Rene-NASA-Mooned-America

Star Light - Star Bright / Chap. 5 p. 32
Before my research into this matter I initially suspected that star-blindness was CIA
disinformation for the Russians. Now I don't know what to think. But I shall reprint comments
the astronauts themselves made during various Apollo missions so that you can come
to your own conclusions. Only two of the many books I read for this book dealt in any depth
with the subject of star-blindness beyond reporting that the stars were dim and fuzzy. The
first is Carrying the Fire by astronaut Michael Collins. The other is For All Mankind by
Harry Hurt III who seems to be a very competent researcher. I thought about going to visit the
NASA archives in Houston, but I chickened out. I believe that once NASA lets a too-curious
visitor into its vaults he (I), might not find the way out again.
The government, in addition to having a very bad safety record concerning people who
seem to be a tad critical, are always classifying this or that file so that they cannot be
viewed for fifty some odd years. Many government critics have complained that the (socalled)
Freedom of Information Act has many capricious frustrations. Besides, I didn't want
to be "accidentally" locked in one of those basement record rooms.
My first quote for this section regarding the back side of the Moon was taken from Harry
Hurt's book. He states: "The moon is a natural laboratory for practical research. Its dark side
is the ideal place for a giant telescope (possibly constructed out of glass blown from lunar
sands) that could afford vast new glimpses into deep space astronomy." 1
That is exactly what I have been telling you. The dark side is apparently — according to
NASA — the only place that star-blind people will ever be able to clearly see the stars. Never
mind NASA's unconscionable goof with the original optics of the Hubbel Telescope — or
their subsequent multi-million dollar repair job. Deep space telescopes may be astigmatic,
but — by definition — they're hardly star blind, like the early astronauts. The serious side is
that Hurt touts NASA's grandiose plans for Mars because he still believes in NASA.
It's all kind of dumb anyway. These fools talking about the dark side of the moon seem
to have forgotten that the Moon has no Earth-type fluorescent atmosphere, which sends
generated light flying in all directions. Light travels, or reflects, only in straight lines, and it
makes absolutely no difference in space whether the Sun is shining or the Earth is shining. A
highly directional instrument like a telescope would only have to have a black tube affixed to
its end to protect its optics from secondary light pollution.
Buzz Aldrin was also quoted by Hurt. While riding Apollo 11 on its way to the Moon, he
spoke about the spacecraft's induced rotation around its longitudinal axis. "the only consolation
was the magnificence of the visual spectacle that paraded past their portals during
every roll, what Aldrin calls "an incredible panorama every two minutes as the sun, moon,
and Earth appeared in our windows one at a time." 2
There was no mention of stars or planets. His partner, Neil Armstrong, is also quoted,
""The sky is black, you know,"..."It's a very dark sky."" 3
I find all this extremely difficult to understand, because I have been in the woods at night
when it was closet black. On clear nights, even those with the new moon, I could travel with
ease through the woods using only the light provided by the stars. I was younger then and
maybe my eyes were better, but I could even read a book or newspaper by the light of the
moon.
What makes this star-blindness even stranger is that it comes and goes. On the Gemini
10 mission while space walking, Collins reported, "My God, the stars are everywhere: above
me on all sides, even below me somewhat, down there next to that obscure horizon. The
NASA MOONED AMERICA! / Rene