Dec 06

Space Rocket History #235 – Apollo 12 – Introduction

Posted on December 6, 2017 by spac9750

At NASA Headquarters, George Mueller and other planners created a far-reaching plan that Administrator Paine made even more ambitious in adapting it for Nixon’s Space Task Group. The task group’s timetable called for a twelve-man space station and a reusable space shuttle as early as 1975. By 1980, the station would have grown into a fifty-man space base; five years later there would be a hundred men in orbit. Meanwhile, there would be a base in lunar orbit by 1976, with a base on the lunar surface two years later. Then, as early as 1981, the first manned expedition to Mars would depart from earth orbit.

Apollo 12 Insignia

Crew of Apollo 12. Conrad, Gordon & Bean

Surveyor 3 on the Moon

Nov 29

Space Rocket History #234 – Soyuz 6, 7, and 8 – Part 2 -The Vulcan Device

Posted on November 29, 2017 by spac9750

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The Vulcan device consisted of two major units. The first unit included various welding devices and a turn-table with samples of metals to be welded. The second unit consisted of an electric power pack, a protective shield which covered the welding unit, and a remote control console.

The crew of Soyuz 8

Launch of Soyuz 8

The Vulcan device

Nov 22

Space Rocket History #233 – Soyuz 6, 7, and 8 with Shonin, Kubasov, Filipchenko, Volkov, Gorbatko, Shatalov, Yeliseyev – Part 1

Posted on November 22, 2017 by spac9750

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Finally, on April 25, 1969 during a meeting of the Soyuz State Commission, it was decided that the solo and docking flights outlined for 1969 by design bureau OKB-1 would be combined into a joint flight of three spacecraft. The plan was to fly Soyuz 6, 7, and 8 together in August of 1969; Soyuz 7 and 8 would dock and 6 would rendezvous with the docked pair and take pictures of it as well as perform a welding experiment.

Georgy Stepanovich Shonin, Commander of Soyuz 6

Valeri Nikolayevich Kubasov, Flight Engineer for Soyuz 6

Crew of Soyuz 7

Nov 15

Space Rocket History #232 – Apollo 11 – Final Duties & World Reaction Part 2

Posted on November 15, 2017 by spac9750

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The round-the-world tour began on September 29th and lasted until November 5th covering 28 cities in 25 countries in 38 days. The astronauts’ wives were allowed to go along on the trip, as well as a large staff.