NOVA; Interview with Donald Wilhelms, Geologist with the US Geological Survey who helped make a geologic mapping of the Moon and trained Apollo astronauts, part 2 of 3 : To the Moon
NOVA; Interview with Donald Wilhelms, Geologist with the US Geological Survey who helped make a geologic mapping of the Moon and trained Apollo astronauts, part 2 of 3 : To the Moon
Description:
Donald Wilhelms, Geologist with the US Geological Survey who helped make a geologic mapping of the Moon and trained Apollo astronauts, is interviewed about the addition of science to the Apollo program. Science was not a part of the program until Gene Shoemaker lobbied for its acceptance, and Wilhelms talks about what drew him to the program. He recounts training various astronauts in geology, including Roger Chaffee and Neil Armstrong, who he describes as good and curious students, and Alan Shepard, who he says had no love for geology, but proved himself capable while on the moon. Wilhelms was also involved in the site selection for the missions, and talks about the reasoning and issues with the sites used during various missions. Ultimately Shoemaker left NASA over a general dissatisfaction, and Wilhelms talks about the importance of returning to the moon on later missions in order to date other parts of 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.
