BACK TO THE FUTURE AND THE NUMBER EIGHT - DESENMASCARANDO LAS FALSAS DOCTRINAS

Projects Mercury, Gemini and Apollo

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin poses for a photograph beside the United States flag during the Apollo 11 Extravehicular Activity (EVA) landing on the moon, 1969. This was the world's first landing on the moon. NASA

Project Mercury(1961 to 1963)

The goal of Project Mercury was to determine whether humans could survive in space. Single astronauts were launched into space in the Mercury spacecraft on six missions and spent up to 34 hours in space.

Soon after, astronaut Alan B. Shepard became the first American in space when he completed a 15-minute suborbital flight. President Kennedy committed NASA to sending a man to the moon and back before the end of the '60s. Under the direction of then-Vice President (later President) Lyndon B. Johnson, Congress appropriated funds and NASA expanded its programs to achieve President Kennedy's vision [source: Garber and Launius].

Project Gemini (1965-1966)

The Gemini spacecraft carried two astronauts and could maneuver in space. Over the course of 10 missions, astronauts changed orbits, rendezvoused with other spacecraft, docked with an unmanned Agena rocket, and walked and spent long periods of time in space.

Upon completion of the Gemini program, NASA learned how to fly, live and work in space for the durations of around two weeks that were necessary to send men to the moon and back [source: Garber and Launius].

Project Apollo (1967-1972)

Apollo's primary mission was to land men on the moon, explore it and return them safely to Earth. The Apollo spacecraft carried three men and consisted of a command module (crew quarters), service module (rocket motor, fuel cells, fuel tank, maneuvering rockets, science packages and life support), and a lunar module (a two-man, two-stage independent space vehicle for landing and lifting off from the lunar surface).

The Apollo 1 mission ended with a tragic fire on the launchpad that claimed the lives of three astronauts, Virgil Grissom, Edward White and Roger Chaffee. The Apollo spacecraft was redesigned and tested in Earth orbit during Apollo 7. Apollo 8 took astronauts into lunar orbit, then Apollo missions 9 and 10 tested the lunar module in earth orbit and lunar orbit, respectively. Apollo 11 carried the first men (Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin) to the lunar surface, while a third astronaut (Michael Collins) orbited the moon in the command module. Armstrong and Aldrin spent hours walking on the moon, and their mission fulfilled President Kennedy's challenge.

NASA sent six more missions to explore various places on the moon, where astronauts spent up to two days exploring the lunar surface and gathering samples of moon rocks. One mission, Apollo 13, did not make it to the moon because an explosion crippled the spacecraft along the route. NASA showed its ability to handle a crisis as the agency improvised solutions to get the spacecraft around the moon and return the crew safely to Earth [source: Garber and Launius].

https://science.howstuffworks.com/nasa5.htm

Did you know there are eight Statue of Liberty replicas in Paris?

Here’s the inside guide for how to find all the Statue of Liberty replicas in Paris. Note: One of the liberties is on loan to the US, so technically there are only seven.

First: a lightning quick guide for those who don’t know: The Statue of Liberty was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and constructed by Gustave Eiffel (yes, the man who made the Eiffel Tower). Liberty was gifted the to US by the French in the late 1880s.

So, here’s where to find the Liberty statues in Paris (and beyond).

The podcast episode

Here’s a quick explainer of it all in podcast form, plus some info about our grand plans to find them all Live on YouTube for July 4th, 2024.

The interactive map

Now, here’s an interactive map of all the Liberty statues to help you find them.

Map created with Wanderlog, a road trip planner app on iOS and Android

1. The biggest

The grandest replica of all is just off the Grenelle Bridge on the little man-made island called Île aux Cygnes. That’s it pictured above (and below). While Liberty in New York was a gift from the French, this statue in Paris was a gift from the Americans in Paris. And it’s the biggest too, at 11.50 metres (37 feet 9 inches) – which is exactly a quarter as big as the one in New York.

2. The hardest to find

There’s a Liberty nestled in the Jardin de Luxembourg in the sixth arrondissement. You can find it on the western edge of the park. Here’s what it looks like today. It’s just one of many, many statues in the park, so you’re forgiven if you can’t find her straight away.

3. The most prestigious

Head inside the famed Musee d’Orsay on the Left Bank to find this Liberty, which is located in the grand central aisle on the ground floor.

In fact, if you want an in-depth history of Lady Liberty and France, head over to the Musee d’Orsay’s site for much more information.

Subscribe to the Earful Tower newsletter

Want more from Paris? Sign up for the free Earful Tower newsletter, which we send out every Friday through Substack.

4 and 5. The closest two Lady Libs

If you want a two-for-one deal, head to the Arts-et-Metiers museum in the third arrondissement. There’s a Liberty replica right out the front of the building (well, not anymore… it’s on loan to the US). And if you head inside the museum, there’s another perched atop a display in the centre of the main hall.

800px-La_Liberté_éclairant_le_monde_-_Musée_des_arts_et_métiers.jpg

6. The smallest

You’ll have to look very closely for this one. First you’ve got to find the 5m tall statue called Le Centaure at 2 Place Michel Debré in the 6th arrondissement. It was made by French artist César in 1985 and depicts a centaur. And emerging from the breastplate of this centaur you might be able to see a tiny liberty poking out! Full statue followed by a closeup:

7. The private Liberty

A listener alerted me to this one and it’s inside a private building. But, if you ever happen to have business at 5 rue du Cirque in the 8th you’ll see a sizeable Liberty in the lobby. Here’s a closer look.

8. The floatiest

There’s an EIGHTH Liberty on top of a péniche by the Eiffel Tower. Who’d have thought? Here’s a pic via my Instagram account (go follow for much more from Paris).

https://theearfultower.com/2024/07/01/did-you-know-there-are-five-statue-of-liberty-replicas-in-paris/

Pope Francis has died on Easter Monday aged 88

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta.

By Devin Watkins

At 9:45 AM, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta with these words:

"Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God."

The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, told journalists later on Monday that the late Pope's body could be transferred to St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday morning, so that the faithful may pray before his mortal remains.

"The translation of the Holy Father's mortal remains to the Vatican Basilica, for the veneration of all the faithful, may take place on the morning of Wednesday, April 23, 2025, according to the arrangements that shall be determined and communicated tomorrow, following the first Congregation of the Cardinals," Mr. Bruni said.

The Pope was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Friday, February 14, 2025, after suffering from a bout of bronchitis for several days.

Pope Francis’ clinical situation gradually worsened, and his doctors diagnosed bilateral pneumonia on Tuesday, February 18.

After 38 days in hospital, the late Pope returned to his Vatican residence at the Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery.

The Pope of Mercy

21/04/2025

Pope Francis’ pontificate of peace, for peace

In 1957, in his early 20s, Jorge Mario Bergoglio underwent surgery in his native Argentina to remove a portion of his lung that had been affected by a severe respiratory infection.

As he aged, Pope Francis frequently suffered bouts of respiratory illnesses, even cancelling a planned visit to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023 due to influenza and lung inflammation.

In April 2024, the late Pope Francis approved an updated edition of the liturgical book for papal funeral rites, which will guide the funeral Mass which has yet to be announced.

The second edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis introduces several new elements, including how the Pope’s mortal remains are to be handled after death.

The ascertainment of death takes place in the chapel, rather than in the room where he died, and his body is immediately placed inside the coffin.

According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, the late Pope Francis had requested that the funeral rites be simplified and focused on expressing the faith of the Church in the Risen Body of Christ.

“The renewed rite,” said Archbishop Ravelli, “seeks to emphasise even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world.”