NOVA; Interview with Graham Ryder, Geologist and Lunar Scientist, part 2 of 2 : To the Moon
Description:
Graham Ryder, Geologist and Lunar Scientist who worked on creating catalogues and guides to the Apollo lunar samples, is interviewed about the lunar samples procured from the Apollo program. Ryder describes the lunar samples that were brought back from the various Apollo missions, and explains why each set of samples is unique and what each mission taught about the moon. Ryder also credits the Kona Conference with bringing scientists together to come up with joint theories and made people willing to think about the moon as a whole, although there are still many things that are not known about the moon. The process of dating the moon is also explained, and the interview ends with Ryder's explanation for why we should return to the moon. This remarkably crafted program covers the full range of participants in the Apollo project, from the scientists and engineers who promoted bold ideas about the nature of the Moon and how to get there, to the young geologists who chose the landing sites and helped train the crews, to the astronauts who actually went - not once or twice, but six times, each to a more demanding and interesting location on the Moon's surface. "To The Moon" includes unprecedented footage, rare interviews, and presents a magnificent overview of the history of man and the Moon. To the Moon aired as NOVA episode 2610 in 1999.