Playlist: Apollo 11 Turns 50
Compiled By: PRX Editors
Apollo 11 launched on July 16, 1969, and astronauts landed on the moon on July 20.
New Specials for the 50th Anniversary
Destination Moon
From WHYY | Part of the The Pulse Specials series | 58:59
On July 20th, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin set foot on the moon. They had reached the distant light that humans had admired and looked up to for thousands of years. It was a mission with hundreds of dedicated minds behind it. A dangerous and ambitious mission, that could have failed at many moments.
On this special episode of The Pulse, we will explore the science that got us to the moon, the politics that push space exploration, and our relationship with the moon. Also - how people around the country remember and celebrated the moon landing.
- Playing
- Destination Moon
- From
- WHYY
PROGRAM DETAILS
During a recent panel discussion, Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins called their mission a “fragile daisy chain of events” that could have gone wrong at any moment. And it almost did, several times. We look more closely into one especially difficult aspect of getting to the moon: the landing. Space journalist Andrew Chaikin describes the challenges and errors that almost ended the mission.
The science of the Apollo program
Kids and space exploration
The politics of space exploration
The future of space exploration
1969-All Mixed Up
From Peter Bochan | Part of the All Mixed Up series | 01:55:02
Traveling through Time & Space back to 1969 with Richard Nixon, JFK, Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Walter Cronkite, Ted Kennedy, Arthur C. Clark, Ronald Reagan, The Cast of Hair and more for a two hour remix of all the major events of an incredible year and the history of space exploration.
- Playing
- 1969-All Mixed Up
- From
- Peter Bochan
Inside The Making of an Epic Documentary: A Conversation with Robert Stone
From North State Public Radio | Part of the Blue Dot series | 59:00
Robert Stone's three part documetary, Chasing The Moon, airs July 8-10 on the PBS history series The American Experience. After previewing the epic series, Dave interviewed Robert and the pair had an in depth conversation on the project from genesis to final cut. They also discuss the cultural meaning of the Moon landing as we look back at it through the lens of history fifty years later.
Picturing Apollo 11- John Bisney & JL Pickering Create A Photographers Dream Book
From North State Public Radio | Part of the Blue Dot series | 59:00
Dave talks to John Bisney and JL Pickering as we ramp up our coverage of the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landing this summer. Bisney and Pickering have produced a beautiful coffee table type photography book called Picturing Apollo 11.
The volume features many never before published photographs that chronicle the historic mission from the training of the astronauts and assembly of the rocket and spacecraft in the mighty Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center to liftoff, the Moon, splashdown and the aftermath of the mission.
Dave talks to John Bisney and JL Pickering as we ramp up our coverage of the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landing this summer. Bisney and Pickering have produced a beautiful coffee table type photography book called Picturing Apollo 11.
The volume features many never before published photographs that chronicle the historic mission from the training of the astronauts and assembly of the rocket and spacecraft in the mighty Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center to liftoff, the Moon, splashdown and the aftermath of the mission.
Both Bisney and Pickering are space history buffs and they have a lively conversation sharing their passion for the golden age of space exploration with our host.
Classic Specials
Washington Goes To The Moon (Series)
Produced by Richard Paul
Two documentaries about aspects of the Apollo 11 Moon landing story that never get told. It's always the story of Mission Control and Neil Armstrong. Very few people then look at what happened in Washington, DC. Also on the space program from Richard Paul: Race and the Space Race, Rocket Girls and Astro-nettes, and Rocketing Ahead.
Most recent piece in this series:
Washington Goes To The Moon PART 1
From Richard Paul | Part of the Washington Goes To The Moon series | 58:56
- Playing
- Washington Goes To The Moon PART 1
- From
- Richard Paul
This is Part 1 of two hour-long documentaries called "Washington Goes To The Moon" which examine the behind the scenes, public policy stories leading up to Apollo 11's flight to the moon. Each hour is self-contained and newscast compatible. The stories told in these programs (about NASA management, White House budget politics and Congressional oversight) had as much to do with Apollo 11 reaching the moon as the Saturn 5 rocket, but they have never been told. This program, Part 1: "Washington We Have A Problem" looks at the battle to keep the Apollo space program funded and on deadline. It tells, among other stories: -Within weeks after pledging to send a man to the moon, President Kennedy got cold feet and tried to get out the commitment by bringing the Soviets on-board. -Lyndon Johnson's budget director tried to scrap the goal of getting to the moon by 1969 in order to help Pres. Johnson pay for the Vietnam War.
One Giant Leap
From WHRV | Part of the How We Saw It series | 54:03
This 1-hour radio documentary celebrates the moon landing through the eyes of those who witnessed it and the memories of those who contributed to its success in ways large and small.
- Playing
- One Giant Leap
- From
- WHRV
Participants include:
Gene Kranz, Apollo Flight Director at NASA, famously portrayed by Ed Harris in the film Apollo 13
Sergei Khrushchev, son of former Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, a former engineer in the Soviet space program who is now an American citizen and a professor at Brown University
Tom Hanks, producer of the HBO Miniseries From the Earth to the Moon
John Hirasaki, Apollo 11 Landing and Recovery
Gene Edmunds, NASA photographer
John Young, Commander of Apollo 16
Jim Head, Apollo geologist
John Casani, Jet Propulsion Lab, Pasadena since 1956
Dr. Firouz Naderi, Associate Director, Jet Propulsion Lab, Pasadena
7 listeners who recall the impact the event had on their lives
The Eagle Has Landed: Remembering Neil Armstrong
From Mat Kaplan | Part of the Planetary Radio series | 28:50
We celebrate the 47th anniversary of the first moon landing with the reprise of a conversation with author and NBC space reporter Jay Barbree about his trusted friend Neil Armstrong. Jason Davis brings us a special report on NASA’s 2020 Mars rover. Emily Lakdawalla reminds us that New Horizons at Pluto was anything but the end of exploration in our solar system. Bruce Betts poses a fascinating question in this week’s What’s Up trivia contest.
We celebrate the 47th anniversary of the first moon landing with the reprise of a conversation with author and NBC space reporter Jay Barbree about his trusted friend Neil Armstrong. Jason Davis brings us a special report on NASA’s 2020 Mars rover. Emily Lakdawalla reminds us that New Horizons at Pluto was anything but the end of exploration in our solar system. Bruce Betts poses a fascinating question in this week’s What’s Up trivia contest.
Shorter Pieces
A Shortcut Back To 1969 -"The Lunar Module"
From Peter Bochan | 12:13
This segment of "A Shortcut Back to 1969" -The Lunar Module, is a mix of the sounds, voices and music of the summer of 1969 featuring original NASA recordings of the launch of Apollo 11, Richard M. Nixon, Neal Armstrong, John F. Kennedy, The 5th Dimension, David Bowie,The Who, The Beach Boys, Burgess Meredith, General Westmoreland, various soldiers and reporters in Vietnam, astronauts, mission control specialists and much more...
- Playing
- A Shortcut Back To 1969 -"The Lunar Module"
- From
- Peter Bochan
This segment of "A Shortcut Back to 1969" -The Lunar Module, is a mix of the sounds, voices and music of the summer of 1969 featuring original NASA recordings of the launch of Apollo 11, Richard M. Nixon, Neil Armstrong, John F. Kennedy, The 5th Dimension, David Bowie,The Who, The Beach Boys, Burgess Meredith, General Westmoreland, various soldiers and reporters in Vietnam, astronauts, mission control specialists and much more...
Part of a 45th Anniversary look back at 1969
Moon Graffiti
From The Truth | 15:21
What if Apollo 11 had crashed? This is an audio drama featuring the actual speech Nixon had prepared if the mission had ended in disaster.
- Playing
- Moon Graffiti
- From
- The Truth
“That’s one small step for a man; one giant leap for mankind.” We all know the quote, the triumphant story. It seems written in stone. But Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong came within inches of tragedy when they landed Apollo 11. Moon Grafitti imagines what it might have sounded like if things had gone a little differently. Based on a contingency speech written by William Safire for Richard Nixon titled “In the Event of Moon Disaster.”
We're still experimenting with how to best format our series. If you would like to air this piece without our host intro, credits, or sonic ID, we are more than happy to make a different version that would better suit your needs (and we'll do it quickly!). Please let us know what you think, we are always looking for ways to make our show better.
Craning
From Nate DiMeo | Part of the the memory palace series | 08:08
"Craning" is about the space program.
- Playing
- Craning
- From
- Nate DiMeo
"Craning" is about the space program.
Music Specials
One Giant Leap
From Wind & Rhythm | 59:28
Given the chance, would you take a trip to walk on the moon? This week on Wind & Rhythm we pay tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission and the moon landing. Won’t you join us, here at the gathering place for people who love band music.
- Playing
- One Giant Leap
- From
- Wind & Rhythm
This week on Wind & Rhythm, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission and moon landing. It was 50 years ago, in July of 1969 that Apollo 11 set off for the moon enabling the first two humans to walk on the surface of another world. Back on Earth, people from around the globe were transfixed on this seemingly impossible event and by what future human endeavors could bring. We’ll mark the occasion with some fitting music by Nigel Clark, Roger Zaire, Derek Jenkins, and Bill Conti, not to mention a rather famous song by Bart Howard.
Apollo 11: FM Odyssey Relives The Drama & Excitement Through The Voices Of Apollo 11 As It Happened
From FM Odyssey | 01:56:28
Perhaps you were too young or weren't even born! This 2 hour journey brings you back to July 16th - 24th of 1969. From blast off to splash down. With the voices of Mission Control and Apollo 11's Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin Jr, & Mike Collins.
Carefully placed songs about the moon connect the dots making this riveting and musically entertaining.
- Playing
- Apollo 11: FM Odyssey Relives The Drama & ...
- From
- FM Odyssey
Perhaps you were too young or weren't even born! This 2 hour journey brings you back to July 16th - 24th of 1969. From blast off to splash down. With the voices of Mission Control and Apollo 11's Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin Jr, & Mike Collins.
Carefully placed songs about the moon connect the dots making this riveting and musically entertaining.
Folktale of Lunar Fancy
From Northeast Indiana Public Radio | Part of the Folktales series | 59:59
All eyes and ears are pointed to that heavenly nightsky, this edition of Folktales, so grab a moonbeam, and join us on this musical flight of Lunar Fancy.
- Playing
- Folktale of Lunar Fancy
- From
- Northeast Indiana Public Radio
According to American poet, Carl Sandburg, “The moon is a friend for the lonesome to talk to.” That’s a lovely thought, and this edition of Folktales, our guests of honor are Mr. Moonlight and Mama Luna themselves, as we look heavenward and get ready to explore their special secrets of celestial harmony and inspiration.
With plenty of wise words, and musical moonglow, we'll be traveling through the Americas, across Europe, and into Africa & far Eastern folkworlds, and our featured musicians include Al Petteway, Fred Rothert, Socks in the Frying Pan, Inkuyo, Keola Beamer & George Winston, Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté, J. Donald Walters and more. It's a world of wonderment we're deepsky observing, with this Folktale of Lunar Fancy.
10,000 Good Songs - Show #133 - (Moon Songs #1)
From Paul Ingles | Part of the 10,000 Good Songs series | 59:01
Award-winning music documentarian Paul Ingles hosts this week's mix of tunes from his eclectic personal collection. This week, a theme show of "moon" songs. Each title has the word "moon" in it from artists like The Rolling Stones, Nils Lofgren, Joni Mitchell, Tom Waits, Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan, the North Mississippi Allstars, Cowboy Junkies, The Doors and more.
Award-winning music documentarian Paul Ingles hosts this week's mix of tunes from his eclectic personal collection. This week a theme show of "moon" songs. Each title has the word "moon" in it from artists like The Rolling Stones, Nils Lofgren, Joni Mitchell, Tom Waits, Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan, the North Mississippi Allstars, Cowboy Junkies, The Doors and more.
PLAYLIST:
The Moon Is Up - The Rolling Stones
Moon Tears - Nils Lofgren
Moon At The Window - Joni Mitchell
Moon Song - Emmylou Harris
Grapefruit Moon - Tom Waits
The Moon Is Made Of Gold - Rickie Lee Jones
Moonlight - Bob Dylan
Moonlight & Fireflies - Rachel Sage
Moonchild River Song - Eric Anderson
Moonshadow - Cat Stevens
Moondance - Van Morrison
Moonshine - North Mississippi Allstars
Moonlight Drive - The Doors
Moonlight Mile - Cowboy Junkies
Moon Pie - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers