Author Topic: Borman's decision not to walk on the moon Lunatiki

Member Posts: 237

From: Amarillo, TX, USA

Registered: Dec 2006 posted 06-13-2007 11:14 PM It's my understanding that if Frank Borman had wanted to have a lunar landing mission, he would of gotten it. Perhaps a shot at the first landing, or at least in the running along with Pete Conrad. I know its not something most would decline. Has he ever talked about this decision, any regrets and why he made it? I'm assuming a good part of it has to do with the toll NASA had been taking on his personal life, but were there other reasons? capoetc

Member Posts: 2169

From: McKinney TX (USA)

Registered: Aug 2005 posted 06-26-2007 07:28 AM In Borman's JSC Oral History, he says he would not have gone to the moon after the first landing. (See page 48). To me, it wasn't worth it. It wasn't worth assuming the risks because I wasn't inclined to go pick up rocks. He also said that, since he hadn't spent a lot of time already learning the LM, it would have taken him longer to learn it. kr4mula

Member Posts: 642

From: Cinci, OH

Registered: Mar 2006 posted 06-26-2007 11:39 AM I always wonder about those types of comments. Is it true, or is Borman just rationalizing after the fact? As a military man, test pilot, and astronaut, being one of the first humans to step foot on the moon wouldn't be worth the risk, just because you weren't the first? I didn't see him turning down a Gemini flight just because he wasn't the first. He's not inclined to pick up rocks on the moon, yet will sit in a capsule for 14 days as a guinea pig on the fourth flight of the program? Right. I also didn't see him turn down his Apollo flight before it was decided they'd be the first around the moon. He was supposed to be high earth orbital before, right? Again, he's happy to improve slightly on what others did before in orbit, but not on the moon itself? In this context, his argument seems to hold little water. I suspect the larger issues with his wife play into his definition of "risk" at the time. His book discusses her Apollo 8 paranoia and after that, perhaps he couldn't imagine what actually landing on the moon would do to her and his marriage. I suspect some of the other astronauts (and lots of others!) wouldn't make that same judgment. Perhaps prior to Apollo 8, he would've been happy to get back in line to pick up rocks. For putting his family over this unique opportunity, Borman should get a lot of respect. Kudos to him. capoetc

Member Posts: 2169

From: McKinney TX (USA)

Registered: Aug 2005 posted 06-26-2007 12:24 PM I recommend you download and read Borman's oral history interview if you haven't already. He is a no-nonsense guy, and in his view the mission was to land on the moon by the end of the decade. Once that was done, the Apollo mission was over in his mind. For what it is worth, I believe he is being sincere and honest in his interview. I also think the training grind of having to go through a back-up crew assignment (while learning the LM from scratch) and then a primary crew assignment likely had a lot to do with it. Presumably, he might have been two more years in the pressure cooker if he had stayed around to walk on the moon. It is easy to say, "Why not just hang around for another mission," but being an astronaut is really hard, all-consuming work. It demands 100% of your effort and energy. And, if he felt the mission had been accomplished on Apollo 11, then it stands to reason that he would not hang around two more years to go to the moon again and "pick up rocks." Borman also says that his biggest contribution to Apollo was NOT on Apollo 8 — it was at the North American plant at Downey, doing configuration control for the command module after the fire. MCroft04

Member Posts: 1634

From: Smithfield, Me, USA

Registered: Mar 2005 posted 06-26-2007 09:04 PM ...I wasn't inclined to go pick up rocks. And what's wrong with picking up rocks? Sure am glad that Dave Scott and others didn't take that attitude. I agree with previous posts, in my opinion it had more to do with his personal life. kr4mula

Member Posts: 642

From: Cinci, OH

Registered: Mar 2006 posted 06-27-2007 11:14 AM I've read Borman's interview. I have no doubt he was sincere in what he says. I meant to raise two issues: the interpretation of "risk" in his case and the more general use of these sorts of disclaimers by other guys that missed out on the lunar landings, since those sorts of claims have been heard elsewhere. Borman specifically mentioned it not being worth "the risk." Does that mean what we'd assume: the loss of his life on a flight? Or is the risk really the metaphorical loss of his life here on Earth. I suspect the latter. mjanovec

Member Posts: 3811

From: Midwest, USA

Registered: Jul 2005 posted 06-28-2007 04:05 PM Plus, one has to figure that Borman saw the impacts of the deaths of the Apollo 1 crew on the families of those left behind. Even if he didn't fear for his own life, he probably feared what his own death would do to his family. Once Apollo 11 was successful and that cold war battle with the Soviets was won, Borman perhaps didn't see any point in risking his life for the scientific goals of Apollo. To him, an Air Force officer, beating the Soviets was his main interest.