Mister Rogers shares a picture of Astronaut Al Worden and says he will be visiting later today. He shows a film of a rocket launching with Mr. Worden’s explanation of why the launch process is so loud. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Lady Aberlin shares a photo of Astronaut Worden and informs everyone that he is on his way to the Neighborhood. When he arrives, Astronaut Worden helps Lady Elaine Fairchilde jump to her pretend moon and is turned upside down when he asks to see to Lady Elaine’s boomerang in action. He compares his inverted state to the weightlessness of real space flight. Turned right-side-up, Astronaut Worden is taken by Handyman Negri to meet King Friday XIII.
Back at the house, Astronaut Worden arrives and presents Mister Rogers with an envelope of questions from children about space travel. Mr. Worden had taken the envelope with him on his trip to the moon. Sharing a few of the questions, they watch a recording of Mr. Worden’s responses filmed prior to his Apollo 15 mission.
Mister Rogers helps Bob Trow put air in a bike tire. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Bob Dog wrecks his bike on X’s tree because it is so foggy he can’t see. Bob Dog cries because he lost a stone he was taking to the king. Lady Aberlin helps him look for it, but they can’t find it. Lady Elaine suggests that they trace Bob Dog’s steps. Lady Elaine uses her Boomerang-Toomerang-Soomerang to get rid of the fog. Lady Aberlin finds the king’s stone. Mister Rogers says that since fog is real, magic wouldn’t get rid of it.
Mister Rogers arrives with a toy elephant with a zipper on its back for items to be stored inside. After he explains that people don’t have zippers on their bodies, he sings Everything Grows Together. Further explaining how people grow, Mister Rogers tries on a sweater he wore as a child. He then remembers a time Astronaut Al Worden explained to him how a space suit works.
In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, King Friday XIII has invited Astronaut Worden to visit the castle and receives word that he will be arriving tomorrow. Handyman Negri and Cornflake S. Pecially spread the word of the astronaut’s planned visit. While Lady Elaine Fairchilde hopes to join Astronaut Worden on a trip to the moon, X the Owl and Henrietta are fearful that he will make them travel into space with him. Handyman Negri puts their minds at ease and explains that they will not have to go to the moon.
Back at the house, Mister Rogers talks about astronauts require a great deal of training before they are able to travel into space.
Mrs. McFeely arrives with two small lambs. She and Mister Rogers talk briefly about the animals and the care that they require.
In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, King Friday asks Handyman Negri to spread the word that everyone will meet in the castle’s A Room upon the arrival of Astronaut Worden. First, Handyman Negri helps Lady Elaine Fairchilde as she continues to practice for her trip to the moon. After she jumps to a nearby “practice moon,” Handyman Negri sings I’m Proud of You.
Back at the house, Mister Rogers explains that the moon is much too far away for a person to jump to. As he talks about the size of the moon, Bob Brown stops by and invites Mister Rogers for a visit to his marionette theatre. He spends some time at the Brown’s Marionette Theatre where he and Chef Brockett learn that the Browns are working on a new show.
Mister Rogers arrives with a collection of maps that will be shared later by Astronaut Al Worden. Mr. Worden arrives with more to share. Among other items used on his space flight, Mr. Worden shows a variety of space food and explains that the food is prepared by adding water. They add hot water to one package of food to make a helping of spaghetti and cold water to another for a serving of orange drink. After they enjoy the space food, Mr. Worden uses the maps to talk about the back side of the moon that is never seen from Earth. Mr. McFeely arrives to take Mr. Worden to the airport.
In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, King Friday presents a gift to Astronaut Worden — a model of the solar system. At the furthest point on the model is a small image of King Friday to represent the Neighborhood of Make-Believe — an invitation to Astronaut Worden to return often. Everyone gathered at the castle expresses their admiration for Astronaut Worden by singing I’m Proud of You. Lady Elaine Fairchilde arrives with a flag that reads F.F.J. — Flying For Jupiter. She explains that the astronauts can “take care of that little moon business” while she plans to fly to Jupiter.
Back at the house, Mister Rogers shows a picture of George Allen who once taught him to fly a small airplane. He shows a film of Mr. Allen teaching others to fly a similar plane.
Watch full-length Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood programs. The first Monday of every month will feature programs from the early years 1968-1975. The third Monday of every month will feature programs from the “Theme Weeks” library 1979-2001.