Understand
Preston teenager Dermot Gethings watched Apollo 17 launch with Neil Armstrong
Overview
Dermot Gethings, a 16-year-old schoolboy from Preston, was selected by NASA and the US Embassy in 1972 to witness the Apollo 17 launch. During the trip, he met Neil Armstrong, toured US bases, and later became the custodian of the UK's Apollo 17 Goodwill Moon Rock, presenting it to Prime Minister Edward Heath. His story is now the subject of a new documentary.
Key points
- Dermot Gethings was selected as one of 16 UK students to participate in NASA's International Youth Science Tour for the Apollo 17 launch in December 1972.
- He accidentally bumped into and met Neil Armstrong at a motel ahead of the launch.
- Gethings sat near Armstrong in the VIP viewing box at the Kennedy Space Center during the launch.
- He later became the custodian of the UK's Apollo 17 Goodwill Moon Rock and presented it to Prime Minister Edward Heath in July 1973.
- His life story is featured in a 30-minute documentary titled 'The Custodian of the Goodwill Moon Rock'.