Not sure why but this memory sprang to mind today and wave of joy filled my heart. I will always hold dear the sound of my dad's belly laugh when his friend, Wally Schirra, stated from space that out the little round window of the space capsule, Gemini 7, he saw a mock UFO sighting, as in Santa Claus, and then played the first ever song from space, "Jingle Bells", on a harmonica he had smuggled on board. This of course immediately sent sales on Hohner Harmonicas 'skyrocketing'.

I'm still smiling hours later at the memory of dad's hearty chuckle and comment about his crazy friend. No one's laugh and voice compares to my dad's... but then maybe every little girl feels this way. For me Schirra was always the one astronaut who pushed the envelope just a little bit further than the rest, bucked up against the establishment and challenged all the rules. His 'break the rules' attitude is why beyond his good looks I had such a huge crush on him 'even into my late 20s. Where John Glenn was the super squeaky clean' astronaut who followed all the rules... Wally Schirra was the 'Bab Boy Space Rebel'. He was also even better looking and charismatic in person. This need to never give in and push the envelope beyond all proven limits is what made him great and inspirational and I always thought this quality along with the ability to hold his liquor and tell a good joke is what grafted a life long friendship between him and my dad. They remained great friends long after Mercury and NASA and it was wonderful seeing he'd not changed over the years as I sat across from him at my dad's retirement party in the 70s.

It was also Wally Schirra who defied the process of blowing the hatch of his capsule at sea and insisted instead to stay in the capsule until it was air lifted from the ocean water and deposited soundly on board the carrier's deck. This was to prove a point in defense of his friend and fellow astronaut, Gus Grissom. Gus' capsule had sunk after the hatch blew too soon. It was dad who made the nerve racking, final call after Gus was safely air lifted into the hovering heli to let the capsule, Freedom Bell 7, sink. It was rapidly filling with water and dangerously close to pulling the helicopter attempting to salvage it into the drink. Dad finally said, "Let it go" and then immediately ran to the Captain's bridge to survey the maps to see where it would land on the ocean floor. His heart sank right along with the casule as he and the captain realized it would be forever lost to the deepest area of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida. Happily decades later with the same technology that found the Titanic it was also found. Dad found peace with making the call to allow it to sink as he knew all needed flight information had been relayed to Cape Canaveral and Gus was safe and sound.

It was dad who carried the weight and responsibility of making the call for both the letting go of Grissom's capsule to sink to the bottom of the ocean and then allowing Schirra to stay in his capsule until it was air lifted and deposited on board the carrier. The trust, friendship and camaraderie between Schirra and dad and also his buddy, Gus Grissom, as well as the other astronauts was very, very special. All were a very special breed of Space Pioneers. 

Great Time magazine article in memoriam of Wally Schirra:
When Wally Schirra Said, "Go to Hell"

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Moon Child Friends!

Here it is...

The video of many Moon Child friends!

Thank you for all your picture submissions and your support! It's such a blessing to hear from so many of you who read the book. Your wonderful comments and reviews are such a blessing. God bless each and every one of you to the moon and back! 

It was a joy making this video and I hope it brings a smile to your day. Enjoy!


*Germany has blocked the video due to a copyright on one of the songs so there will be another version soon for all the Germany and European friends who submitted their pics.

The Birth of Moon Child: Growing Up NASA

 

First a kernel of a thought, a memory of a precious childhood experience. Just a niggling that kept recurring giving way to memories of a lifetime and the birth of this biography.

... “Sandwiched between horses and marching bands we were slowly driven down the city streets of Houston with cheering crowds rubber necking, gaping back at us. I gazed up at high rise buildings dwarfing us while seated in the convertible back seat with my family.  My blonde hair peeking out from under my turquoise cowboy hat following dad’s direction to wave and smile big at the crowd just like a little junior Miss America.  The wave and smile came naturally for dad, his big jovial smile lighting up the crowd as he humbly waved back, saying hello, many people wanting to shake his hand.  He was humble, took it all in stride, shaking his head in disbelief with his typical rolling laugh.  He knew they were not really there for him but for NASA and the astronauts.  They were the real stars, he was their representative.  He had been to Houston many times paving the way, meeting the mayor and city officials working out the details to move NASA to Houston, helping to create NASA’s main headquarters as the country embarked on the “Final Frontier”.  

 

The parade route ended, we disembarked the open convertible car and entered the giant stadium for the rodeo, my first ever western, cowboy rodeo.  The unequivocal and distinct excitement in the air was enthralling and hypnotizing. Our little family moved forward, walking together, hand in hand with dad at the lead along with the crushing flow of the crowd.” ...


‘Moon Child’ is the true story of a NASA family, specifically a little girl’s adoring love of her Daddy and family during the most adventurous time in modern history.  My father, Martin A. Byrnes Jr., the first Manager of the NASA Space Research Center in Houston, Texas during the 1960’s.  Working as an integral part of the Space Task Group reporting to President Kennedy he penned the report which led to Houston as the final home of the ‘NASA Space Research Center’.  As a primary NASA liaison dad wore many hats in Houston and Cape Canaveral.  He was also held and integral position onboard carriers at sea for every Project Mercury launch and flight.

Gus Grissom being lifted from the Atlantic.
Experience the nail biting moments before the release
of his capsule to watery, ocean depths.

There were many smiles and tears while writing this biographical documentation of Byrnes family legacy. Come and share in the Irish Catholic, NASA, Byrnes family journey from the early years of NACA to NASA and the Final Frontier. You will experience 'Baby Boomer' nostalgia, tracked by the songs and music of the decades along the way. Take the journey with the Byrnes family through those post WWII boomer years right up to Space Shuttle years.

Please join me as I share my life... Growing Up NASA. 


*** Read a sneak peek and order your copy here on Amazon:
http://amzn.to/1mep2KD

~~~~~~


~~ Susan Brookes, United Kingdom
... 

" This Beautiful and True account of a middle class family starts in Post War America takes the reader down Memory Lane to times that will always hold a Gentle and Special Charm and to events that will forever and rightfully be part of History. Endearing, Funny and Informative – this little Gem of a Book is a Must Read! "