4/17/2008:
On this day in 1972, Americans across the United States had a lot to discuss, as news of Apollo 16, launched the day before, raced across the country.
This news had a special impact across North Dakota—especially in West Fargo. Dr. Anthony England, a "boyhood resident" of that city, was a "key man" in the crew's pre-flight training and preparation for the flight, as well as serving as a mission scientist with NASA. As Apollo 16 made history in the Apollo program, Tony England made history and established a name for himself in North Dakota and across the country.
He did not get to go up on the flight, himself, although the paper reported that "He would much rather be one of the on-board crew than have the part he has had and will perform on this mission." The closest he got was spending a short time on board the command capsule right before launch, getting the crew in place. Yet, for the duration of their time in space, he was a voice to those far-away astronauts, serving as a connection to the world below. In fact, even before the launch, he had practically lived with the Apollo 16 crew. He stayed with them in repeated sessions with the capsule simulator and on survival training, and went with them on geology trips they had to take to familiarize themselves with what they would have to look for, once they got to the moon. The Fargo Forum proudly proclaimed that, "He knows their personalities inside and out."
"That's why, when (John) Young and (Charles) Duke are out exploring the moon's features, Tony will be the only communicator back on earth talking with them."
He watched the launch with his wife and also with his parents, who had never seen a space shot before. It was not his first experience, though; he had served as a support crewperson for the Apollo 13 flight. In later years, Tony worked as a Mission Specialist on the Space Shuttle Challenger, launched in 1985, and was responsible for activating and operating the Spacelab systems and the Instrument Pointing System and the Remote Manipulator System. He finally got to fly in space, though he never made it to the moon.
Nevertheless, he had a great impact on the space program ... and on all those North Dakota kids, who dreamed of flying to the stars.
By Sarah Walker
Sources:
1997-1999 North Dakota Blue Book
The Fargo Forum, Sunday, April 16, 1972, p.1, p.8