{"id":1128,"date":"2017-01-02T05:30:29","date_gmt":"2017-01-02T09:30:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.lib.purdue.edu\/asc\/?p=1128"},"modified":"2017-01-02T14:33:43","modified_gmt":"2017-01-02T18:33:43","slug":"1967-rose-bowl-purdue-astronauts-and-the-anticipation-of-the-moon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.lib.purdue.edu\/asc\/2017\/01\/02\/1967-rose-bowl-purdue-astronauts-and-the-anticipation-of-the-moon\/","title":{"rendered":"1967 Rose Bowl, Purdue Astronauts and the Anticipation of the Moon"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"moon\"<\/p>\n

January 2, 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of Purdue\u2019s win against the University of Southern California in the 1967 Rose Bowl game. The theme for the 1967 Tournament of Roses parade was \u201cTravel Tales in Flowers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Rose

Rose Bowl program from alum Gary J. Glazer papers<\/p><\/div>\n

This comes as no surprise considering NASA\u2019s success with the space program and its mission to land a man on the Moon, per mandate of recently slain President Kennedy. In 1967 the American public was waiting with bated breath to see NASA land an astronaut on the Moon. The Soviet Union had entered the race first with the successful launch of Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, on October 4, 1957.\u00a0 President Eisenhower reacted slowly, but eventually set the gears in motion to launch the United States\u2019 first satellite, Explorer 1, four months later on February 1, 1958.<\/p>\n

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Pamphlet distributed to nation-wide outlets hailing the achievements of Purdue, from Purdue University Athletics Collection.<\/p><\/div>\n

In anticipation of the Rose Bowl game and the guaranteed national media coverage, the Purdue University News Service created promotional documentation that they sent to newspapers, radio stations, and television stations all over the country so that they could accurately tell news stories about Purdue.\u00a0 These news bulletins documented information about the school ranging from the official colors, mascot, and famous alumni to different education programs. Also included were photographs, the float that the students created for the parade, and stories about the astronaut alumni anxiously awaiting their ride to the Moon. One bulletin boasts \u201cPurdue University had aviation \u2018in its blood\u2019 before it had Rose Bowl fever.\u201d\u00a0 This bulletin goes on to celebrate the pioneering history of Purdue aviation by telling of early years of the airport and the connection the university has with Amelia Earhart.\u00a0 Another bulletin titled \u201cPurdue Astronauts on Moon, Natural as Apple Pie,\u201d opens with the eerie prediction, \u201cIt would be hard to imagine reaching the moon without a piece of Purdue going along.\u201d\u00a0 The bulletin continues talking about how there is as much anticipation for the Apollo mission as there is the Rose Bowl.<\/p>\n

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“A Purdue tribute to the heroism of her men”\u00a01967 Debris<\/a>, p. 549.<\/p><\/div>\n

The float that Purdue students constructed for the 1967 Tournament of Roses parade honored four of their own Purdue alumni astronauts at the time of the game. The float depicts a Gemini capsule and the names of the four current Purdue astronauts: Armstrong, Cernan, Chaffee, and Grissom, along with the caption, \u201cAlma Mater of Astronauts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Footage of 1967 Tournament of Roses Parade<\/a> Courtesy of Purdue University Athletic Department<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"armstrong\"

Above is Armstrong\u2019s Debris yearbook photo from 1954. He is second from the left.<\/p><\/div>\n

Neil A. Armstrong<\/u><\/p>\n

At the time of the Rose Bowl, Neil Armstrong had already completed the Gemini 8 mission. The significance of this mission was the successful rendezvous and docking with another spacecraft.<\/p>\n

Finding Aid for the Neil A. Armstrong papers<\/a><\/p>\n

Gene Cernan<\/u><\/p>\n

\"cernan\"

Above, third from the left, Cernan is pictured here in his 1956 Purdue Debris yearbook photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

By 1967 Gene Cernan had completed the Gemini 9A mission. Lasting from June 3 to June 6, 1966, NASA planned for Cernan to complete a spacewalk, strap into the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), and perform tasks while rendezvousing with an Agena Target Vehicle. This task was not easily completed. Cernan struggled tremendously moving about while spacewalking. His suit became rigged, his visor fogged up, and there were not enough hand-holds and foot-holds on the craft for Cernan to steady himself. To make things worse, the Agena Target Vehicle failed to release its casing, making it impossible for Cernan to complete that part of the mission.<\/p>\n

Finding Aid for the Eugene Cernan papers<\/a><\/p>\n

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Virgil \u201cGus\u201d Grissom\u2019s yearbook photo from the Purdue Debris 1950. Grissom is on the far right.<\/p><\/div>\n

Gus Grissom<\/u><\/p>\n

Gus Grissom was the first Purdue graduate that NASA chose to be an astronaut.\u00a0 NASA selected Grissom as part of the Mercury 7.\u00a0 This group of astronauts flew the single piloted Mercury missions.\u00a0 NASA selected Grissom, along with Alan Sheppard and John Glenn, for the first Mercury flight.\u00a0 Sheppard eventually received the seat on the first flight, but Grissom flew the second sub-orbital mission.<\/p>\n

Virgil I. Grissom papers<\/a><\/p>\n

Roger Chaffee<\/u><\/p>\n

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Roger Chaffee\u2019s yearbook photo from the 1957 Purdue Debris. He is first on the left.<\/p><\/div>\n

At the time of the 1967 Rose Bowl, Roger Chaffee was a rookie. He had not yet completed any spaceflights but was the capsule communicator for the Gemini 4 mission. Chaffee graduated from Purdue in 1957 with Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering. Chaffee was killed along with Gus Grissom and Ed White in the Apollo 1 fire.<\/p>\n

Roger B. Chaffee letter and postcard<\/a><\/p>\n

The 1967 Rose Bowl was the first time Purdue had ever been to a bowl game, and it was a special milestone to many. The astronauts were just as excited about the 1967 Rose Bowl as other fans. Memorabilia from the game can be found among various astronauts\u2019 papers.<\/p>\n

\"Ticket

Program and Ticket from the Jerry L. Ross papers<\/p><\/div>\n

Jerry Ross was not yet an astronaut at the time of the 1967 Rose Bowl. He was a student at Purdue in his junior year and watched the game from the stands. \u00a0His ticket and program from the Rose Bowl are a part of his papers, which he donated to the Purdue Archives in 2012.<\/p>\n

Jerry L. Ross papers<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cFor Purdue, it was enough that we were there playing in the Rose Bowl. We didn\u2019t have to win it to be satisfied. I had many great football memories after that, but certainly, the 1967 Rose Bowl was the pinnacle of my collegiate career. I felt a great sense of responsibility and was real proud of what we did. Taking the fans and everyone to the Rose Bowl was the greatest highlight, for me. Just being out there, seeing all the people, going to the Christmas party, visiting Universal Studios, eating at Lowery’s. The overriding factor was that we were taking part in something no one else had. We were the first, and there’s something to be said for that.\u201d \u00a0 –\u00a0Bob Griese<\/a>, 2002<\/p>\n

\u201cThe overriding factor was that we were taking part in something no one else had. We were the first, and there’s something to be said for that<\/em>.\u201d The astronauts most likely felt the same about their mission to reach the Moon.<\/p>\n

\"rose\"Footage of 1967 Rose Bowl Game:<\/p>\n