The Green Hills of Earth - Real Life

Real Life

  • Heinlein revealed in the liner notes to the Leonard Nimoy–read album The Green Hills of Earth that he partially based Rhysling's unique abilities on a blind machinist he worked with at the Philadelphia Naval Yards during World War II. He never identified him beyond the name "Tony". Heinlein was amazed that Tony had a perfect safety record and a production record equal to sighted machinists, and could identify all his co-workers solely on the sound of their footsteps and other aural clues, without need of them speaking to him first. Tony also occasionally played the accordion and sang for the assembled shop.
  • In real-life space travel, references to Rhysling and "the green hills of Earth" were made by Apollo XV astronauts.They named a crater near their landing site "Rhysling." This name has since been adopted officially. Capcom Joe Allen on Earth summoned David Scott and Joe Irwin, as their third moonwalk was ending, with the words "As the space poet Rhysling would say, we're ready for you to 'come back again to the homes of men on the cool green hills of Earth.'"
  • Rhysling has been given another kind of recognition: the speculative fiction poetry Rhysling Award.

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