Jan 30

Space Rocket History #48 – Gemini Design – 1961

Posted on January 30, 2014 by spac9750

“The main trouble with the Mercury capsule was that most system components were in the pilot’s cabin; and often, to pack them in this very confined space, they had to be stacked like a layer cake and components of one system had to be scattered about the craft to use all available space. This arrangement generated a maze of interconnecting wires, tubing, and mechanical linkages. To replace one malfunctioning system, other systems had to be disturbed; and then, after the trouble had been corrected, the systems that had been disturbed as well as the malfunctioning system had to be checked out again.” James Chamberlin

Proposed Lunar Lander

Modified Titan II Booster

Adapter Section of Mark II

Ejection Seats

Fuel Cell

Rendezvous

Jan 23

Space Rocket History #47 – Gemini Concepts

Posted on January 23, 2014 by spac9750

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This brings us to Project Gemini. Gemini started after Apollo had begun, in part to answer a crucial question for Apollo. Was rendezvous and docking in orbit a feasible basis for a manned lunar landing mission?

One Man Space Station

Rendezvous Concepts

Mark II Spacecraft

Jan 16

Space Rocket History #46 – Mariner 4

Posted on January 16, 2014 by spac9750

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Mariner 4’s primary objective was to conduct closeup scientific observations of Mars and to transmit these observations to Earth. Additional goals included performing field and particle measurements in interplanetary space, and providing experience and knowledge of engineering capabilities for interplanetary flights of long duration…

Mariner 4

Launch on Atlas-Agena

Mariner 4’s Photo Path

Mariner Crater on Mars

Highland Craters

Mars Image given to President Johnson

Jan 09

Space Rocket History #45 – Voskhod-1with Kamarov, Yegorov, and Feoktistov – Part 2

Posted on January 9, 2014 by spac9750

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From the Control center Yuri Gagarin’s kept the crew informed on everything taking place on the now deserted launching site. Finally the command was given: “Stand by!” Now, It would be a matter or minutes before the launch. Commands followed in quick succession. The flight recorder was switched on, the engines started up. There was not much noise at first. But, after the command “Main Engine” the noise and the vibration grew stronger. The final command came at 07:30 UT “Start!”