Dec 15

An Encore Presentation of Space Rocket History #30 – Godspeed John Glenn – Mercury-Atlas 6 – Friendship 7 – Part 1

Posted on December 15, 2016

“I am in a big mass of some very small particles, they’re brilliantly lit up like they’re luminescent. I never saw anything like it! They round a little: they’re coming by the capsule and they look like little stars. A whole shower of them coming by....

Tagged:Africa, Alan Shepard, Apollo, Atlas, Australia, Canton Island, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Exploration, Fireflies, Friendship 7, Godspeed John Glenn, Hawaii, History, Indian Ocean, John Glenn, Kano, Lyndon Johnson, Mercury, Mercury 7, Mexico, Muchea, Nasa, Nigeria, Nikita Khrushchev, Perth, Rocket, Russia, Segment 51, Sensor, Soviet, Space, Titov, Wally Schirra, Walter Schirra

Dec 16

An Encore Presentation of Space Rocket History #31 – Godspeed John Glenn – Mercury-Atlas 6 – Friendship 7 – Part 2

Posted on December 16, 2016

Mercury Control was still undecided on the course of action to take with the heat shield problem. Some controllers thought the retrorocket pack should be jettisoned after retrofire, while other controllers thought the retro pack should be retained, a...

Tagged:Africa, Alan Shepard, Apollo, Atlas, Australia, Canton Island, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Exploration, Fireflies, Friendship 7, Godspeed John Glenn, Hawaii, History, Indian Ocean, John Glenn, Kano, Lyndon Johnson, Mercury, Mercury 7, Mexico, Muchea, Nasa, Nigeria, Nikita Khrushchev, Perth, Rocket, Russia, Segment 51, Sensor, Soviet, Space, Titov, Wally Schirra, Walter Schirra

May 2

Space Rocket History #10 – The Space Race

Posted on May 2, 2013

On October 4th 1957, the Soviet Union demonstrated that it had to be taken seriously. Only a few years prior they had lagged the US badly in both bombers and Nuclear weapons. Now, there was deep concern that the Soviet’s could launch a nuclear attack...

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Tagged:Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Exploration, History, Icbm, R 7, R7, Rocket, Russia, Soviet, Space, Sputnik, Von Braun, Werner

May 16

Space Rocket History #12 – Vanguard TV3 – Flopnik

Posted on May 16, 2013

“It seemed as if the gates of hell had opened up. Brilliant stiletto flames shot out from the side of the rocket near the engine. The vehicle agonizingly hesitated for a moment, quivered again, and in front of our unbelieving eyes, began to topple. ...

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Tagged:Abma, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, History, Icbm, Korolev, R 7, R7, Rocket, Soviet, Sputnik, Tv3, Vanguard, Von Braun

Aug 20

Space Rocket History #126 – Apollo-Saturn IB: AS-201, AS-202, and AS-203

Posted on August 20, 2015

Apollo Saturn 201 employed the Saturn IB launch vehicle, which was the up-rated version of the Saturn I rocket flown in ten earlier Saturn-Apollo missions. It featured an upgrade of the first stage engines to increase thrust from 1,500,000 lb-ft of ...

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Apollo-Saturn 201 mission – launch, recovery

Tagged:Aerojet General, Apollo, As 201, As 202, As 203, Block I, Block Ii, Cape Canaveral, Chrysler, Csm 009, Csm 011, Dan David, Exploration, H 1, History, Holmes, Houston, Ibm Federal Systems Division, Instrument Unit, J 2, Langley, Launch Complex 34, Little Joe Ii, Manned Space Flight, Manned Spacecraft Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, Msc, Msfc, Mueller, Nasa, North American, Pad 34, Pad 37b, Pad 39a, Project Apollo, Promise, Rca 110a, Robert E Field, Rocket, Rocketdyne, S Ivb, Saturn, Saturn I, Saturn Ib, Saturn V, Saturn Apollo 3, Service Module, Space, Trinidad Tracking Station, Uss Boxer, Von Braun

Aug 27

Space Rocket History #127 – Apollo Mission Control: Christopher Columbus Kraft – Part 1

Posted on August 27, 2015

Christopher Columbus Kraft Jr. was Born on February 28, 1924 in a town that no longer exist, Phoebus, Virginia. The town has now been engulfed by Hampton, Virginia. Kraft was named after his father, Christopher Columbus Kraft, who was born in New Yor...

3-Christopher_Kraft,_flight_director_during_Project_Mercury,_works_at_his_console_inside_the_Flight_Control_area_at_Mercury_Mission_Control

2-Wally Schirra (right) consults the flight plan for his Mercury-Atlas-8 (MA-8) mission with Flight Director Chris Kraft

1-Chris Kraft and Rober Gilruth

Tagged:Alan Shepard, American Legion, Apollo, Atlas, Bugle Corp, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Christopher Kraft, Chuck Mathews, Columbus, Corps Of Cadets, Eisenhower, Enos, Exploration, Flight Director, Gagarin, Gemini, Gus Grissom, Ham, Hampton, History, John Glenn, Manned Spacecraft Center, Mercury, Mercury Redstone 2, Mercury Atlas 4, Mercury Atlas 5, Midas, Msc, Naca, Nasa, New York City, Phoebus, Prop Wash, Redstone, Robert Gilruth, Soviet, Space, Space Task Group, Sputnik 1, University Of Kentucky, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wingtip Vortices, Yuri Gagarin

Sep 3

Space Rocket History #128 – Apollo Mission Control: Christopher Columbus Kraft – Part 2

Posted on September 3, 2015

At the beginning of the Apollo program, Kraft retired as a flight director to concentrate on management and mission planning. In 1972, he became director of the Manned Spacecraft Center, following the path of his mentor Robert Gilruth.

3-Robert F. Thompson (center) and Christopher C. Kraft Jr. (right) brief Rear Admiral W.C. Abhau

2-Kraft with his new flight directors before the Gemini 4 mission Clockwise from lower right Kraft, Gene Kranz, Glynn Lunney and John Hodge

1-Kraft Kranz Gemini Fuel Cell problem

Tagged:Alan Shepard, American Legion, Apollo, Apollo 11, Apollo 13, Apollo 8, Atlas, Betty Turnbull, Bugle Corp, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Christopher C Kraft Jr Mission Control Center, Christopher Kraft, Chuck Mathews, Columbus, Ed White, Eisenhower, Episcopalian, Exploration, Flight Director, Gagarin, Gemini, Gemini 4, Gemini 7, Gene Kranz, George Low, Glynn S Lunney, Goddard Memorial Trophy, Gordon Kraft, Gus Grissom, Ham, Hampton, Heat Shield, History, John Glenn, John Hodge, John J Montgomery Award, John Mccain, Kristi Anne Kraft, Manned Spacecraft Center, Max Faget, Mercury, Mercury Atlas 6, Mercury Atlas 7, Midas, Msc, Naca, Nasa, Nasa Distinguished Service Medals, Nasa Outstanding Leadership Medal, New York City, Phoebus, Prop Wash, Redstone, Robert Gilruth, Rotary National Award For Space Achievement, Scott Carpenter, Soviet, Space, Space Task Group, Sputnik 1, Sy Liebergot, University Of Kentucky, Us Navy, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wally Schirra, Wingtip Vortices, Yuri Gagarin

Sep 10

Space Rocket History #129 – Apollo Mission Control: An Introduction to Eugene Frances Kranz

Posted on September 10, 2015

As Procedures Officer, Kranz was put in charge of integrating Mercury Control with the Launch Control Team at Cape Canaveral, Florida, writing the “Go/NoGo” procedures that allowed missions to continue as planned or be aborted, along with serving as ...

3-Kranz and his teacher Kraft

2-Kranz at his console on May 30, 1965, in the Mission Operations Control Room, Mission Control Center, Houston

1-Kranz-F86 Sabre Cat

Tagged:Alan Shepard, Apollo, Apollo 11, Apollo 13, Apollo 8, Atlas, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Christopher C Kraft Jr Mission Control Center, Christopher Kraft, Chuck Mathews, Exploration, Flight Director, Gagarin, Gemini, Gemini 4, Gemini 7, Gene Kranz, George Low, Glynn S Lunney, Gus Grissom, Hampton, History, John Glenn, John Hodge, Manned Spacecraft Center, Max Faget, Mercury, Mercury Atlas 6, Mercury Atlas 7, Msc, Nasa, Nasa Distinguished Service Medals, Redstone, Robert Gilruth, Rotary National Award For Space Achievement, Scott Carpenter, Soviet, Space, Space Task Group, Wally Schirra, Yuri Gagarin

May 23

Space Rocket History #13 – Explorer 1 – Juno 1

Posted on May 23, 2013

At approximately 12:48 a.m. EST, the first listening stations began reporting that they had received radio signals from the “Explorer” satellite. The first station to confirm the signals was the San Gabriel Valley Amateur Radio Club near Pasadena, Ca...

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Tagged:Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Exploration, Explorer 1, History, Irbm, Jpl, Juno, Pickering, R 7, R7, Rocket, Russia, Sargent, Soviet, Space, Van Allen, Von Braun, Werner

Sep 17

Space Rocket History #130 – Apollo 1: Preparation

Posted on September 17, 2015

While flight-preparation crews were having problems, Grissom, White, and Chaffee were finding bottlenecks in training activities. The chief problem was keeping the Apollo mission simulator current with changes being made in spacecraft 012.

3-Astronauts Grissom, Chaffee, and White check the communications headgear in preparation for what was to have been the first manned Apollo flight – Apollo-Saturn 204, scheduled for 21 February 1967

2-CM-012 – Apollo One- arrives at Kennedy Space Center, 26 August 1966

1-Command module 012 and service module 012 in workstands at the North American Aviation plant, Downey, in 1965

Tagged:Apollo 1, As 204, Buzz Aldrin, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Charlie Feltz, Charlie Frick, Downey, Ed White, Exploration, Gemini, George Low, George Mueller, Gilruth, Gus Grissom, History, Houston, Jim Lovell, John Paup, John Shinkle, Joseph Kotanchik, Joseph Shea, Kurt Debus, Manned Spacecraft Center, Max Faget, Mercury, Msc, Nasa, New York Times, Norm Ryker, North American Aviation, Robert Gilruth, Roger Chaffe, Soviet, Space, Von Braun, William Bland

Oct 1

Space Rocket History #131 – Apollo 1: Astronauts – Part 1- Grissom & White

Posted on October 1, 2015

“So the reason I took those symbols was that I think this was the most important thing I had going for me, and I felt that while I couldn’t take one for every religion in the country, I could take the three I was most familiar with.” Ed. White

Chaffee, White, and Grissom

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Tagged:Apollo 1, As 204, Buzz Aldrin, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Charlie Feltz, Charlie Frick, Downey, Ed White, Exploration, Gemini, George Low, George Mueller, Gilruth, Gus Grissom, History, Houston, Jim Lovell, John Paup, John Shinkle, Joseph Kotanchik, Joseph Shea, Kurt Debus, Manned Spacecraft Center, Max Faget, Mercury, Msc, Nasa, New York Times, Norm Ryker, North American Aviation, Robert Gilruth, Roger Chaffe, Soviet, Space, Von Braun, William Bland

Oct 8

Space Rocket History #132 – Apollo 1: Astronauts – Part 2 – Chaffee

Posted on October 8, 2015

“On my honor I will do my best, To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.” The Boy Scout Oath.

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1-Chaffee at the consoles in Mission Control during the Gemini 3 mission

Tagged:Apollo 1, As 204, Buzz Aldrin, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Charlie Feltz, Charlie Frick, Don Chaffee, Downey, Ed White, Exploration, Gemini, George Low, George Mueller, Gilruth, Greenville, Gus Grissom, History, Houston, Jim Lovell, John Paup, John Shinkle, Joseph Kotanchik, Joseph Shea, Kurt Debus, Manned Spacecraft Center, Martha Chaffee, Max Faget, Mercury, Michigan, Msc, Nasa, New York Times, Norm Ryker, North American Aviation, Purdue, Robert Gilruth, Roger Chaffe, Roger Chaffee, Soviet, Space, Von Braun, William Bland

Oct 15

Space Rocket History #133 – Apollo 1: Plugs Out – Part 1 – The Fire

Posted on October 15, 2015

The “Plugs Out” test scheduled for Jan 27, 1967 was not the first time that spacecraft 12 had been put through a simulated run with people on board…

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Tagged:Apollo 1, As 204, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Charlie Feltz, Charlie Frick, Don Chaffee, Downey, Ed White, Exploration, George Low, George Mueller, Gilruth, Gus Grissom, History, Houston, Joseph Shea, Kurt Debus, Manned Spacecraft Center, Martha Chaffee, Max Faget, Msc, Nasa, North American Aviation, Purdue, Robert Gilruth, Roger Chaffee, Soviet, Space, Von Braun, William Bland

Oct 22

Space Rocket History #134 – Apollo 1: Plugs Out – Part 2 – The Price of Progress

Posted on October 22, 2015

When Deke Slayton and Stu Roosa arrived at pad 34 they saw ambulances waiting in vain at the base of the launch tower. They boarded the small elevator and rode to level A-8, 218 feet up, and headed across the swing arm to the clean room…

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Tagged:Alan Bean, Apollo 1, Arlington National Cemetery, As 204, Babbitt, Betty Grissom, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Charlie Feltz, Charlie Frick, Chris Kraft, Clemmons, Dave Scott, Deke Slayton, Don Chaffee, Downey, Ed White, Exploration, Gemini, George Low, George Mueller, Gilruth, Gleaves, Gus Grissom, Harrison Storms, Hawkins, History, Houston, Jo Schirra, John Glen, Joseph Shea, Kurt Debus, Manned Spacecraft Center, Martha Chaffee, Max Faget, Mercury, Mike Collins, Msc, Nasa, Neil Armstrong, North American Aviation, Pat White, Purdue, Reese, Robert Gilruth, Roger Chaffee, Rogers, Soviet, Space, Stu Roosa, Von Braun, West Point, William Bland

Oct 29

Space Rocket History #135 – Apollo 1: The Investigation

Posted on October 29, 2015

The tragedy of Apollo 1 was widely reported in the Soviet Union. The Soviets sent condolences and letters to the families of the men who had died. But, the Soviet Press criticized the US for an overzealous attempt to send men to the moon.

CM parts were studied and catalogued in the Pyrotechnics Installation Building at Kennedy Space Center.

The CM wiring harness goes through x-ray inspection.

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Tagged:Apollo 1, Apollo 204 Review Board, Apollo Review Board, As 204, Atwood, Bondarenko, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Charlie Feltz, Charlie Frick, Chris Kraft, Clemmons, Clinton P Anderson, Don Chaffee, Downey, Ed White, Exploration, Feltz, Floyd Thompson, Frank Borman, Gene Kranz, General Phillips, George Low, George Mueller, George P Miller, Gilruth, Glynn S Lunney, Gus Grissom, Harrison Storms, History, Houston, James Webb, Joe Shea, Joseph Shea, Launch Complex 34, Lbj, Leonov, Manned Spacecraft Center, Max Faget, Mishin, Msc, Nasa, North American Aviation, Olin Teague, Pad 34, President Johnson, Robert Gilruth, Robert Seamans, Roger Chaffee, Soviet, Space, Spacecraft 12, Spacecraft 14, Thompson Board, Tiger Teague, Van Dolah, Walter Mondale, West Point

Nov 5

Space Rocket History #136 – Apollo 1: What Went Wrong

Posted on November 5, 2015

What went wrong? Even years after the investigators began to sift through the wreckage of Apollo 1 piece by piece, no one could say exactly. But within weeks the general picture became clear: The fire was a disaster waiting to happen.

Deputy Administrator Seamans, Administrator Webb, Manned Space Flight Administrator George E. Mueller, and Apollo Program Director Phillips testify before a Senate hearing on the Apollo accident

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Tagged:Alan Shepard, Apollo 1, Apollo 204 Review Board, Apollo Review Board, As 204, Atwood, Baron Report, Bastian Hello, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Charles Berry, Charlie Feltz, Charlie Frick, Chris Kraft, Clemmons, Deke Slaton, Downey, Ed White, Everett Christensen, Exploration, Floyd Thompson, Frank Borman, Gene Kranz, General Phillips, George Low, George Mueller, Gilruth, Gus Grissom, Harrison Storms, Hilliard Paige, History, Houston, James Mcdivitt, James Webb, Joe Shea, John Healy, John Wydler, Joseph Shea, Launch Complex 34, Manned Spacecraft Center, Margret Smith, Martin Company, Max Faget, Msc, Nasa, North American Aviation, Olin Teague, Pad 34, Phillips Report, Robert Gilruth, Robert Seamans, Roger Chaffee, Space, Spacecraft 12, Spacecraft 14, Thompson Board, Tiger Teague, Van Dolah, Wally Schirra, Walter Mondale, William Bergen

Nov 12

Space Rocket History #137 – Apollo 1: Changes and Recovery

Posted on November 12, 2015

After the uncertain days of February 1967, NASA officials began to realize that a recovery from the tragedy was under way. Through hard work and problem solving, morale of Nasa personnel started to improve…

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Tagged:Apollo 1, Apollo 204 Review Board, Apollo Review Board, Apollo Saturn Mission 501, As 204, Atwood, Beta Fiber, Block I, Block Ii, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Charles Berry, Chris Kraft, Corning Glass Works, Dale Myers, Deke Slaton, Downey, Ed White, Exploration, Frank Borman, Gene Kranz, General Phillips, George Low, George Mueller, Gilruth, Grumman, Gus Grissom, Harrison Storms, Healey, Hilliard Paige, History, Houston, Huntsville, James Mcdivitt, James Webb, Joe Shea, John Healy, John J Mcclintock, Joseph Shea, Launch Complex 34, Manned Spacecraft Center, Martin Company, Mary White, Max Faget, Michoud, Mississippi Test, Msc, Nasa, North American Aviation, Pad 34, Robert Gilruth, Robert Seamans, Roderick Middleton, Roger Chaffee, S Ii, Saturn V, Space, Spacecraft 12, Spacecraft 14, Thomas J Kelly, Thompson Board, Tiger Teague, Tiger Team, Wally Schirra, William Bergen

May 30

Space Rocket History #14 – US Space 1958 – Explorer, Vanguard, Pioneer, and NASA

Posted on May 30, 2013

In late March, 1958, President Eisenhower publicly announced the United States’ intention to launch a spacecraft to the Moon. He assured the nation that this was not science fiction. It was an achievable goal presented by leading scientists. The ...

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Tagged:Abma, Arpa, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Eisenhower, Exploration, Explorer 2, Explorer 3, Explorer 4, Geophysical, History, Icbm, Jpl, Juno, Juno I, Juno Ii, Lbj, Lunar, Lyndon Johnson, Moon, Naca, Nasa, Pioneer, Pioneer 0, Pioneer 1, Pioneer 2, Pioneer 3, Pioneer 4, Project Argus, R 7, R7, Radiation, Rocket, Russia, Soviet, Sputnik, Thor, Thor Abel, Van Allen, Von Braun, Werner

Jan 14

Space Rocket History #144 – Lunar Orbiter 2 – 5 and Wresat

Posted on January 14, 2016

A total of five Lunar Orbiter missions were launched by the US in 1966 through 1967. The purpose of the lunar orbiter series was to photograph the moon’s surface for selection and verification of safe landing sites for the Surveyor and Apollo missio...

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5-Lunar Orbiter 5 photo of the entire Tycho impact crater in the southern highlands

4-LO 4 Davy crater chain chain stretches from Davy Y at left to the large bright Davy G diameter 15 km Note the even spacing of the craters

3Lunar Orbiter 3 Image 3121_M – Tsiolkovskiy Crater center

2-Lunar Orbiter 2 on November 20, 1966, 29 miles (47 km) above the lunar surface, over the Sea of Tranquility

1-Lunar Orbiter 3 spacecraft

Tagged:Agena D, Apollo, Astrogeology Research Program, Atlas, Australia, Canberra, Canopus, Cape Canaveral, Cislunar Trajectory, Copernicus Crater, European Lanucher Development Organization, History, Lc 13, London Trade Fair In 1968, Lunar Orbiter 1, Lunar Orbiter 2, Lunar Orbiter 3, Lunar Orbiter 4, Lunar Orbiter 5, Lunar Orbiter Image Recovery Project, Marius Hills, Marquardt, Nasa, Parliament House, Project Sparta, Redstone, Regional Planetary Information Facilities, Rocket, Simpson Desert, Space, Sulpicius Gallus Rille, Surveyor 1, Surveyor 2, Surveyor 3, University Of Adelaide, Weapons Research Establishment Satellite, Woomera, Woomera Heritage Centre, Wresat

Jan 21

Space Rocket History #145 – Surveyors 2 – 7 with a Little Apollo 12

Posted on January 21, 2016

The primary objectives of the Surveyor program, were to support the Apollo landings by: (1) developing and validating the technology for landing softly on the Moon; (2) providing data on the compatibility of the Apollo design with conditions encounte...

6-Astronauts Pay a Visit to Surveyor 3

5-Photomosaic of a panorama taken by Surveyor 7 of its landing site

4-Surveyor 6 on the Plains of Sinus Medii

3-Wide-angle picture of the northwest wall of the Surveyor 5 crater

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1-Photograph of the Surveyor 3 spacecraft resting on the surface of the Moon, taken by Apollo 12 astronauts

Tagged:Alan Bean, Alpha Scattering, Apollo, Apollo 12, Atlas, Atlas Lv 3c, Atlas Centaur, Ats 1, Canopus, Cape Canaveral, Centaur D, Centuar, Cislunar Trajectory, Copernicus Crater, History, Huges Space And Communications Group, Hughes Aircraft Company, Hughes Space Systems Division, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Jpl, Lc 36a, Lc 36b, Lunar Night, Nasa, Pete Conrad, Radar Reflectivity, Rocket, Scintillating, Selenographic, Sinus Medii, Smithsonian National Air And Space Museum, Space, Surveyor 1, Surveyor 2, Surveyor 3, Surveyor 4, Surveyor 5, Surveyor 6, Surveyor 7, Syncom, Vernier, William Pickering

Jul 11

Space Rocket History #20 – Tiros 1 and Echo 1 – The First Weather and Communications Satellites

Posted on July 11, 2013

“Who can say what contraption the future will bring? There can be not a doubt, some more wonderful thing. And if anyone ventures the future to scan, Why indeed should it not be your old Weather Man? Have you noticed how often in times that are pa...

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Tagged:Arpa, Arthur C Clarke, Bell Labs, Belmar, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Delta, Echo, Eisenhower, Exploration, George Mindling, John Pierce, Kaena Point, Naca, Nasa, Satelloon, Thor Abel, Tiros, Vanguard

Aug 8

Space Rocket History #24 – Mercury Redstone Test Flights – Ham in a Can

Posted on August 8, 2013

The objectives of the Mercury Project, were as follows: 1. Place a manned spacecraft in orbital flight around the earth. 2. Investigate man’s performance capabilities and his ability to function in the environment of space. 3. Recover the man and ...

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Tagged:Blunt Body, Booster Development, Cape Canaveral, Exploration, Ham, Heat Shield, History, Huntsville, Marshall Space Flight Center, Max Faget, Mercury, Mr 1, Mr 1a, Mr 2, Mr Bd, Posigrade, Redstone, Rene 41, Retro, Rocket, Space, The 4 Inch Flight, Vostok

Aug 15

Space Rocket History #25 – Mercury Redstone 3 – Freedom 7 with Alan Shepard

Posted on August 15, 2013

Over 52 years ago, in the early hours of May 5th, 1961 the US prepared to launch its first man into space. Three weeks earlier, the Soviet Union had sent Yuri Gagarin on an orbital mission. This was a suborbital mission planed to last only 15 minutes...

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Tagged:Alan Shepard, Atlas, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Deke Slayton, Distinguished Service Medal, Dryden, Electrocardiograph, Exploration, Explorer 1, Freedom 7, Gagarin, Gilruth, Goddard Space Flight Center, Gordon Cooper, Gus, Hangar S, History, Huntsville, Inverter, James Webb, Joe Schmitt, John Glenn, Liquid Oxygen, Lyndon, Mercury, Mercury 7, Mercury Redstone 3, Nasa, President Kennedy, Project Adam, Respirometer, Soviet, Space, Space Task Force, Umbilical Cable, Vice President Johnson, Virgil Grissom, Von Braun, Wally Schirra, Werner, Why Dont You Fix Your Little Problem And Light This Candle

Aug 22

Space Rocket History #26 – Why the Moon?

Posted on August 22, 2013

“We have been plunged into a race for the conquest of outer space. As a reason for this undertaking some look to the new and exciting scientific discoveries which are certain to be made. Others feel the challenge to transport man beyond frontiers he ...

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Tagged:Alan Shepard, Apollo, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Chemical, Eisenhower, Exploration, History, Houston, Icbm, Jfk, Lbj, Liquid, Lloyd Berkner, Lyndon Johnson, Mercury, Moon, Nasa, Nuclear, Rice, Rocket, Saturn, Solid Fuel, Soviet, Space, Space Race, Von Braun, Webb, Werner, Wiesner, Yuri Gagarin

Aug 29

Space Rocket History #27 – Mercury-Redstone 4 – Liberty Bell 7 with Gus Grissom

Posted on August 29, 2013

Mercury-Redstone 4 was the fourth mission in the Mercury-Redstone series and the second U.S. manned suborbital spaceflight. The mission was essentially a repeat of Alan Shepard’s Freedom 7 flight. So why was it necessary to launch another sub-orbit...

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Tagged:Alan Shepard, Apollo, Apollo 11, Cape Canaveral, Corning Glass Works, Dr Who, Ed White, Exploration, Explosive Hatch, Freedom 7, Gilruth, Gus Grissom, History, Hunt Club 1, Icbm, John Glenn, Liberty Bell 7, Man In Space, Mercury, Mercury 4, Mercury 7, Mercury Redstone 3, Mercury Redstone 4, Mr 3, Mr 4, Nasa, Pitch, Posigrade, Redstone, Retro, Rocket, Roger Chaffee, Roll, Sigma 7, Soviet, Space, Space Task Group, Virgil Grissom, Vostok, Vostok 1, Vycor, Wally Schirra, Yaw

Sep 12

Space Rocket History #29 – Mercury-Atlas 5 With Enos

Posted on September 12, 2013

Following the successful suborbital missions of Allan Shepard and Gus Grissom, NASA believed the Mercury capsule was ready for an orbital mission. But, there was a problem, the Redstone booster did not have the power to place the Mercury capsule int...

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Tagged:1 5 Stage, 34 Degree, Alan Shepard, Arguello, Atlas, Atlas D, Balloon Tank, Bermuda, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Christopher Kraft, Compton, Couch Suit, Enos, Exploration, Flight Director, Gagarin, Gimbaled, Gus Grissom, History, Holloman, Icbm, John Glenn, Korolev, Mercury, Mercury Atlas 4, Mercury Atlas 5, Midas, Muchea, Nasa, One Stage To Orbit, Psychomotor, Redstone, Samos, Soviet, Space, Stage And A Half, Stormes, Sustainer, Titov, University Of Kentucky, Wd 40, Woomera

Sep 19

Space Rocket History #30 – Godspeed John Glenn – Mercury-Atlas 6 – Friendship 7 – Part 1

Posted on September 19, 2013

“I am in a big mass of some very small particles, they’re brilliantly lit up like they’re luminescent. I never saw anything like it! They round a little: they’re coming by the capsule and they look like little stars. A whole shower of them coming by....

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Launch_of_Friendship_7_-_GPN-2000-000686

Houston_control_center_during_Mercury_Atlas_6_mission_1962

Glenn62

800px-Glenn_Enters_his_Mercury_Capsule_-_GPN-2000-001029

415px-Mercury_6,_John_H_Glenn_Jr

Tagged:Africa, Alan Shepard, Atlas, Australia, Canary Islands, Canton Island, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Donalk Slayton, Enos, Exploration, Fireflies, Friendship 7, Goddard, Godspeed, Gordon Cooper, Guaymas, Gus Grissom, Hawaii, History, Icbm, Indian Ocean, John Glenn, Kano Nigeria, Kauai, Luminescent, Lyndon Johnson, Max Q, Mercury, Mercury 6, Mercury 7, Mercury Control, Mercury Atlas 6, Mexico, Muchea, Nasa, Pacific, Perth, Posigrade, Robert Gilruth, Rocket, Rockingham, Russia, Scott Carpenter, Segment 51, Soviet, Space, Vostok, Walter Schirra, Zanzibar

Jun 26

Space Rocket History #306 – Apollo 14 – The Launch

Posted on June 26, 2019

The first launch window for Apollo 14 began at 15:23, Eastern Standard Time, 31 January 1971, and lasted almost four hours. Stu RoosaApollo 14, Liftoff

P2-liftoff

P3-liftoff-from-top

P1-Roosa-Suit-up

Tagged:Apollo 14, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Louise Shepard, Mitchell, Roosa

Sep 26

Space Rocket History #31 – Godspeed John Glenn – Mercury-Atlas 6 – Friendship 7 – Part 2

Posted on September 26, 2013

Mercury Control was still undecided on the course of action to take with the heat shield problem. Some controllers thought the retrorocket pack should be jettisoned after retrofire, while other controllers thought the retro pack should be retained, a...

mercury-flight-27[3]

mercury-flight-26[3]

mercury-flight-25[3]

mercury-flight-24[3]

mercury-flight-24[3] (1)

Ma6Smith

MA6-dye released

MA6 on tv

Tagged:Africa, Alan Shepard, Apollo, Atlas, Australia, Canton Island, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Exploration, Fireflies, Friendship 7, Hawaii, History, Indian Ocean, John Glenn, Kano, Lyndon Johnson, Mercury, Mercury 7, Mexico, Muchea, Nasa, Nigeria, Nikita Khrushchev, Perth, Rocket, Russia, Segment 51, Sensor, Soviet, Space, Titov, Wally Schirra, Walter Schirra

Oct 3

Space Rocket History #32 – Ranger-4, Ariel-1, and Telstar-1

Posted on October 3, 2013

As part of the pre-Apollo preparations, NASA created the Ranger series of missions to take high-quality pictures of the Moon and transmit them back to Earth in real time…

640_goonhilly

640_telstar-engineers

Telstar1

space rocket history pic22

Ariel-1

Thor_Delta_with_Ariel_1_(Apr._26,_1962)

Ranger4

Ranger4JPL

Ranger-4-Atlas-Agena-B

Tagged:17a, Able, Apollo, Ariel, Ariel 1, Att, Atlas, Atlas Agena, Bell Labs, Cape Canaveral, Echo 1, Exploration, Goddard, Goonhilly, History, Launch Complex, Lyman Alpha, Moon, Nasa, Rocket, Russia, Solar Cells, Solar Panels, Soviet, Space, Sputnik, Starfish, Telstar, Telstar 1, Thor Delta, Van Allen

Oct 10

Space Rocket History #33 – Science Overload – Mercury-Atlas 7, Aurora 7 with Scott Carpenter

Posted on October 10, 2013

After the successful completion of the Mercury-Atlas 6 flight that carried John Glenn into orbit, it was Scott Carpenter’s turn to pilot Mercury-Atlas 7, which he named Aurora 7. The mission was essentially a repeat of John Glenn’s 3 orbit mission, ...

Carpenter-Inspectes-Spacecraft-0512a

NASA-Scott-Carpenter-0512a

Carpenter-Aboard-Raft-0512a

aurora7nasa

458px-Aurora_7_launch

Scott_Carpennter_thumbnail

Tagged:Alan Shepard, Ascs, Atlas, Aurora 7, Cape Canaveral, Deke Slayton, Exploration, Fireflies, Friendship 7, Frost, Gordon Cooper, Gus Grissom, Guymas, Hawaii, History, John Glenn, Launch Complex, Mercury, Mercury 7, Muchea, Rocket, Scott Carptenter, Space, Space Particles, Venus, Walter Schirra

Oct 24

Space Rocket History #35 – Textbook Spaceflight – Mercury-Atlas 8, Sigmac 7 with Wally Schirra

Posted on October 24, 2013

After Scott Carpenter’s science heavy Mercury-Atlas 7 flight, Nasa’s next mission would concentrate on the technical and engineering aspects of space travel. Mercury Atlas 8 became the third manned orbital flight of the Mercury program. The pilot se...

Recovery_of_Sigma_7_spcae_capsule_by_USS_Kearsarge_October_1962

MA-8_landing_under_parachute

MA-8_liftoff

163085main_sigma7-sm

760px-Mercury_Astronaut_Wally_Schirra_-_GPN-2000-001351

479px-Mercury_8_in_Hanger_-_GPN-2000-001441

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163085main_sigma7-sm

Tagged:Apollo, Atlas, Australia, Brisbane, Canary Islands, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Christopher Kraft, Deke Slayton, Echo 1, Ecuador, Fireflies, Gyroscopes, History, Hypergolic Fuel Igniter, Indian Ocean, John Glenn, Kennedy, Liberty Bell 7, Mercury, Mercury 7, Mercury Atlas 7, Mesico, Muchea, Nasa, Naval Academy At Annapolis, Philippines, Port Elizabeth, Quito, Retrorocket, Rocket, Seventh Fleet, Sigma 7, South America, Spacecraft, Spaceflight, Telstar, Turtle Club, Uss Kearsarg, Wally, Walter Schirra, Weightlessness

Oct 31

Space Rocket History #36 – Mariner 2 and Relay 1

Posted on October 31, 2013

During the summer of 1962 final preparations were underway for the first U.S. attempt to reach another planet. The planet was Venus, Earth’s closest planetary neighbor. This first flight would be accomplished by the JPL built Mariner 2 spacecraft…

space rocket history pic34

nasa_mariner2_float

Mariner_2_launch

Mariner_2_in_space

Diagram_of_Mariner_1_or_2_with_Atlas-Angena_launch_vehicle

413718main_g-64-1573

Tagged:1964 Summer Olympics, Agena, Ariel 1, Atlas, Atlas Agena, Cape Canaveral, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Cape Kennedy, Cosmic Dust Detector, Cosmic Ray Detector, Earth, Echo 1, Exploration, Flyby, History, Japan, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Jpl, Kennedy Assassination, Launch Complex 12, Life Of The Late John F Kennedy, Magnetometer, Mariner 2, Nasa, Particle Detector, President Kennedy, Radio Corporation Of America, Ranger, Ranger 4, Rca, Record, Relay 1, Solar Plasma Spectrometer, Solar Wind, Soviet, Space, Syncom 3, Telstar 1, Tokyo, Venus, White House, Winston Churchill

Nov 7

Space Rocket History #37 – Flight of Faith 7, Mercury-Atlas 9 with Gordon Cooper

Posted on November 7, 2013

Mercury-Atlas 9 was the fourth and final manned orbital flight of the Mercury program. The flight objectives were to: (1) evaluate the effects on the astronaut of approximately one day in orbital flight; (2) verify that man can function for an exte...

space rocket history pic36

S63-07856

Mercury9_tibet

Gordon_Cooper_Jr._-_cropped

773px-Mercury_On_Deck_-_GPN-2000-001403

479px-Cooper_-_GPN-2000-000997

Tagged:0 05g, Airglow, Apollo, Atlas, Beco, Boy Scouts Of America, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Coastal Sentry Quebec, Exploration, Faith 7, Gordo, Gordon Cooper, Gus Grissom, Himalayas, History, John Glenn, Kearsarge, Kentucky, Kyushu Japan, Leroy G Cooper, Life Scout, Mcdonnell, Mercury, Mercury 7, Mercury 9, Mercury Control, Mercury Atlas 8, Mercury Atlas 9, Murray, Nasa, Oklahoma, Prayer, President Kennedy, Retro, Rocket, Scott Carpenter, Seco, Shawnee, Space, Tibetan, University Of Ohio, Virgil Grissom, Visual Acquisition And Perception, Walter Schirra, Xenon Strobe Lights, Zanzibar, Zodiacal Light

Nov 14

Space Rocket History #38 – Syncom 1,2,3, and TIROS 8

Posted on November 14, 2013

Geosynchronous satellites have the advantage of remaining permanently in the same area of the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth. Geostationary satellites have the special property of remaining permanently fixed in the exact same posi...

270px-Delta_D_Intelsat1

TIROS

Syncom_2_side

space rocket history pic41

150px-Thor_Delta_B_with_TIROS_8_(Dec._21_1963)

Tagged:Altair, Apt, Automatic Picture Tranmission, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Delta B, Delta D, Direct Tv, Dish Network, Exploration, Fairchild Stratos, Geostationary, Geosynchronous, History, Hughes Space And Communications, Nasa, Rca, Rocket, Syncom 1, Syncom 2, Syncom 3, Thiokol Castor 1, Thor Delta, Tiros 8, Us Weather Bureau, Usns Kingsport

Dec 19

Space Rocket History #43 – Ranger-7, Nimbus-1, European Space Organizations, and Christmas From the Moon

Posted on December 19, 2013

You may recall from episode 32 Ranger- 4 was the first U.S. spacecraft to reach another celestial body. However, Ranger-4 failed it primary mission of returning pictures from the moon…

space rocket history pic46

Esro-logo

nimbus_meteorological_satellite

64-041A

220px-NASA_FACTS_Volume_2_number_6_PROJECT_RANGER_image_04

610px-Ranger7_PIA02975

Tagged:540, Agena, Apollo, Apollo 16, Apollo 8, Atlas, Blue Streak, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Eldo, Erso, European Launcher Development Organization, European Space Research Organization, Exploration, Harrie Massey, History, Moon, Nasa, Nimbus, Nimbus 1, Ocean Of Storms, Pierre Auger, Ranger, Ranger 7, Rocket, Russia, Sea Of Clouds, Solar Cells, Sounding Rocket

Jan 16

Space Rocket History #46 – Mariner 4

Posted on January 16, 2014

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 a...

Cratered Hilands Mars

mariner04

Pickering-Johnson

Mariner_4_launch_2

Mariner Crater

20121209_Mars_Mariner_4_f840 Nasa

Tagged:Agena, Atlas, Canals, Canopus, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Comet, Cosmic Dust Detector, Cosmic Rays, Crater, Dswift, Earth, Exobiology, Exploration, Flagstaff, Geiger Counter, H G Wells, Helium Magnetometer, History, Ionization Chamber, Jpl, Looney Tunes, Lyndon Johnson, Mariner 3, Mariner 4, Mars, Marvin The Martian, Mercury, Micrometeoroid, Monopropellant Hydrazine, Moon, Nasa, Percival Lowell, Rocket, Solar Cells, Solar Plasma Probe, Space, The Twilight Zone, Trapped Radiation Detector, War Of The Worlds

Feb 6

Space Rocket History #49 – Gemini Systems Design – 1962

Posted on February 6, 2014

On January 3 1962, “Gemini” became the official designation of the Mercury Mark II program. The name had been suggested by Alex Nagy of NASA Headquarters because the twin stars Castor and Pollux in constellation Gemini (the Twins) seemed to him to s...

The general arrangement of liquid rocket systems (OAMS and RCS) in the Gemini spacecraft

Gemini landing gear part of the land landing system along with the paraglider

fig41The B. F. Goodrich partial-wear full-pressure suit being developed for the Gemini program

fig33Figure 33. The emergency parachute recovery system for the half-scale paraglider flight test vehicle for Phase II-A of the development program – Copy

fig27Gemini spacecraft nomenclature – Copy

Agena B

Tagged:Agena, Airesearch, Ames A Mcdivitt, Apollo, B F Goodrich, Cape Canaveral, Charles Conrad, Dcs, Edward H White Ii, Ejection Seat, Electrocardiogram, Electroenecephalogram, Elliot M See, Exploration, Frank Borman, Gemini, Gemini Procurement Office, Gemini Project Office, Gilruth, Goddard, Gpo, History, Houston, Ibm, Icbm, James A Lovell, James Chamberlin, John W Young, Manned Spacecraft Center, Mcdonnell, Mercury, Mercury 7, Msc, Nasa, Neil A Armstrong, Oams, Paraglider, Phoncardiogram, Rcs, Rocket, Rocketdyne, Space, Thiokol, Thomas P Stafford, Titan, Titan Ii, Us Army Quartermaster, Us Naval Ordance, Webb, Weber Aircraft, Whirlpool

Feb 12

Space Rocket History #50 – Blue Gemini – 1963

Posted on February 12, 2014

“Blue Gemini” was the tag name for an Air Force manned space flight program to develop rendezvous, docking, and transfer for military purposes, using Gemini-type spacecraft. The concept became firmer in June, when the Air Force Space Systems Division...

fig58 Astronauts after a training session in desert near Stead Air Force Base, Nevada

Goal

fig54 Instrumented mannequin being lowered into a boilerplate Gemini spacecraft in preparation for a dynamic sled test of the Gemini ejection system

fig52 Gemini launch vehicle 1 undergoing tests in the vertical test facility at Martin’s Baltimore plant

fig51 POGO suppression equipment proved out in the Titan II development program

fig48 Proposed deployment sequence for the ballute stabilization device

fig47 Titan II flight N-15 was launched from Cape Canaveral on January 10, 1963

Tagged:Agena, Air Force, Atlas Agena, Blue Gemini, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Chamberlin, Charles Matthews, Curtis Lemay, Department Of Defense, Dod, Dyna Soar, Exploration, Gemini, Gemini Program, Gilruth, History, Holmes, Icbm, Jpl, Kennedy, Manned Spacecraft Center, Mercury, Mods, Moon, Msc, Nasa, Pogo, Project Gemini, Robert Mcnamara, Rocket, Russia, Soviet, Webb

Feb 20

Space Rocket History #51 – Gemini 1 – Test Flight – Part 1

Posted on February 20, 2014

“The primary objective of the first Gemini mission, was to prove that the Titan II was capable of launching the Gemini spacecraft into orbit within the tolerances imposed by manned space flight. The secondary objective was for the spacecraft to gathe...

fig70 Gemini-Titan 1 during Electronic-Electrical Interference Tests with the launch vehicle erector lowered

fig68Gemini boilerplate 3A in the production area at the McDonnell plant before being shipped to Weber Aircraft

fig66Sequence Compatibility Firing of the two stages of Gemini launch vehicle 1 at pad 19, Jan. 21

Tagged:Aerojet, Age, Agena, Air Force, C 133, C Band, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Charles Matthews, Complex 19, Electrical Electronic, Exploration, Gemini, Gemini Launch Vehicle, Glv, History, Instrumentation, Liftoff, Martin, Mcdonnell, Nasa, Space, Spacecraft, Ssd, St Louis, Telemetry, Turbopump, Verlander

Feb 27

Space Rocket History #52 – Gemini 1 – Test Flight – Part 2

Posted on February 27, 2014

One second after 11 o’clock Wednesday morning, April 8th 1964, the Titan II booster’s first-stage engine ignited. Four seconds later, the 156 ton vehicle lifted from the pad on that curiously lambent flame so distinctive of Titan II’s hypergolic prop...

Tang

space rocket history pic69

Gemini1-1

Gemini Launch

Gemini 1 Left Instrument Pallet

Gemini 1 Experiment Pallets

Tagged:Actuators, Aerojet, Agena, Apollo, Atmospheric Inversion, Blockhouse, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Exploration, Gemini, Gemini Titan, Glv, Goddard, History, Manned Spacecraft Center, Mcdonnell, Nasa, Robert Gilruth, Rocket, Seamans, Space, Von Braun, Walter Williams, Werner

Mar 6

Space Rocket History #53 – Gemini 2 – Part 1

Posted on March 6, 2014

The bright outlook that was prevalent in April turned dark in the late summer of 1964 when a series of natural disasters struck the Cape. First lightning, then hurricanes, damaged the Gemini 2 launch vehicle to delay its flight long past the schedule...

Retro Adapter

Mercury and Gemini

Ejection

Retro Adapter

GT2_S-64-40154

Figure 74. Special instrumentation pallets to be installed in Gemini spacecraft No. 2 in the same positions that astronauts would occupy in later flights

Figure 75. The first stage of Gemini launch vehicle 2 being unloaded from an Air Force C-133 at Cape Kennedy

Tagged:Agena, Air Force, C 133b, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Cleo, Communications, Complex 19, Csat, Dei, Delta, Design Engineering Inspection, Electrical Power, Environmental System, Escape, Exploration, Gemini, Gemini Titan 2, Glv 2, Guidance, History, Hurricane, Landing, Lyndon Johnson, Martin, Martin Marietta, Mcdonnell, Mercury, Msc, Nasa, Pirotechnics, Propulsion, Rocket, Russia, Sequential, Soviet, Space, Titan Iiia, Walter Matthews

Mar 13

Space Rocket History #54 – Gemini 2 – Part 2

Posted on March 13, 2014

Gemini Launch Vehicle Two’s misfortunes during August and September 1964 forced NASA to forego its goal of a manned Gemini 3 flight before the end of the year, Gemini-Titan 2 was now scheduled for mid-November 1964, and Gemini 3 for the end of Januar...

800px-Gemini2xrear

Gemini B spacecraft on display at the Air Force Space & Missile Museum, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

View of the earth and space from the unmanned Gemini 2 cabin window during reentry

Tagged:Act Of God, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Charles Matthews, Chris Kraft, Christopher Kraft, Dry Ice, Fuel Cell, Gatv 5001, Gemini Agena, Gemini Titan 2, Gene Krantz, Glv 2, Goddard, Gt 2, Gus Grissom, History, John Glenn, Lc 40, Leroy E Day, Lyndon Johnson, Martin, Mcdonnell, Mercury, Mercury 7, Moog Servocontrols, Moon, Nasa, P2b, Robert Gilruth, Rocket, Space, Ten Point Plan For Cc Equipment, Titan Ii, Titan Iiia, United States Air Force Manned Orbiting Laboratory, Uss Lake Champlain, Virgil Grissom, Voskhod, Walter Schirra

Apr 3

Space Rocket History #57 – First Gemini Manned Mission – Gemini 3 with Gus Grissom and John Young

Posted on April 3, 2014

The precise scope of the Gemini 3 mission remained uncertain until very nearly the eve of flight. In April of 1963, the GT-3 mission directive was “to demonstrate and evaluate the capabilities of the spacecraft and launch vehicle system, and the proc...

gemin3 panel

Gemini3youngandgriss

Gemini3

Gemini3_water_training

Astronaut_John_Young_gemini_3

Astronaut Roger B. Chaffee is shown at console in the Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas during the Gemini-Titan 3 flight.

800px-S65-18058

799px-Gemini3_crew

Tagged:C 124, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Crusader Iii, Dei, Ellington Air Force Base, Exploration, F 4, Gemini, Glv 3, Gt 3, Gus Grissom, History, Houston, John Young, Liberty Bell 7, Ling Temco Vought, Mcdonnell, Mercury 7, Molly Brown, Nasa, Nebraska Wesleyan University In Lincoln, Oams, Pregnant Guppy, Robert Gilruth, Sea Of Japan, Soviet, Space, Sputnik, St Louis, Thomas P Stafford, Uss Laws, Walter Schirra, Xf8u

Apr 10

Space Rocket History #58 – Corned Beef Controversy – Gemini 3 with Gus Grissom and John Young – Part 2

Posted on April 10, 2014

Grissom – What is it? Young: Corned beef sandwich. Grissom: Where did it come from? Young: I brought it with me. Let’s see how it tastes. Smells, doesn’t it. Grissom: Yes, its breaking up. I’m going to stick it in my pocket. Young: Is it? It was...

Gemini3 Carrier

Gemini 3 View

569462main_eagle_has_landed

Unsinkable

Launching of the first manned Gemini flight.

Tagged:C 124, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Cocoa Beach, Corned Beef, Crusader Iii, Dei, Ellington Air Force Base, Exploration, F 4, Gemini, Glv 3, Gordon Cooper, Gt 3, Gus Grissom, History, Houston, Intrepid, John Young, Liberty Bell 7, Ling Temco Vought, Mcdonnell, Mercury 7, Molly Brown, Nasa, Nebraska Wesleyan University In Lincoln, Oams, Oxidizer, Pregnant Guppy, Robert Gilruth, Sea Of Japan, Seco, Soviet, Space, Sputnik, St Louis, Thomas P Stafford, Uss Laws, Walter Schirra, William Schneider, Xf8u

Apr 17

Space Rocket History #59 – Ranger 8-9, and Intelsat I

Posted on April 17, 2014

In total Ranger 9 transmitted 5,814 good contrast photographs during the final 19 minutes of flight. The last image taken before impact had a resolution of 0.3 meters per pixel. The spacecraft encountered the lunar surface after 64.5 hours of flight....

Sea of Tranquillity on the Moon from 11 km, 5 seconds before impact

Rilles on the Floor of Alphonus Crater

ranger8launch

ranger

Ranger 9

INTELSAT_I_(Early_Bird)

First picture of the Moon taken by Ranger 8

Delta_D_Intelsat1

Tagged:Agena, Alphonus, Altair, Andover, Apollo 11, Atlas, Block 3, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Charles Cole, Communications Satellite Corporation, Comsat, Delta, Delta D, Delta C, Early Bird, Exploration, Gemini 6, History, Huges, Intelsat, Jpl, Moon, Nasa, Ranger 8, Ranger 9, Soviet, Space, Telemetry, Thor

Apr 24

Space Rocket History #60 – Gemini IV with James McDivitt and Edward White – Part 1

Posted on April 24, 2014

The success of Gus Grissom and John Young’s Gemini 3 flight paved the way for long duration space missions. The longest U.S. manned space flight to date was Gordon Cooper’s 34 hour Mercury flight. The Soviets, however, had four long duration flights ...

James_McDivitt_-_Gemini_4

Gemini 4

Gemini 4 Astronauts

Ed White

Gemini 4 astronauts

Tagged:Aerodynamics, Agena, Air Force Survival School, Anatomy And Physiology, Astronaut Group 2, Astronomy, Atlas, Bad Tolz Germany, C 124, C 131, C 135, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Cocoa Beach, Deke Slayton, Edward H White, Edward H White Ii, Edward Higgins White, Edwards Air Force Base, Eva, Exploration, F 100, F 100f, F 80, F 86, F 86 Sabre Jet, Flight Mechanics, Frank Borman, Gemini, Gemini 4, Gemini Iv, Gemini Project, Gemini Vi, Gemini Titan Iv, George Low, Glv 3, Glv 4, Gordon Cooper, Gpo, Guidance And Navigation, Gus Grissom, Hand Held Maneuvering Unit, History, Houston, Hugh Dryden, James A Mcdivitt, James Lovell, James Webb, John Glenn, John Young, Jr, Kleinknecht, Manned Space Center, Manned Spacecraft Operations, Mcdonnell, Mcguire Air Force Base, Mercury 7, Meteorology, Msc, Nasa, Robert Gilruth, Robert M White, Saturn, Seamans, Soviet, Space, St Louis, T 6 Trainer, Titan, Tyndall Air Force Base, U S Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School, Vacuum Chamber, Voskhod Ii, West Point, Wright Patterson, X 15

May 1

Space Rocket History #61 – Gemini IV with James McDivitt and Edward White – America’s First Spacewalk – Part 2

Posted on May 1, 2014

For the first time Television coverage of the launch had an international audience, as the scene was broadcast to 12 European nations via Intelsat 1 aka the Early Bird satellite of episode 59. Heightened by the prospect of an EVA and the first use of...

Spacewalk

Manned Maneuvering Unit

Gt4Patch

gemini-4

gemini-4_landing

Gemini_4_Outside_National_Air_and_Space_Museum

Gemini 4 recovery

Gemini 4 launch

Gemini 4 inside national air and space

Gemini -24 scale model

Ed white

G4 button

Tagged:Agena, Andre Meyer, Atlas, C 131, Capcom, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Charles A Berry, Early Bird, Edward H White, Edward H White Ii, Edward Higgins White, Eva, Exploration, Flight Mechanics, Frank Borman, Gemini, Gemini 4, Gemini Iv, Gemini Project, Gemini Vi, Gemini Titan Iv, George Low, Glv 3, Glv 4, Gordon Cooper, Gpo, Gus Grissom, Hand Held Maneuvering Unit, History, Houston, Intelsat, James A Mcdivitt, James Lovell, James Webb, John Glenn, John Young, Liberty Bell 7, Manned Space Center, Mcdonnell, Mercury Redstone 4, Msc, Nasa, Robert Gilruth, Rocket, Soviet, Space, Thermal Glove, Titan, West Point, Zip Gun

May 8

Space Rocket History #62 – Gemini IV with James McDivitt and Edward White – The Duration – Part 3

Posted on May 8, 2014

On orbit 48, after 75 hours of flight a problem arose. During a pass over the continental US the flight computer was updated. McDivitt was told to switch off the computer. He flipped the switch but the computer did not turn off. On the ground at miss...

Food packages of beef and gravy fully reconstituted and ready to eat. The water gun is used to reconstitute dehydrated food and the scissors are used to open the packages to eat

This package of spacefood, like the ones carried aboard Gemini missions, contains a complete meal combination, which consists of entree, vegetables and dessert. Additionally, it has a package of drink crystals

This meal includes a beef sandwich, strawberry cereal cubes, peaches, and beef and gravy. Astronauts used a water gun to reconstitute the food and scissors to open the package

Tagged:Agena, Apollo 8, Atlas, Blue Bag, Bungee Exerciser, Capcom, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Charles A Berry, Chis Kraft, Computer, Dehydrated, Edward H White, Edward H White Ii, Edward Higgins White, Exploration, First Freeze Dried Space Food, Fuel Cells, Gemini, Gemini 4, Gemini Iv, Gemini Project, Gemini Titan Iv, Gene Kranz, Germicidal, Glv 4, Gordon Cooper, Gpo, History, Houston, James A Mcdivitt, John Hodge, Lyndon Johnson, Manned Space Center, Mcdonnell, Mercury Redstone 4, Msc, Nasa, Proton Electron Spectrometer, Rehydrated, Robert Gilruth, Rocket, Soviet, Space, Synoptic Terrain, Synoptic Weather, Thermal Glove, Uss Wasp

May 15

Space Rocket History #63 – Gemini V with Gordon Cooper and Pete Conrad – 8 Days or Bust -Part 1

Posted on May 15, 2014

By this time the Astronauts were thinking about a nickname for their spacecraft, but NASA Headquarters now officially refused to allow nicknames for Gemini spacecraft. However, Gordo Cooper was not so easily put off. Pete Conrad’s father-in-law had w...

gordo recovery

Gemini5insignia

gemini5-surrounded-by-mcdonnell-works-during-checkout-240×310

Gemini5-splashdown

Gemini5-cockpit-pre-launch

gemini-v-crew

gemini-5-cape-kennedy-240×242

gemini-5-baja-california

Gemini-5_Gordon_Cooper_recovery

Gemini_5_Radar_Evaluation_Pod

Gemini_5_on_the_pad_19

Gemini_5_Fuel Cell

Dave Hint

Tagged:8 Days Or Bust, Agena, Atlas, Capcom, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Charles A Berry, Cherry Picker, Chis Kraft, Computer, Covered Wagon, Darrow, Dyslexia, Edward H White, Elliot See, Evaluation Pod, Exploration, Fail Safe, Franceses Conrad, Fuel Cells, Gemini, Gemini 4, Gemini Iv, Gemini Project, Gemini Titan Iv, Gene Kranz, Gordo, Gordon Cooper, Gpo, Gunter Wendt, Haverford, History, Houston, Ink Blot, James A Mcdivitt, James Webb, Lady Bird, Langley Research Center, Launch Pad Erector, Liberty Bell 7, Manned Space Center, Mcdonnell, Msc, Mueller, Nasa, Naval Air Station Patuxent, Naval Aviator, Neil Armstrong, Pete Conrad, Princeton, Robert Gilruth, Rocket, Rotc, Seamans, Space, The Little Rascal, William Schneider

May 22

Space Rocket History #64 – Gemini V with Gordon Cooper and Pete Conrad – 8 Days or Bust -Part 2

Posted on May 22, 2014

This was Flight Director Chris Kraft’s first major problem at the new Mission Control Center in Houston. He knew the spacecraft had enough battery power for reentry even if the fuel cells failed completely, but he needed to know if there would be ti...

Tagged:8 Days Or Bust, Agena, Atlas, Aurora 7, Buzz Aldrin, Bykovsky, Capcom, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Charles A Berry, Chis Kraft, Computer, Covered Wagon, Darrow, Deke Slayton, Ed White, Edward H White, Edwin Aldrin, Evaluation Pod, Exploration, Fail Safe, Faith 7, Franceses Conrad, Fuel Cells, Gagarin, Gemini, Gemini 1, Gemini 4, Gemini 5, Gemini Iv, Gemini Project, Gemini V, Gemini Vi, Gemini Titan Iv, Gene Kranz, Gordo, Gordon Cooper, Haverford, History, Hodge, Holloman Air Force Base, Houston, James A Mcdivitt, James Webb, Kranz, Leonov, Manned Orbiting Laboratory, Manned Space Center, Mcdonnell, Minuteman Missile, Mission Control Center, Msc, Nancy Conrad, Nasa, Oams, Orbital Attitude And Maneuvering System, Pete Conrad, Phantom Rendezvous, Princeton, Robert Gilruth, Rocket, Scott Carpenter, Space, Sputnik, Tereshkova, Voskhod 1

May 29

Space Rocket History #65 – Gemini VI & VII with Wally Schirra, Tom Stafford, Frank Borman, and Jim Lovell – Rendezvous – Part 1

Posted on May 29, 2014

“We have had a conversation with the Carnarvon tracking station and their report keeps coming back – No joy – No joy.” NASA Public Affairs Officer Paul Haney.

G6Patch

Gemini-Agena

gemini-agena

Gemini_6_prime_crew

Atlas-Agena_6_Launch

gemini_atv_6

Tagged:Aerodynamics Handbook For Performance Flight Testing, Agena, Agena 5002, Alan Shepard, Atlas, Buzz Aldrin, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Charles A Berry, Chis Kraft, Deke Slayton, Edwin Aldrin, Exploration, F 86d, Frank Borman, Gatv, Gemini, Gemini 4, Gemini 5, Gemini 6a, Gemini 7, Gemini Iv, Gemini Project, Gemini V, Gemini Vi, Gemini Via, Gemini Titan Iv, Gene Kranz, George Mueller, Gus Grissom, History, Hodge, Houston, James Webb, Jim Lovell, John Yardley, John Young, Kranz, Manned Space Center, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, Mcdonnell, Mercury Atlas 8, Mission Control Center, Msc, Nasa, No Joy, Paul Haney, Pilots Handbook For Performance Flight Testing, Rendezvous, Robert Gilruth, Rocket, Sigma 7, Sikorsky S 64 Skycrane, Space, Thomas J Omalley, Tom Stafford, U S Naval Academy, Wally Schirra, Walter Burke

Jun 5

Space Rocket History #66 – Gemini VI & VII with Wally Schirra, Tom Stafford, Frank Borman, and Jim Lovell – Rendezvous – Part 2

Posted on June 5, 2014

From the previous episode, it was decided that the name of Gemini VI would be changed to Gemini VI-a to distinguish it from the originally planned mission whose objective was to rendezvous with the Agena target vehicle. Gemini VII would be launched f...

GT7 Launch

gemini7patch

Lovell before the launch, in the special G5C space suit, which had a zippered hood with a visor instead of a solid helmet

Gemini_7_Crew_(Lovell_und_Borman)

Moon and clouds over the Western Pacific as seen from Gemini 7

Borman and lovell boarding

Tagged:Agena, Ben Funk, Capcom, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Charles A Berry, Chis Kraft, Crew Systems Division, David Clark Company, Debus, Deke Slayton, Ed White, Edwin Aldrin, Exploration, Frank Borman, Gatv, Gemini, Gemini 4, Gemini 5, Gemini 6a, Gemini 7, Gemini Iv, Gemini Project, Gemini V, Gemini Vi, Gemini Via, Gene Kranz, George Mueller, Glv 7, History, Houston, James A Mcdivitt, James Webb, Jim Lovell, John Young, Kenneth Kleinknecht, Kranz, Manned Space Center, Mcdonnel, Mcdonnell, Mission Control Center, Msc, Nasa, Paul Haney, Rendezvous, Robert Gilruth, Rocket, Space, Tom Stafford, Von Braun, Wally Schirra, Walter Burke

Jun 12

Space Rocket History #67 – Gemini VI & VII with Wally Schirra, Tom Stafford, Frank Borman, and Jim Lovell – Rendezvous – Part 3

Posted on June 12, 2014

From the previous episode, we have Gemini VII waiting in orbit for Gemini VI-A to launch and rendezvous. Remember, Gemini VII could only remain in orbit for 14 days, the maximum duration of its flight. The goal was to launch Gemini VI-A on or befor...

Gemini_VI_Launch_-_GPN-2000-000612

Gemini_7_in_orbit_-_GPN-2006-000035

Gemini_6_Views_Gemini_7

Gemini 6 harmonica

1200px-Gemini_6_launch_abort

Hint for G6

Gemini_VI_Stafford_capsule

Gemini 7 as seen by Gemini 6

Tagged:Aerojet, Aerojet General, Agena, Ben Funk, Capcom, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Charles A Berry, Chis Kraft, Crew Systems Division, David Clark Company, Debus, Exploration, Frank Borman, Gatv, Gemini, Gemini 4, Gemini 5, Gemini 6a, Gemini 7, Gemini Iv, Gemini Project, Gemini V, Gemini Vi, Gemini Via, Gene Kranz, George Mueller, Glv 7, Gunter Wendt, History, Houston, James A Mcdivitt, James Webb, Jim Lovell, John Albert, John Young, Kenneth Hecht, Kranz, M Equals 4, Manned Space Center, Martin, Martin Baker, Mcdonnel, Mcdonnell, Merritt Preston, Mission Control Center, Msc, Nasa, Rendezvous, Robert Gilruth, Rocket, Seamans, Space, Tom Stafford, Von Braun, W B Evans, Wally Schirra, Walter Burke

Jun 18

Space Rocket History #68 – Gemini VI & VII with Wally Schirra, Tom Stafford, Frank Borman, and Jim Lovell – Rendezvous – Part 4

Posted on June 18, 2014

The Gemini Program was conceived after it became evident to NASA officials that an intermediate step was required between Project Mercury and the Apollo Program. The major objectives assigned to Gemini were: 1-To subject two men and supporting equip...

G7 crew

GT on Wasp

Gemini 7 spacecraft on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Recovery of G7

Hellicopter over G6

GT7 on Wasp

G6&7 on Wasp

G7 Before Splashdown

G7 Arrive on Wasp

Tagged:Aerojet, Aerojet General, Agena, Canton Island, Capcom, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Charles A Berry, Chis Kraft, Crew Systems Division, Drums Along The Mohawk, Exploration, Formation, Frances Slaughter, Frank Borman, Gatv, Gemini, Gemini 4, Gemini 5, Gemini 6a, Gemini 7, Gemini Iv, Gemini Project, Gemini V, Gemini Vi, Gemini Via, Gemini Vii, Gene Kranz, George Mueller, Glv 7, Gunter Wendt, Harmonica, History, Houston, James A Mcdivitt, James Webb, Jim Lovell, Jingle Bells, John Albert, John Young, Jose Jimenez In Orbit, Kenneth Hecht, Kranz, Manned Space Center, Mark Twain, Martin, Mcdonnell, Merritt Preston, Michael Knapp, Mission Control Center, Msc, Nasa, Rendezvous, Retrorockets, Robert Gilruth, Rocket, Roughing It, Seamans, Space, Stationkeeping, Tom Stafford, Uss Wasp, Von Braun, Voskok 4, Vostok 3, Wally Schirra, Walter Edmonds

Apr 11

Space Rocket History #7 – Inter-service Rivalries

Posted on April 11, 2013

It’s important to understand that in the late 1940s within the United States there were three concurrent programs for military rocket development. This was due to continuing inter-service rivalry between the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

WAC_Corporal

Viking

v2Wac Corporal

First U.S.-designed Ballistic Missile

Aerobee

270px-Hermes_A-1_Test_Rockets_-_GPN-2000-000063

Tagged:A 1, Aerobee, Bumber Wac, Buzz Bomb, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Exploration, Goddard, Hermes, Icbm, Jb 1, Jb 2, Jb 4, Jb10, Mx 774, Nazi, Oberth, Operation Pushover, Operation Sandy, Overcast, Paperclip, Peenemunde, Rocket, Russia, Soviet, Space, Toftoy, V 2, V1, V2, Vengeance, Viking, Von Braun, Wac, Wac Corporal, Wasserfall, Weapons, Werner, White Sands

Jul 17

Space Rocket History #71 – Agena vs. the Augmented Target Docking Adapter, with Some EVA Equipment on the Side

Posted on July 17, 2014

Many doubted that Agena could be ready in time to meet Gemini’s tight launch schedules. The end of 1965 saw Agena’s usefulness in manned space flight once again called into question, but this time time a substitute target had already been approved fo...

gemini_atv_8

Gemini Augmented Target Docking Adapter during pre-flight checkout

gemagena

agenhgre

800px-S66-25781_PR

facebook hint

Tagged:Abbott, Aerojet, Agena, Amu, Apollo, Atda, Augmented Target Docking Adapter, Bell Aerosystems, Canton Island, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Chis Kraft, Crew Systems Division, Ed White, Elss, Esp, Exploration, Extravehicular Life Support System, Extravehicular Support Package, Gatv, Gemini, Gemini 4, Gemini 5, Gemini 6a, Gemini 7, Gemini Iv, Gemini Project, Gemini V, Gemini Vi, Gemini Via, Gemini Vii, Gemini Viii, Gene Kranz, General Ben Funk, General Bernard Schriever, George Mueller, History, Horace Whitacre, Houston, Hudson, James Webb, Jerome Hammack, Jingle Bells, Lawrence Smith, Manned Space Center, Martin, Mcdonnell, Mercury, Mission Control Center, Msc, Nasa, Noeggerath, Rendezvous, Ritland, Robert Gilruth, Rocket, Roughing It, Seamans, Space, Super Tiger, Yardley

Jul 24

Space Rocket History #72 – Gemini VIII with Neil Armstrong and Dave Scott – Part 1

Posted on July 24, 2014

On September 20th 1965, NASA named the crew for Gemini VIII. The command pilot selected was Neil Armstrong, a civilian test pilot with much experience in the X-15 rocket research aircraft program. David Scott was selected as pilot. Scott was the fir...

Niel and David

Neil_Armstrong_in_Gemini_G-2C_training_suit

neil_armstrong_david_scott

Neil_Armstrong_1956_portrait

gemini8 at air and space museum Wapkoneta ohio

Gemini-VIII-flight-crew-SCOTT-David-R.-and-ARMSTRONG-Neil-A.

GEMINI-TITAN-8_-_PRELAUNCH_ACTIVITY

gemini_atv_8

gemini_8

Gemini 8 water egress test

F9F-2_Panthers_VF-51_over_Korea_1951 with Armstrong piloting

David Scott

Gemini-VIII-flight-crew-SCOTT-David-R.-and-ARMSTRONG-Neil-A.

Tagged:Aerojet, Agena, Aileron, Apollo, Auglaize, B 29, B 47, Bell X 1b, Bill Dana, Boy Scouts, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Chis Kraft, Chuck Yeager, Crew Systems Division, D 588 2, Eagle Scout, Eva, Exploration, F 101, F 106, F104, F9f, Ford Trimotor, Gatv, Gemini, Gemini 4, Gemini 5, Gemini 6a, Gemini 7, Gemini Iv, Gemini Project, Gemini V, Gemini Vi, Gemini Via, Gemini Vii, Gene Kranz, George Mueller, German, History, Holloway Plan, Houston, Irish, James Webb, Jim Lovell, John Hodge, Kc 135, Kranz, Life Scout, Man In Space Soonest, Manned Space Center, Martin, Mcdonnell, Merritt Preston, Michael Knapp, Milt Thompson, Mission Control Center, Mit, Msc, Nasa, Purdue, Rendezvous, Retrorockets, Robert Gilruth, Rocket, Scottish, Seamans, Soesterberg, Space, Stationkeeping, T 33, Tin Goose, University Of Michigan, Uss Cabot, Uss Essex, Wapakoneta, Webb Air Force Base, West Point, X 15, X 20 Dyna Soar, X 5

Jul 30

Space Rocket History #73 – Gemini VIII with Neil Armstrong and Dave Scott – Part 2

Posted on July 30, 2014

This was the most complex mission attempted to date. The primary mission objectives were to perform rendezvous and four docking tests with the Gemini Agena Target Vehicle (GATV) and to execute an ExtraVehicular Activity (EVA)…

gatv_diagram_labelled

Agena view from G8

640px-Gemini_8_during_rescue

Gemini_8_launch

Gemini_8_docking with agena

Gemini_8_Atlas-Agena_launch

Tagged:Agena, Apollo, Baha, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Carnarvon, Chis Kraft, Dave Scott, Edwards Air Force, Eva, Exploration, Gatv, Gemini, Gemini 4, Gemini 5, Gemini 6a, Gemini 7, Gemini 8, Gemini Iv, Gemini Project, Gemini V, Gemini Vi, Gemini Via, Gemini Vii, Gemini Viii, Gene Kranz, Guenter Wendt, Hawaii, History, Houston, James Webb, Jim Lovell, John Hodge, Karnai, Kranz, Martin, Maui, Mcdonnell, Mission Control Center, Molokai, Msc, Nasa, Neil Armstrong, Oahu, Pete Conrad, Rendezvous, Retrorockets, Robert Gilruth, Rocket, Seamans, Space, Stationkeeping, T 33, Tananarive, Tom Stafford, Walter Schirra, Westinghouse, X 15

Aug 7

Space Rocket History #74 – Gemini VIII with Neil Armstrong and Dave Scott – Part 3

Posted on August 7, 2014

Armstrong eased Gemini VIII toward the target at a barely perceptible speed of 8 centimeters per second. Then Armstrong gleefully reported, “Flight, we are docked!” For a brief moment, the flight controllers in Houston did not realize they had really...

G8 Ohio A&

gemini8 at air and space museum Wapkoneta ohio

G8

Tagged:Agena, Apollo, Capcom, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Carnarvon, Chis Kraft, Coastal Sentry Quebec, Csq, Dave Scott, Docking, Eva, Exploration, Gatv, Gemini 8, Gemini Project, Gene Kranz, Goddard, Gulfstream, Harold W Nolan, Hawaii, Hc 54, History, Houston, Hubert H Humphrey, James Webb, Jim Lovell, John Hodge, Kranz, Leonard F Mason, Martin, Mcdonnell, Melvin F Brooks, Mission Control Center, Msc, Mueller, Naha, Nasa, Neil Armstrong, Nuclear Emulsions, Oams, Okinawa, Rendezvous, Rescuemasters, Retrorockets, Robert Gilruth, Rocket, Rose Knot Victor, Seamans, Space, Spectrophotography, Stationkeeping, Synoptic Terrain Photography, Tachikawa, Tananarive, Thruster, Tom Stafford, Walter Schirra, Westinghouse, Zodiacal Light Photography

Apr 18

Space Rocket History #8 – Redstone

Posted on April 18, 2013

By the late 1940’s, it became obvious that Army ballistic missile research activities required more room than what was available at Fort Bliss, Texas. After a long and through search the decision was made to move to the Redstone arsenal at Huntsville...

Jupiter_c_pad

Viking

Loki-dart_display

First_Redstone_Rocket_Firing

105655main_10a

Tagged:Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Exploration, Goddard, Hermes, History, Huntsville, Icbm, Korolev, Loki, Peenemunde, Redstone, Rocket, Russia, Soviet, Space, Viking, Von Braun, White Sands

Jun 24

Space Rocket History an Encore Presentation of Episode #25 – Mercury Redstone 3 – Freedom 7 with Alan Shepard

Posted on June 24, 2015

Over 52 years ago, in the early hours of May 5th, 1961 the US prepared to launch its first man into space. Three weeks earlier, the Soviet Union had sent Yuri Gagarin on an orbital mission. This was a suborbital mission planed to last only 15 minutes...

Tagged:Alan Shepard, Atlas, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Deke Slayton, Distinguished Service Medal, Dryden, Electrocardiograph, Exploration, Explorer 1, Freedom 7, Gagarin, Gilruth, Goddard Space Flight Center, Gordon Cooper, Gus, Hangar S, History, Huntsville, Inverter, James Webb, Joe Schmitt, John Glenn, Liquid Oxygen, Lyndon, Mercury, Mercury 7, Mercury Redstone 3, Nasa, President Kennedy, Project Adam, Respirometer, Soviet, Space, Space Task Force, Umbilical Cable, Vice President Johnson, Virgil Grissom, Von Braun, Wally Schirra, Werner, Why Dont You Fix Your Little Problem And Light This Candle

Sep 24

Space Rocket History an Encore Presentation of Episode #27 – Mercury-Redstone 4 – Liberty Bell 7 with Gus Grissom

Posted on September 24, 2015

Mercury-Redstone 4 was the fourth mission in the Mercury-Redstone series and the second U.S. manned suborbital spaceflight. The mission was essentially a repeat of Alan Shepard’s Freedom 7 flight. So why was it necessary to launch another sub-orbit...

Tagged:Alan Shepard, Atlas, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Deke Slayton, Distinguished Service Medal, Dryden, Electrocardiograph, Exploration, Explorer 1, Freedom 7, Gagarin, Gilruth, Goddard Space Flight Center, Gordon Cooper, Gus, Hangar S, History, Huntsville, Inverter, James Webb, Joe Schmitt, John Glenn, Liquid Oxygen, Lyndon, Mercury, Mercury 7, Mercury Redstone 3, Nasa, President Kennedy, Project Adam, Respirometer, Soviet, Space, Space Task Force, Umbilical Cable, Vice President Johnson, Virgil Grissom, Von Braun, Wally Schirra, Werner, Why Dont You Fix Your Little Problem And Light This Candle

Apr 20

Space Rocket History An Encore Presentation of Episode #35 – Textbook Spaceflight – Mercury-Atlas 8, Sigmac 7 with Wally Schirra

Posted on April 20, 2016

After Scott Carpenter’s science heavy Mercury-Atlas 7 flight, Nasa’s next mission would concentrate on the technical and engineering aspects of space travel. Mercury Atlas 8 became the third manned orbital flight of the Mercury program. The pilot se...

Tagged:Apollo, Atlas, Australia, Brisbane, Canary Islands, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Christopher Kraft, Deke Slayton, Echo 1, Ecuador, Fireflies, Gyroscopes, History, Hypergolic Fuel Igniter, Indian Ocean, John Glenn, Kennedy, Liberty Bell 7, Mercury, Mercury 7, Mercury Atlas 7, Mesico, Muchea, Nasa, Naval Academy At Annapolis, Philippines, Port Elizabeth, Quito, Retrorocket, Rocket, Seventh Fleet, Sigma 7, South America, Spacecraft, Spaceflight, Telstar, Turtle Club, Uss Kearsarg, Wally, Walter Schirra, Weightlessness

Episodes Tagged with "Cape Canaveral"