From the S&S archives: Taiwanese give Apollo 12 astronauts hearty welcome

TAIPEI — The three Apollo 12 astronauts who landed on the moon in November arrived in Taipei Friday afternoon and rode into an enthusiastic welcome in downtown Taipei.

Thousands of school children and townspeople lined the streets leading from Sungshan military airport to watch the astronauts ride in an open car to the Grand Hotel where they are staying during their four-day stay.

The Republic of China is the 19th nation stop on a 20-nation goodwill tour.

American military and civilian officials, headed by Ambassador and Mrs. Walter P. McConaughy, with hundreds of Chinese and members of the diplomatic corps, were on hand to welcome Capts. Richard F. Gordon Jr., Charles Conrad Jr., and Alan L. Bean and their wives.

Education Minister Chung Chiao-kuang welcomed the visitors on behalf of the Republic of China.

Conrad told welcomers the astronauts were looking forward to sharing some of the "pleasure and adventures" they gained during the historic flight.

Gordon said the flight proved that no task is impossible, and Bean pointed out the success had made more people think of harmonious relationships, common states and mutual desires than of differences.

A late afternoon press conference at the Grand Hotel was highlighted by a 25-minute color film of the Apollo 12 flight and moon landing.

Conrad said that the moon flights have opened the doors for applying basic scientific research that will have far-reaching benefits for the world as a whole. Among potential benefits he mentioned were long-range weather predictions or even weather control. He noted that the capability for putting up a space platform to be reached by a "shuttle bus" type of spacecraft already exists.