Okay, it makes sense that they would have known that some sort of contingency plan was in place. And that the President would, in that eventuality, address the nation by necessity.
In Chris Hadfield’s book “An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth,” he says that astronauts, before going into space, prepare for all sorts of scenarios, including the death of a crew member while in space.
Thanks for that! I loved his music, so just bought his book.
Hmm. Which poem of Brooke’s?
It’s also featured in the conclusion of the 1974 sf comedy Dark Star.
Make sure you pin a note to his spacesuit before you leave him in a lawnchair on the porch, though.
If an astronaut’s body was left in space and potentially retrievable by a later mission than you can bet that NASA would speak to the family (even if only to inform them about their intentions) and you can also bet that it would get political. If there was public pressure and political pressure to bring the body back then NASA would surely consider it very favourably.
If the family say however that they feel it was a good resting place then that might have an effect too.
The Soldier. The first lines of Brooke’s poem are used for the last of Nixon/Safire’s eulogy.
“IF I should die, think only this of me;
That there’s some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England.”
“For every human being who looks up at the moon in the nights to come will know that there is some corner of another world that is forever mankind.”
Ah, thanks! Very nice indeed.
florists would establish a delivery surcharge.
Ashes to Ashes by Bowie in 1980 also revisited the legend of Major Tom too:
“I’ve heard a rumour from Ground Control
Oh no, don’t say it’s true”
“We know Major Tom’s a junkie
Strung out in heaven’s high
Hitting an all-time low”
"My mother said
to get things done
You’d better not mess
with Major Tom "
Which doesn’t clear anything up at all really. Sorry I mentioned it 