A half century ago, men on board the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space capsules talked to earth, navigated in space and to the moon and back, and exchanged critical data with mission control. How was this accomplished five decades ago? By the ingenuity and dedication of a company founded in the heartland of America - The Collins Radio Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Collins Story - Connecting the Moon to the Earth - tells the little-known story of the people who designed the space communication systems and how they did it. These systems were technical feats that had never been done before, and played a crucial role in America's race to be first to land a man on the moon. This third chapter of a three-part series, tells the stories behind Apollo missions, including the historic 11, and perilous 13, and the impact Collins Radio has had on the future of space travel, right up to today's explorations.
Richardson’s connection to NASA and the Apollo missions featured in new documentary
Technology used to communicate back and forth to the moon was developed in the city.
This July 20, 1969 file photo provided by NASA shows Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong on the lunar surface. (AP Photo/NASA, Buzz Aldrin, File)
4:34 PM on May 18, 2021 CDT
Richardson has a connection to space exploration dating back to NASA’s manned missions in the 1960s through communication technology that was pioneered by the former Collins Radio Company that was located in the city.
The company’s role in NASA’s space efforts is covered in a new, three-part documentary “The Collins Story: Connecting The Moon To Earth.” The documentary highlights early technology pioneers in Richardson who helped develop the Collins Radio Company space communication systems.
How Casting Director Tracy Twinkie Byrd Found Her Voice to Direct (Guest Column)
Tracy Twinkie Byrd, provided by
Feb. 28, 2021
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Five years ago, I decided to become a 49-year-old student of Richard Lawson Studios in his PDP 60 (Professional Development Program) class. I was the oldest student in his class at the time. While studying, I learned so many things about myself and my own points of view. I also learned that I am a storyteller and how storytelling has touched my life.
Raised in a mostly white neighborhood in Brooklyn, the same neighborhood that Chris Rock’s character was bussed to on the hit show “Everybody Hates Chris,” I learned the importance of having a Black voice and how to use the compelling truth of Black History in my work. Through asking questions and seeking knowledge of self, this became a burning passion.