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NASA astronauts
Category: Explorer or adventurer
This entry is intended to cover various astronauts, especially those who made pioneering missions to the moon or simply into outer space.
Included in the entry are John Young, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, but one of the key people is Ed Mitchell.
Edgar Dean "Ed" Mitchell (September 17, 1930 – February 4, 2016) was a United States Navy officer and aviator, test pilot, aeronautical engineer, and NASA astronaut. As the Lunar Module Pilot of Apollo 14, he spent nine hours working on the lunar surface in the Fra Mauro Highlands region, making him the sixth person to walk on the Moon.
Mitchell not only conducted a number of ESP tests whilst on the Apollo spacecraft, but after his retirement from the U. S. Navy and from NASA in October 1972, Mitchell formed a new organization called Edgar Mitchell and Associates (EDMA) . The objectives he set for this organisation are extremely pertinent today and could apply to any number of organisations which are beavering away at this very moment:
- To help bring science's understanding of the nonphysical aspects of the universe to the same level as its knowledge of the physical aspects.
- To help bring that knowledge to society through the media and other channels, and through the application of research findings in useful goods and services.
- To help society recognize that a transformation of human consciousness from egoism toward selflessness is necessary for planetary survival.
- To demonstrate that people can awaken in themselves a state of higher, universal consciousness which will operate in every aspect of life.
"In short, we hope to direct the course of history away from its present catastrophic trend of ever greater global crises."
From the Earth to the Moon
The following description was obtained from Amazon.
"America's quest to put a man on the moon, while both fascinating and inspiring, has been well-covered on film, perhaps most notably in "From the Earth to the Moon" and "Apollo 13". Add to that a space program that by the early 2000s ranked near "Abscam" in terms of public interest, and it's easy to see why the documentary In The Shadow Of The Moon might be a tough sell. Yet this simple, stylish look at the Apollo space program is a quietly powerful rumination on the nature of patriotism, heroism, and humanity.
In In The Shadow Of The Moon, director David Sington utilises a narrator-less structure which intercuts stunning stock footage with insightful commentary from the surviving astronauts who walked on the moon. There are no experts, no voiceovers, and no recreations; it's a style that works quite well, recalling the work of Errol Morris.
While the space shots and behind-the-scenes footage of NASA operations are fascinating, the astronauts--including Buzz Aldrin, Dave Scott and Alan Bean--are a revelation.
Variously witty, heartfelt, modest and humbled when discussing their journeys into space, it's easy to understand why these men were heroes to a generation. Perhaps the most powerful aspect of the documentary is the way in which the viewer is reminded of how genuinely stunning the Apollo mission was--not only for the United States, but for the whole world. One need not be reminded that 1969 was a tumultuous year for Earth, and that Neil Armstrong's famous one small step for man literally united the planet, giving true credence to the latter half of his famous statement. The Shadow Of The Moon expertly recreates that moon-landing moment, without a shred of excess patriotism, pretence or sentiment.
My comment
I have provided this quote because it is in this film that we get a glimpse of what happened to the astronauts on these missions, and what happened was that quite a few of the astronauts had 'spiritual experiences'. It is also clear from the film that as a consequence they were changed people - quiet, at peace with themselves and the world, loving all humanity and the world they live in - no ego, all humility and kindness.
The film itself left me somewhat emotional because their description of how they had felt and what it meant is both vivid and seems to match all the descriptions on this site from other people who have had visions and spiritual revelations.
It never occurred to me that an astronaut might get visions too - I knew lone yachtsmen did and lone desert and arctic explorers, but astronauts are special - and they seemed quite happy to admit they had had the experience.
The observation is not an extract from the film, but additional comment made by the crew.
References
In The Shadow Of The Moon [2007]
Format: PAL
Region: Region 2
Number of discs: 1
Classification:
Studio: Channel 4 DVD
DVD Release Date: 31 Mar 2008
Run Time: 100 minutes
ASIN: B000X9VU5W
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