Gotta give em some credit for what they achieved given the resources and funds.

Banjo wrote:

Their Mission Control has developed advanced 21st century computer technology to monitor this and future launches.  The full name of this technology is the "Congolese On-line Orbiter Navigation System" but is better known by the simple acronym, COONS.

Auto-edited on 2020-08-02 to update URLs

The success is directly related to a government study in the eighties. Project InterGalactic Space Flight Evaluating Extra-Terrestrials better known as PIGS FEET was established after numerous UFO sightings were reported in the Congo.

Scotty wrote:

I have eMan-Love for Banjo.

You're too nice, Scotty.

Actually I'm just fascinated with the sheer will these people had to make this all happen. Little do people know, Congolese Orbiter Launch Test's (COLT) #1-#44 were complete failures. However, their hard work  finally paid off when they successfully launched the COLT #45 rocket. Estimated budget was 99 cents.

OK, I quit.

Shorty Powers, NASA's legendary "Voice of Mission Control",  apologized profusely for his momentary lapse at liftoff counting down for the first black astronaut in space.

"F-i-v-e, f-o-u-r, t-h-r-e-e, t-w-o, o-n-e, Trigger Nigger!"

The next black astronaut, however, got a similar send off.

"F-i-v-e, f-o-u-r, t-h-r-e-e, t-w-o, o-n-e, Coon To The Moon!"

One more screwup would cost him his job, Powers was told but, sure enough..

"F-i-v-e, f-o-u-r, t-h-r-e-e, t-w-o, o-n-e, The Jig's Up!"

I heard this 'joke' in 1964. Memory's a fickle bitch.

Banjo wrote:

Will their astronauts be called "Moon Crickets?"

Maybe I push too hard sometimes.