looked upon as the greatest single step in human history-a trip to the Moon, a manned landing and return to Earth. Source: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/ap11ann/apollo11_log/log.htm

At 10:56 pm EDT on Sunday July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the Moon with these immortal words, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.". Source: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apollo11.html

On Tuesday 19 August 1969, I began active duty by taking the following oath at the military induction center in Indianapolis, Indiana:

"I, Russell M. Middleton, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God." (Title 10, US Code; Act of 5 May 1960 replacing the wording first adopted in 1789, with amendment effective 5 October 1962).

Oh, the idealism of youth. The allure of the 'wild blue yonder' and beyond. How could Neil's step not be the first leading to the stars?

Oh how horribly wrong could a plan be for a big, 6' 4", muckle of a young man, the son of immigrants, looking to find the path to acceptance in America.

 Contact Me about this page. All rights reserved. © Rm² 2003