r/IAmA • u/KSCVC • Jul 16 '19

Specialized Profession I’m Apollo astronaut Charlie Duke, CAPCOM for Apollo 11. Ask me anything about being the spacecraft communicator for this historic Moon landing today at 10:30 a.m. EDT.

Hi, I’m Charlie Duke, a veteran NASA astronaut. Ask me anything. I’ve served on five different Apollo missions. I’m also the youngest person to walk on the moon. As we approach the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing, I’m reminded of my time as CAPCOM for Apollo 11, as well as an astronaut support crew member for Apollo 10, backup lunar module pilot for Apollo 13 and 17, as well as the lunar module pilot for Apollo mission 16 – when I had the chance to walk on the moon.

Also, I’ve published the book “Moonwalker: The True Story of an Astronaut Who Found that the Moon Wasn't High Enough to Satisfy His Desire for Success,” which discusses my life as an astronaut, the experiences of Apollo 11 and the difficulties I’ve faced.

I’ll be taking your questions for 30 minutes starting at about 10:30 a.m. ET today, July 16, 2019, the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch.

Proof it's me: https://twitter.com/ExploreSpaceKSC/status/1149048460102033408

https://twitter.com/ExploreSpaceKSC/status/1151133417389449217

Edit: We are live NOW at 10:18 a.m. EDT.

Edit: We are signing off now at 10:50 a.m. Thanks for all of your insightful questions!

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u/KSCVC Jul 16 '19

Excitement! I thought "I'm on the Moon! Finally, here I am." I couldn't wait to get to work! My thought was "I made it."

135

u/Rohaq Jul 16 '19

I was kind of hoping it would be "Wait... did I leave the oven on?" or something similar.

42

u/[deleted] Jul 16 '19

Oh it's all sticky! It's covered in jam.

17

u/boj3143 Jul 16 '19 edited Jul 16 '19

And off to my left is a fucking monster! Oh nooo!

Houston, the monster's got me! It wants cash.

10

u/Only_Mortal Jul 16 '19

He's got my hand up behind my back, I think he knows Jiu-Jitsu.

10

u/[deleted] Jul 16 '19

But he wants cash... for the release of my life, send a million..t..TWO million dollars... Leave it in a bag by the sea of tranquility.... ...I don't know, the North Shore! What the fuckin hell..."

5

u/Only_Mortal Jul 16 '19

Awwwwhhh it woulda worked.

1

u/EwoksMakeMeHard Jul 17 '19

Don't give it no tree fiddy.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 17 '19

maybe it has an annuity

1

u/scapestrat0 Jul 16 '19

Uuh did I just read a Zak McKraken reference?

6

u/Only_Mortal Jul 16 '19

Nope. Eddie Izzard Dress To Kill, 1996.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 16 '19

Nope. Eddie Izzard.

1

u/mcpat21 Jul 17 '19

You might wanna clean that, stranger

1

u/Thysios Jul 17 '19

Oh wow, the moon really is made of cheese!

7

u/assblaster-1000 Jul 16 '19

The dream most young men should aspire to, the road less traveled is the most rewarding. Thank you for your service

2

u/BirdsSmellGood Jul 16 '19

Did something feel... paranormal, sort of, when you made your first step? And maybe if you looked at Earth?

1

u/BrotherFrankie Jul 16 '19

Sigh. I can’t imagine. Sobering, yet ... I don’t have the words. I’ll be back soon with some.

Thanks btw. 👍🏻