Episode 2 of the Space Oddities podcast takes a look at some interesting, manned spaceflight splashdowns and recoveries, in particular, those where civilians had a unique perspective or got in the way as was the case with the first SpaceX Crew Dragon flight.

The most fascinating story involves the Apollo 11 capsule carrying the first men to walk on the moon as it made its fiery reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere. Passengers and crew aboard Qantas flight 596 were the first to see the capsule return in an incredible fireball or as Captain Frank Brown shouted over the radio, “What a spectacle!”

Show Notes:

This is Goddard (Video) - (Credit NASA)

A 1969 NASA produced film documenting the flight of Apollo 11. At the 14:54 mark of the film, you will hear the radio communications from the Qantas flight and see a short video of the capsule’s reentry from the aircraft.

SpaceX Crew Dragon Recovery Coverage (Video) - (Credit Tory with Overlook Horizon)

1960s Qantas Commercial (Video)

Commemorative Qantas Apollo 11 Menu (JPG Image)