Just watched a gripping documentary on BBC about Gene Cernan, astronaut.  If you’re in the UK, and pay a TV licence you can view it at:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0b3gd8g/the-last-man-on-the-moon

“Don’t ever count yourself out.  You’ll never know how good you are, unless you try.  Dream the impossible and then go out and make it happen.

I walked on the moon, what can’t you do?”

When you see this man’s life story, there were times when what he wanted looked impossible, but he gave it his best, making it through the space programme and becoming one of the 12 people who walked on the moon.

Along the way, there were some great adventures, truly scary moments in the unknown, tragedies, struggles and teamwork.

This particular documentary, “the last man on the moon”  is one to watch out for, on TV networks near you.  I wouldn’t describe myself as especially interested in space documentaries – but this was so imaginatively put together, that I was engrossed in the story right from the start – although it was originally the viewing choice of someone else.

For anyone interested in photography, the visuals are, literally, out of this world.  In terms of the history of our planet: astounding as space travel helped us see ourselves as a planet.  Scientists and teamwork experts will be intrigued by the insights and learning; and those who love a good tale of adventure will be drawn in.  Those who enjoy a great story, told well, will find much to be absorbed by, also, as there is a very creative mix of documentary footage and modern-day revisiting of sites and sights which were key.

The wives of astronauts have a tale yet to be told – there are some stories in here which show such sheer guts and self-sacrifice by these women, in the middle of a society which expected them to be dumb, pretty and completely doing the work of both parents.  As Gene’s wife says “If you think it’s tough going to the moon, you should try staying at home” – as she watched on TV her husband’s craft in difficulty, spinning near the moon’s surface, at one point.