Sitting in a Tin Can

While two astronauts from each landing mission descended to the moon's surface, one had to remain above in the orbiting command module. But Ken Mattingly of Apollo 16 says that didn't bother him one bit. "I can't imagine bouncing across the surface of the moon being as personally exhilarating as being solo in a spacecraft on the back side of the moon." You turn some music on, and you watch this panorama go by, and it's absolutely mind-boggling." I mean, it's just one sight after another that is just absolutely extraordinary. And you're all by yourself! Just you! In this tin can!"