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Legacy of apollo 11, we look forward to america's future return to the moon. someday we are told perhaps mars. what is the meaning of the day, the amazing encouragement walter cunningham joins us a retired colonel and former nasa astronaut. he was a lunar module pilot of apollo 7. he joins us now from the johnson space center in houston. mr. cunningham, first, is an honor to have you with us thank you for your service. as you reflect on apollo 11 and going to the moon, we take it for granted. it was so remarkable, what are your thoughts? >> well, i think it was remarkable but back in those day...

>> then apollo 9 goes up a few months later, does everything it needs to do in earth orbit. then you have apollo 10 that does the same thing that apollo 9 does, except they fly all the way to the moon to do it in lunar orbit. lunar module goes down to within a few miles from the surface. they come back. no one has paid attention to apollo 10. apollo 10 risked death like everybody and they did that, too, what a shame they didn't get to land on the moon. and just a few months later, it came down to apollo 11. >> what kind of a physical sensation do you expect at actu actual touchdown? >> i hole ...

Vehicular activity, eva, as we call it, really one of the high points of anybody's flight in space. i know john would have loved to do that. when you are in space, you see the whole planet and recognize all of life and everything you value is down there on that beautiful planet in this incredible black space it hangs in. but when you're outside, that's so much more impressive. you're out there in space as a satellite yourself. and you wonder about it. i know at the time i flew on apollo nine and i was outside, those thoughts came roaring into my head. how did i get here and why am i here, what...

So i think one of the things that stands out the most to me is, not only did john glenn have all these tremendous professional accomplishments, but he had a very, very full and rich personal life as well. uma? >> he certainly did. and their marriage certainly celebrated by so many because they were each other's best friend. kristin, thank you very much. for more on the life on john glenn, let's turn to rusty weiker, a former astronaut who served on the apollo 9 mission. so nice of you to join us today. really appreciate it. >> thanks. happy to be here. >> let's talk for a moment about his le...

That script? pretty good. >> 1968 was a tough year for the country, assassinations, bad stuff happening in vietnam but a great way to end it with people going around the moon for the first time. nobody has been able to do it since, except for the united states. >> then apollo 9 goes up a few months later, does everything it needs to do and apollo 10 does the same thing 9 does but they fly all the way to the moon to do it lunar orbit. that works fine. they come back, nobody paid attention to apollo ten. it's a forgotten thing, oh, yeah, they did that, too, what a shame they didn't get to land o...