ABOARD THE USS HORNET -- The space agency's associate recovery team leader fears that Apollo 11 astronauts and their rescuer will resemble a "rub-a-dub, four men in a tub" situation.
John C. Stonesifer said the scene, if viewable on television, may be "humiliating" to the first men to land on the moon.
"It's ironical, but when millions of people all over the world get their initial glimpse of the astronauts on their return to earth, they will knock themselves out laughing," Stonesifer said.
The astronauts, he added, will climb into a life raft with Lt. Clancy Hatleberg, 25, San Diego, a Navy frogman, and will spend at least 20 minutes rubbing each other down from head to foot with sodium hypochloride to kill any moon germs they may have brought back.