As a long time advocate of the Soviet and now Russian space programe I have to
say this one first they did not achieve. Yuri orbited the earth, but he did not
see it as an entire globe (although he got a good view of its curvature). In
that sense he did not directly observe the sphericity of the earth any more than
Magellan's crew, or the pilots of high altitude aircraft, who saw its
curvature. My understanding was that the Gemini 12 crew were the first who were
the first to achieve an orbit with an apogee high enough to do so. In fact it
was the Gemini 11 mission (Conrad and Gordon) who did so, they reached an
altitude of 1360 km, also in 1966, thanks to a docked Agena. My apologies.
Jon
Don Perrett wrote:
> While I agree with Jon's belief of an old earth (created by God), I must
> point out one thing. It was Yuri that first saw the earth round not the
> american astronauts stated in his remarks. I too am imperfect, but let's at
> least try to keep things as correct as possible, so that those listening in,
> without the knowledge or education, can be properly enlightened.
> Don P
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu]On
> Behalf Of Jonathan Clarke
> Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2002 2:56 PM
> Cc: asa@calvin.edu
> Subject: direct observation (was ASA Perspective)
>
> Hi Norm
>
> Woodward Norm Civ WRALC/TIEDM wrote:
>
> > SNIP
> > But then a much more horrific thought occurred to me...have our scientists
> > been so well indoctrinated that they are more willing to accept an old
> earth
> > concept, which can only substantiated through indirect measurement or, in
> > most cases, "authoritative literature" versus a round earth concept, which
> > can be substantiated through direct observation.
> > If the latter is the case, please take care in the use of the word "cult."
> > Norm Woodward
> > Warner Robins GA
>
> Several things here.
>
> Ignoring the use of the word "indoctrinated" with respect to the vast body
> of
> diverse evidence for an old earth, may I remind you that until the
> circumnavigation by Magellan's crew begun in 1521 there was no direct
> evidence
> that the earth was round. Until then it was all indirect and inferential.
> Nobody directly observed the earth as a sphere until the flight of Gemini 12
> (Aldrin and Lovell) in 1966.
>
> Atoms, magnetic fields, and X-rays cannot be sensed directly by human
> beings,
> and are known only through indirect evidence. Shall we denounce those who
> have
> been indoctrinated into belief in these entities?
>
> Jon
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