Sky Lit Up On Re-entry

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32050, 26 July 1969, Page 1

Sky Lit Up On Re-entry

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) HONOLULU, July 24. Apollo 11 lit up the Sky for hundreds of miles as it re-entered the earth’s atmosphere, a Qantas pilot said today. The spacecraft’s return was Viewed from 300 miles away by-the 82 passengers and crew of a Qantas airlines jet flying well above the heavy cloud ceiling over the splashdown area. . “The passengers could wee the discarded service module, rocket and fuel tanks disintegrating,” said Captain Francis Brown, the plane’s pilot. “The passenger area lit up brilliantly when the command module left a fiery 100-mile trail as it vanished over the horizon toward splash-down. The trail was visible for four minutes.” The Qantas jet left Bris-

bane, Australia, for Honolulu three hours later than scheduled so those aboard could witness Apollo’s reentry over the Pacific. Captain Brown had calculated from space centre information exactly when and where the space Capsule would be visible on a course parallel to that of his aircraft. The excited passengers immediately held a champagne party. Captain Brown presented them with certificates bearing a reproduction of the medallion 'left on the moon by the Apollo*, crew.