Preston astronomer Dermot Gethings recalls watching Apollo 17 launch
Dermot Gethings, a Preston astronomer now aged 70, recalled witnessing the Apollo 17 rocket blast off from Florida in December 1972.
Schoolboy selected for historic launch
At 16 years old, Gethings was chosen by the United States embassy and NASA to stand near legendary astronauts. He described the moment as a trigger event that defined his future career path in astronomy.
Physical sensation of the blast
The teenager felt an incredible adrenaline rush when the rocket lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center. A shockwave from the launch rattled every bone inside his body during the event on 7 December.
Life after the documentary screening
Gethings is preparing to screen a documentary about his experience at a local venue. His early interest began when he saw the Milky Way in the night sky at age 10.
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