{"id":487,"date":"2024-05-31T00:05:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-31T00:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/octoberskyminute.com\/cm\/?post_type=podcast&p=487"},"modified":"2024-05-23T15:28:55","modified_gmt":"2024-05-23T15:28:55","slug":"minute-027-dear-doctor-von-braun","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/octoberskyminute.com\/cm\/podcast\/minute-027-dear-doctor-von-braun\/","title":{"rendered":"Minute 027: Dear Doctor von Braun"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

GUEST: Michael Sitver, of LetterJoy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Link to LetterJoy website<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“And we could even build a test stand!” says Homer, running out to the middle of the shale field. Quentin smiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the sun sets, the boys raise a flag over the shale. The flag says “Coalwood Missile Agency.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a voice-over, Homer writes another letter to Wernher von Braun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Dear Dr. von Braun. Our launch site, which we’ve named Cape Coalwood, is nearing completion.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The boys try to raise a wooden frame on a snowy afternoon. The frame falls over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Thanks to the generosity of local businesses – “<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O’Dell and Roy Lee hurriedly lift boards out of a lumber yard at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A montage of the boys assembling the blockhouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Inspired by our efforts, everyone is anxious to help by donating materials.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roy Lee is shown installing a window in the blockhouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a switch tower, a signalman notices the tower’s window is missing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We’ve been fortunate to have the support of our classmates.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The boys enter their classroom. The rest of the class laughs at a drawing on the blackboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“And the whole community here in Coalwood is behind us.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The blackboard shows a crude drawing of the Rocket Boys riding a spacecraft on the outside. They wear space helmets, and the words ‘MOON OR BUST’ are written on the side of the rocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Homer walks into the company store. Another boy calls out on the street, “Hey, rocket boy! Mars is that way.” The boy thumbs over his shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“But no one has been more encouraging to our efforts than my father.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“No, the company doesn’t have any cement left over,” says John Hickam to Homer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"GUEST: LetterJoy's Michael Sitver","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2109,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"https:\/\/octoberskyminute.com\/cm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/os027.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"https:\/\/octoberskyminute.com\/cm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/osLogo.jpeg","cover_image_id":"2259","duration":"21:45","filesize":"20.34M","filesize_raw":"21330168","date_recorded":"2024-05-31 00:05:00","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"27","itunes_title":"Minute 027: Dear Doctor von Braun","itunes_season_number":"1","itunes_episode_type":"full"},"tags":[],"series":[17],"class_list":["post-487","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","series-the-october-sky-minute-podcast"],"aioseo_notices":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/octoberskyminute.com\/cm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/os027-scaled.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/octoberskyminute.com\/cm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/osLogo.jpeg","download_link":"https:\/\/octoberskyminute.com\/cm\/podcast-download\/487\/minute-027-dear-doctor-von-braun.mp3","player_link":"https:\/\/octoberskyminute.com\/cm\/podcast-player\/487\/minute-027-dear-doctor-von-braun.mp3","audio_player":"https:\/\/octoberskyminute.com\/cm\/podcast-player\/487\/minute-027-dear-doctor-von-braun.mp3<\/a><\/audio>","episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"amazon":{"key":"amazon","url":"","label":"Amazon","class":"amazon","icon":"amazon.png"},"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_play":{"key":"google_play","url":"","label":"Google Play","class":"google_play","icon":"google-play.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"tunein":{"key":"tunein","url":"","label":"TuneIn","class":"tunein","icon":"tunein.png"},"iheartradio":{"key":"iheartradio","url":"","label":"iHeartRadio","class":"iheartradio","icon":"iheartradio.png"},"itunes":{"key":"itunes","url":"","label":"iTunes","class":"itunes","icon":"itunes.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/octoberskyminute.com\/cm\/feed\/podcast\/the-october-sky-minute-podcast","embedCode":"

Minute 027: Dear Doctor von Braun<\/a><\/blockquote>