Badge On The Moon - Page 5

AZ-AlphaXi · #61 06-27-2002, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum

...
In terms of your young sister in Tucson, don't worry, I was there just last week on business and it was so hot I came home real cranky. I suppose you get used to it after a while. But maybe not. ...

But DeltAlum ... its a dry heat don't ya' know!! I've lived in Tucson almost 18 years and 105+ is hot ... I don't care how dry it is ..
But like I tell my sister ... it may be hot ... but I don't have to shovel sunshine!!

But on topic .. It was reported that Jan Davis (who, by the way, was one half of the "first pair of spouses in space" with her husband) did take her Alpha Xi quill into space on the shuttle.

DeltAlum · #62 06-27-2002, 05:55 PM

AZFuzzie,

Is that anything like Dry Heaves? Oh, bad joke.

I will remember your words of wisdom the next time I'm shoveling 6 inches of "fair and mild" off of my driveway.

Neat info about the husband and wife in space. I think I remember that.

When I was in college, I worked on a syndicated kids show at the university TV station, and one of the minor players was a Fuzzie who was terminally cute!

I really was in Tucson last week and saw the Delt House while just driving down a street. Dropped in, but nobody was home. All in classes, I guess. When I got back to Phoenix that day, it was 112.

Dry heat.

cash78mere · #63 08-30-2002, 11:57 AM

well, i FINALLY found the letter that AXO nationals sent me. here is the proof. here is an excerpt:

January 26, 1999

Dear Cash78mere (haha),

I have enclosed a photocopy of the article regarding Neil Armstrong's trip to the moon. I must tell you that Jan is no longer married to Neil which we learned from the media a few years ago and she has not remarried unless she has not told us her new name. We have no other records or reports on file.

Loyally,
Records and Recognition

***********************
here is some from the article she sent me: it is dated Fall, 1969:

July 24, 1969 must have been a day ringed in gold for Jan Armstrong, wife of NASA astronaut Neil A. Armstrong. That was the day HER HUSBAND RETURNED FROM THE MOON. (caps are mine) .......................Jan and Neil have known for over a year that he would be landing on the moon and during that time Neil has been gone for extended periods training for the flight.......For us, the Alpha Chis of Houston, there are no words to express our feelings, but perhaps the words sent on the card enclosed with the red carnations sent to Janet Armstrong from Houston alumnae comes closest. "All our love and pride are with you." I am sure that is true for all of Alpha Chi Omega.............

here is more from another article:
AXO has exceptionally good relations with astronauts. Going on the Apollo 12 moon flight in Nov. will be Lt. Col. Richard F. Gordon Jr. whose wife is Barbara Field GOrdon, Univ. of Washington. Barbara was pictured in the winter 1966-67 LYRE after Astronaut GOrdon had flown on Gemini Two. Another astronaut, Joe Percival Allen, is the husband of Bonnie Jo Darling Allen, Alpha. One of the first 7 astronauts, Lt. Comdr. M. Scott Carpenter, is the son of the late Florence Noxon Carpenter, Nu-Univ. of Colorado. Scott Carpenter also had 4 AXO aunts.

*******************************
back to me...

ok, so no more pin on the moon stories!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it didn't happen, never will happen, and if i see one more thread on this topic i will not be responsible for the rant and rage that i will throw!!

just let it be...

DeltAlum · #64 08-30-2002, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cash78mere
ok, so no more pin on the moon stories!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it didn't happen, never will happen, and if i see one more thread on this topic i will not be responsible for the rant and rage that i will throw!!

just let it be...

Amen.

phi526 · #65 08-31-2002, 12:16 AM

I've been reading these posts, and though they're interesting, they do seem to be based on speculation and myth. As some of you may know, Neil Armstrong is a Phi Delt from Purdue. At Phi Delta Theta Headquarters in Oxford, Ohio they have the badge that Neil Armstrong took with him to the moon. Evidently, he took it with him, placed on the US flag when he put the flag on the moon. He later took it off - don't know why - and that pin is in the General Headquarters, with a document signed by Neil Armstrong saying that he took it with him to the moon. So, to sum up, a Phi Delt badge was on the moon, but is no longer there. Just thought you guys would like to know.

DeltAlum · #66 08-31-2002, 11:06 AM

Phi526,

While I don't for a minute doubt your sincerity, have you personally seen that badge in the Phi Delt Headquarters?

The reason I ask is that, as you can see above, many folks have heard, and take as fact, what many consider the "urban legend" that some fraternity or sorority badge is on the moon -- and several, mostly sororities, have made the claim.

I simply would have to see the exhibit myself before believing it. First, because I would think that Phi Delta Theta would make a much bigger deal of it officially if it were true. Second, I just can't believe that anyone could attach or detach a fraternity badge to a flag while wearing the gloves of a space suit. And it sounds like at least one of those would have to have occurred.

On the other hand, it is not difficult for me at all to believe that some Astronauts have taken their badges into space with them and circled the earth or moon with them.

I suppose I'll have to stop in Oxford (a difficult task for an Ohio University graduate) the next time I'm in Ohio and ask to see the famous badge.

Edited here -- Finally, out of curiousity, I went to www.phideltatheta.org on the web. Nowhere in the fraternity history, nor on the famous alumni page, did I see anything about a Phi Delt badge on the moon. Then, I went to the page dedicated to their emblems. There is a minute description of the badge (without speaking of the secret symbols which I'm sure are part of it), and, again, no mention of being on the moon.

I would bet (I think), that if it were true, they would officially embrace it. Wouldn't you?

cash78mere · #67 08-31-2002, 12:53 PM

alright.....i just sent a letter to Phi Delt headquarters about this claim by Phi526.

as soon as i get a reply i will post it.

and really...think about the logic....i have trouble clasping my own pin here on earth let alone with no gravity up on the moon.

DeltAlum · #68 08-31-2002, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cash78mere
well, i FINALLY found the letter that AXO nationals sent me. here is the proof. here is an excerpt:

AXO has exceptionally good relations with astronauts. One of the first 7 astronauts, Lt. Comdr. M. Scott Carpenter, is the son of the late Florence Noxon Carpenter, Nu-Univ. of Colorado. Scott Carpenter also had 4 AXO aunts.

Mercury Astronaut Scott Carpenter (Beta Kappa, University of Colorado) is one of several Delts who have been in space. As I understand it, Brother Carpenter is/was kind of a "free spirit," unlike most of the original seven. And, as I recall, he took the second U.S. space flight, a sub-orbital one which lasted about fifteen minutes -- very much like Alan Shepard's. (I think I'm right about this, but am doing it most from memory, and could be mistaken) I think that he missed (don't know whether it was his fault or some primitive computer) the prescribed landing area by over a hundred miles. The were worried for quite a while that he had burned up on re-entry or something.

They found him a few hours later floating around in his capsule and having a good time.

It is absolutely untrue that, when found, he was wearing his Delt badge and drinking a bottle of Rolling Rock. I think.

phi526 · #69 08-31-2002, 01:31 PM

I have seen the badge personally. I was in Oxford this summer for leadership college and had the opportunity to tour GHQ. Anyone can tour it, and they'll explain everything. I actually even met the guy, Robert J. Miller, who said he gave him the badge to place on the moon. I actually took a photo of the display, if you like, I'll email it to you. And if you do have a chance and would like to see it for yourself, I'd definitely go, it's a beautiful building.

DeltAlum · #70 08-31-2002, 01:40 PM

Phi...

I would like to see the picture. And, next time I'm close to Oxford (which doesn't happen often) I will try to stop and see the Headquarters and the display.

As much as it pains me to say so (again, being from Ohio University), Oxford is a beautiful college town -- almost as nice as Athens. (Ohio and Miami are old time rivals)

As an aside, I would encourage anyone to stop and tour your headquarters if you're in the area. I've visited the old Delt Central Office, and will visit the new one as soon as I am through Indianapolis again. There is a lot of history to be seen and tradition to be shared.

cash78mere · #71 08-31-2002, 03:48 PM

Phi-

I would also like to see it. please post it or email it.

phi526 · #72 09-02-2002, 12:14 AM

i don't know how to post a picture on this, if you want email me at phi526@hotmail.com, and i'll send you the pic...

KillarneyRose · #73 09-02-2002, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum

It is absolutely untrue that, when found, he was wearing his Delt badge and drinking a bottle of Rolling Rock. I think.

Delt Alum, I agree that that sounds highly unlikely. Since he's a Colorado grad, I would be more inclined to believe that it was a Coors.

DeltAlum · #74 09-02-2002, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KillarneyRose

Delt Alum, I agree that that sounds highly unlikely. Since he's a Colorado grad, I would be more inclined to believe that it was a Coors.

Rose,

You have to remember that in those days you couldn't buy Coors East of the Mississippi River.

Betarulz! · #75 09-02-2002, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum

Mercury Astronaut Scott Carpenter (Beta Kappa, University of Colorado) is one of several Delts who have been in space. As I understand it, Brother Carpenter is/was kind of a "free spirit," unlike most of the original seven. And, as I recall, he took the second U.S. space flight, a sub-orbital one which lasted about fifteen minutes -- very much like Alan Shepard's. (I think I'm right about this, but am doing it most from memory, and could be mistaken) I think that he missed (don't know whether it was his fault or some primitive computer) the prescribed landing area by over a hundred miles. The were worried for quite a while that he had burned up on re-entry or something.

They found him a few hours later floating around in his capsule and having a good time.

It is absolutely untrue that, when found, he was wearing his Delt badge and drinking a bottle of Rolling Rock. I think.

Okay, I've been reading this post for a long time (since way back in June or July). And I've tried posting to it several times, but I seem cursed...something weird always prevents me from posting to this thread.

Anyways...

Having worked at the most comprehensive space museum in the world during this summer I took advantage of my resources at that time, and asked Max Ary, the CEO of the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center about this. He is a noted space historian, and has served as a technical consultant on several movies (Apollo 13), Mini-series (the 1980's Space and Tom Hanks From the Earth to the Moon) and other projects. He knows more about space history at a place where lots of people know space history. He gave me the word that he had heard the Legend and throughout his research and the connections he has made he had never had it verified. That is absolutely enough proof for me.

A couple of other things that I've read that are absolutely untrue.

1). The moon has no gravity...Actually it does and it is 1/6 as strong as that on Earth. If you are 180 pounds on Earth you'll be 30 on the Moon. Further this means that even if the astronaut had thrown it off the moon, it would not be fast enough to leave the Moon's gravitational sphere of influence and would eventually fall to the lunar surface. (Lunar orbit speed is about 3000 mph.)

2). The pin could have been knocked about by later astronauts...no simply b/c all 6 lunar landing missions were to 6 different landing sites...none of which were close enough to each other to be withing walking (or later driving) distance

3). The pin could have survived a reentry trip through the atmosphere...Not a chance...there's a reason why early capsules had a heat shield and why the shuttle has it's Thermal Protection system of reinforced carbon-carbon, thermal tiles and Nomex felt blankets (yes blankets!).

4). Information on Scott Carpenter for DeltAlum Carpenter was the fifth American to go in to space and his mission was orbital. Only Alan Shepard and Gus Grissom made sub-orbital flights. Carpenter was by far the most physically fit of the Original 7, and was considered the philosophical one of the bunch. (Gordo Cooper was the not so serious one and he flew the final mission...he also was the one who overshot his landing target - his fault- and for that reason pretty much was never considered for another flight) This information was taken from the books The Last Man on the Moon by Gene Cernan a FIJI, and from The Unbroken Chain by Guenter Wendt who was the pad leader for all launches of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo with the exception of Apollo 17

5.)Finally in response to those who don't believe there are city ordinances restricting the # of people who can live together I submit two articles from last springs Daily Nebraskan that showcase the situation 5 female Nebraska students found themselves in last spring. Story #1 Story #2

Hope that this clears up a lot of things.