TED-Ed: Life of an astronaut - Jerry Carr

The transcript details the speaker's experiences in astronaut training, including survival skills and involvement with lunar modules. It covers support roles in Apollo missions, highlighting challenges like the Apollo 12 lightning incident. The speaker discusses the cancellation of Apollo 18, 19, and 20 due to budget constraints and the Vietnam War. Ultimately, the speaker is assigned as the commander of the final Skylab mission, despite being a rookie, marking a significant career milestone.

Which of the following subjects is NOT part of astronaut basic training?

• Astronomy

• Orbital Management

• Marine Biology

• Astrophysics

What was the main concern when Apollo 8 went behind the moon?

• The spacecraft might run out of fuel

• The spacecraft might lose communication permanently

• The spacecraft might crash into the moon

• The spacecraft might not slow down enough to be captured in orbit

What unexpected event occurred during the launch of Apollo 12?

• The spacecraft's communication system failed

• The spacecraft had a fuel leak

• The spacecraft lost a booster

• The spacecraft was struck by lightning

Why were the Apollo missions 18, 19, and 20 canceled?

• Technical difficulties

• Budget constraints and the Vietnam War

• Lack of interest

• Safety concerns

Who was the last rookie commander before the speaker was assigned to Skylab?

• Buzz Aldrin

• Michael Collins

• Neil Armstrong

• John Glenn