I just watched Apollo 13 for the umpteenth time, although I still prefer the real documentary of those anxious days.
Gene Krantz is one of my personal heroes. That flight alone was brought out the best in everyone and in my mind was even more amazing than walking on the moon. To quote Gene 'with all due respect, i think this will be our finest hour." Can't even write about it without tears in my eyes.
I, too grew up watching those early launches, including Friendship 7, huddled around a TV in the school. Splashdowns were always a family viewing event :-).
I wanted to be an astronaut, settled for working for an aerospace contractor and sadly, much of the old fire of ingenuity retired some time ago. Like another poster remarked, China is interested in space. Maybe we'll rekindle our interest when the enemy is at the doorstep.
Krantz is one gentleman I would love to meet someday.