Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Tonight our journey in the “From Earth to the Moon” series takes us to Houston, Texas — home of the Johnson Space Center and the legendary Mission Control that guided America to the Moon.
This episode explores the people, systems, pressure, and decision making behind NASA’s space program — from the early Mercury and Gemini missions through Apollo 11, Apollo 13, and the final lunar landings. We’ll uncover how teams of incredibly young engineers, flight directors, and controllers managed some of the most dangerous and complex operations in human history from a single room in Houston.
At the centre of it all stood figures like Gene Kranz, whose leadership during moments of crisis became legendary during the Space Race.
Our flight begins aboard the Embraer Phenom 300E, departing Dallas and heading south toward Ellington Field — closely tied to NASA operations and astronaut training. From there we transition into the iconic Northrop T-38 Talon, the jet trainer used by NASA astronauts for decades, for a high-speed flight over Houston, Galveston, and onward to Kelly Field in San Antonio.
This is the story of the people who brought astronauts home.
Route: KDFW – KEFD* – KGLS – KSKF*
(* = denotes Full Stop Landings where applicable)
Aircraft: Embraer Phenom 300E & Northrop T-38 Talon
Simulator: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
What to Expect
Episode 5 of the “From Earth to the Moon” historical aviation series.
A deep dive into Mission Control and NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
The story of Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and the evolution of mission operations.
Historical discussion surrounding Apollo 11, Apollo 13, and Gene Kranz.
Business jet operations into Ellington Field aboard the Phenom 300E.
High-speed NASA-style T-38 operations across Texas.
About the Episode – The Room That Reached the Moon
This episode focuses on the human side of the Space Race:
Mission Control Houston: The nerve centre of NASA’s lunar operations.
Mercury & Gemini: The foundations of spaceflight and orbital rendezvous.
Apollo Program: Coordinating lunar missions under immense pressure.
Apollo 13: One of the greatest recovery operations in aviation and space history.
Gene Kranz & Flight Directors: The culture of discipline, teamwork, and accountability.
The T-38 Talon: NASA’s long-serving astronaut trainer and proficiency aircraft.
“Flight controllers were not passengers in the Space Race… they were part of the crew.”
🆕 Patreon:
patreon.com/twotonemurphy
Subscribe & Turn On Notifications:
youtube.com/@twotonemurphy
Join the Community and hang out in the TTM Flying Circus:
twotonemurphy.com/discord
#MSFS2024 #Apollo #MissionControl #NASA #JohnsonSpaceCenter #GeneKranz #T38 #Phenom300E #FromEarthToTheMoon #FlightSimulator #TwoToneMurphy #TTMFlyingCircus
🗓️ I livestream Monday to Friday at 19:00z
Powered by GG Machines – elite PC builds for simmers & creators:
https://www.ggmachines.ie/
🌐 WEBSITE ►► twotonemurphy.com
🎮 TWITCH ►► twitch.tv/twotonemurphy
"From Earth to the Moon Episode 5 | Mission Control Houston | MSFS 2024"
"NASA Mission Control Explained | Apollo Program | Flight Simulator"
"Gene Kranz & Apollo 13 | Johnson Space Center History | MSFS"
"T-38 Talon NASA Flight | Houston Space Program | MSFS 2024"
"Phenom 300E to Ellington Field | Mission Control Houston | MSFS"
"Apollo 11 & Apollo 13 Mission Control Story | Flight Simulator"
"NASA Astronaut Training Aircraft | T-38 Talon | MSFS 2024"
"Historical Aviation Series | Mission Control Houston | From Earth to the Moon"
Tonight our journey in the “From Earth to the Moon” series takes us to Houston, Texas — home of the Johnson Space Center and the legendary Mission Control that guided America to the Moon.
This episode explores the people, systems, pressure, and decision making behind NASA’s space program — from the early Mercury and Gemini missions through Apollo 11, Apollo 13, and the final lunar landings. We’ll uncover how teams of incredibly young engineers, flight directors, and controllers managed some of the most dangerous and complex operations in human history from a single room in Houston.
At the centre of it all stood figures like Gene Kranz, whose leadership during moments of crisis became legendary during the Space Race.
Our flight begins aboard the Embraer Phenom 300E, departing Dallas and heading south toward Ellington Field — closely tied to NASA operations and astronaut training. From there we transition into the iconic Northrop T-38 Talon, the jet trainer used by NASA astronauts for decades, for a high-speed flight over Houston, Galveston, and onward to Kelly Field in San Antonio.
This is the story of the people who brought astronauts home.
Route: KDFW – KEFD* – KGLS – KSKF*
(* = denotes Full Stop Landings where applicable)
Aircraft: Embraer Phenom 300E & Northrop T-38 Talon
Simulator: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
What to Expect
Episode 5 of the “From Earth to the Moon” historical aviation series.
A deep dive into Mission Control and NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
The story of Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and the evolution of mission operations.
Historical discussion surrounding Apollo 11, Apollo 13, and Gene Kranz.
Business jet operations into Ellington Field aboard the Phenom 300E.
High-speed NASA-style T-38 operations across Texas.
About the Episode – The Room That Reached the Moon
This episode focuses on the human side of the Space Race:
Mission Control Houston: The nerve centre of NASA’s lunar operations.
Mercury & Gemini: The foundations of spaceflight and orbital rendezvous.
Apollo Program: Coordinating lunar missions under immense pressure.
Apollo 13: One of the greatest recovery operations in aviation and space history.
Gene Kranz & Flight Directors: The culture of discipline, teamwork, and accountability.
The T-38 Talon: NASA’s long-serving astronaut trainer and proficiency aircraft.
“Flight controllers were not passengers in the Space Race… they were part of the crew.”
🆕 Patreon:
patreon.com/twotonemurphy
Subscribe & Turn On Notifications:
youtube.com/@twotonemurphy
Join the Community and hang out in the TTM Flying Circus:
twotonemurphy.com/discord
#MSFS2024 #Apollo #MissionControl #NASA #JohnsonSpaceCenter #GeneKranz #T38 #Phenom300E #FromEarthToTheMoon #FlightSimulator #TwoToneMurphy #TTMFlyingCircus
🗓️ I livestream Monday to Friday at 19:00z
Powered by GG Machines – elite PC builds for simmers & creators:
https://www.ggmachines.ie/
🌐 WEBSITE ►► twotonemurphy.com
🎮 TWITCH ►► twitch.tv/twotonemurphy
"From Earth to the Moon Episode 5 | Mission Control Houston | MSFS 2024"
"NASA Mission Control Explained | Apollo Program | Flight Simulator"
"Gene Kranz & Apollo 13 | Johnson Space Center History | MSFS"
"T-38 Talon NASA Flight | Houston Space Program | MSFS 2024"
"Phenom 300E to Ellington Field | Mission Control Houston | MSFS"
"Apollo 11 & Apollo 13 Mission Control Story | Flight Simulator"
"NASA Astronaut Training Aircraft | T-38 Talon | MSFS 2024"
"Historical Aviation Series | Mission Control Houston | From Earth to the Moon"
