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Episodes Tagged with "Cape Kennedy"

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
Feb 12

Space Rocket History #100 – Apollo: Preliminary Design

Posted on February 12, 2015

In January 1960, President Eisenhower directed NASA Administrator Glennan to accelerate the Super Booster Program that had recently been assigned to NASA. This order ensured the transfer of the von Braun group from the Army Ballistic Missile Agency t...

Using a model at upper left, William Rector of General Dynamics Corp. describes the design his company proposed for the Apollo lunar mission

Spacecraft modules in this drawing were identified in the Space Task Group’s request for proposals from contractors for developing and producing the command module

Saturn 1 test

Saturn 1 test 2

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At lower left, E. E. Clark and Carlos de Moraes of the Martin Company display three of a dozen command module configurations considered before the choice of the one to the right

ASA’s second Administrator, James E. Webb (at center above), and George M. Low (right above) of NASA Headquarters receive a model of General Electric’s proposed vehicle

Tagged:A Plan For Manned Lunar Landing, Abbott, Alan Shepard, Apollo, Avco, C 2 Saturn, Cape Kennedy, Charles Houbolt, Circumlunar, Congress, Convair, Docking, Dolan, Donlan, Eisenhower, Eldon Hall, Exploration, Faget, Feasibility Studies, Gagarin, Gemini Project, General Electric, George Low, Gilruth, Glennan, Goett, History, Houston, Hugh Dryden, J R Clark, James Killian, James Webb, Jerome Wiesner, Jfk, John Disher, John Lee, Jpl, Kennedy, Kieth Glennan, Langley, Lbj, Lovelace Foundation, Low, Lunar, Lunar Module, Lyndon Johnson, Manned Lunar Landing Task Group, Manned Spacecraft Center, Markley, Marshall Space Flight Center, Martin, Mercury, Moon, Nasa, Nova, Oran Nicks, Ostrandersiepert, Pickering, Piland, Project Apollo, Rendezvous, Richard S Johnston, Robert Chilton, Rocket, Saturn, Seamans, Silverstein, Soviet, Space, Space Task Group, Sputnik, Stanley White, Strass, Von Braun, Vought Astronautics, Webb, William Petynia
Feb 19

Space Rocket History #101 – Apollo: Preliminary Design Part 2 – Mode, Command Module, and Astronavigation.

Posted on February 19, 2015

In May 1961, NASA was not really prepared to direct an enormous Apollo program designed to fly its spacecraft to the moon. New and special facilities would be needed and the aerospace industry would have to be marshaled to develop vehicles not easily...

David G. Hoag, technical design director at the laboratory, examines the inertial measuring unit that would measure changes in Apollo spacecraft velocity when propulsion systems were fired

MIT Instrumentation Laboratory Director C. Stark Draper inspects a mockup of the Apollo guidance and control system in the September 1963

astronaut positions

Tagged:Apollo, Avco, C 2 Saturn, Cape Kennedy, Charles Houbolt, Circumlunar, Congress, Convair, Docking, Dolan, Donlan, Eisenhower, Eldon Hall, Exploration, Faget, Feasibility Studies, General Electric, George Low, Gilruth, Glennan, Goett, History, Houston, Hugh Dryden, J R Clark, James Killian, James Webb, Jerome Wiesner, Jfk, John Disher, John Lee, Jpl, Kennedy, Kieth Glennan, Langley, Lbj, Lovelace Foundation, Low, Lunar, Lunar Module, Lyndon Johnson, Manned Lunar Landing Task Group, Manned Spacecraft Center, Markley, Marshall Space Flight Center, Martin, Mercury, Moon, Nasa, Nova, Oran Nicks, Ostrandersiepert, Pickering, Piland, Project Apollo, Rendezvous, Richard S Johnston, Robert Chilton, Rocket, Saturn, Seamans, Silverstein, Soviet, Space, Space Task Group, Sputnik, Stanley White, Strass, Von Braun, Webb
Feb 26

Space Rocket History #102 – Apollo: Preliminary Design Part 3 – Command Module Contract, Mode, and Launch Vehicles

Posted on February 26, 2015

Max Faget thought the first stage of the moon rocket should use four solid-fueled engines, 6.6 meters in diameter.  He reasoned these could certainly accomplish whatever mission was required of either the Saturn or Nova, and it would be more cost eff...

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Earth Orbit Rendezvous

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Tagged:Albert Clagett, Apollo, C 2 Saturn, C 4, Cape Kennedy, Charles Houbolt, Charles Mattews, Circumlunar, Congress, Dave Lang, Docking, Eor, Exploration, F 100, F 86, Faget, Feasibility Studies, Fleming, General Electric, George Low, Gilruth, Glennan, Goett, Golovin, Heinrich Weigand, History, Hjornevik, Hound Dog, Hugh Dryden, James Chamberlin, James Webb, Jerome Wiesner, Jfk, John Rubel, Jpl, Kavanau, Kennedy, Kieth Glennan, Kleinknecht, Koppenhaver, Langley, Lbj, Lor, Lovelace Foundation, Low, Lunar, Lunar Module, Lundin, Lyndon Johnson, Marshall Space Flight Center, Martin, Martin Company, Matthew Collins, Mcdonnell, Moon, Nasa, Navajo, North American Aviation, Nova, Oswald Lange, Piland, Project Apollo, Rendezvous, Robert Mcnamara, Robert Seamans, Rocket, Saturn, Saturn C 3, Seamans, Soviet, Space, Space Task Group, Sputnik, Von Braun, X 15
Mar 5

Space Rocket History #103 – Saturn Development 1957 – 1960

Posted on March 5, 2015

Many historians agree, the U.S. took its first step toward the moon in the spring of 1957, four years before President Kennedy declared the national goal of landing a man on the Moon, and returning him safely to the Earth. While still preparing for t...

12-Second stage (S-IV)

11-Booster stage (S-I)

10-Proposed C-2

9-C-1 and earlier vehicles

8-Model of blockhouse at Launch Complex 34

7-Vehicles using Titan and Atlas stages

6-Saturn C

5-Saturn B

4-Preliminary concept of Launch Complex 34, Cape Canaveral

3-Early H-1 Engine

2-Thor-Jupiter engine

1-Proposed configuration of a clustered booster

Tagged:Abma, Air Force, Alabama, Apollo, Army Ballistic Missile Agency, Army Ordnance Missile Command, Arpa, Atlantic Missile Range, C 2 Saturn, C 4, Cape Kennedy, Centaur, Charles Wilson, Circumlunar, Congress, Dx, Eisenhower, Exploration, Explorer 1, F 1, F 86, Gilruth, Glennan, Golovin, H 1, Herbert York, History, Hugh Dryden, Huntsville, James Webb, Jfk, Jpl, Jupiter, Kennedy, Kerosene, Kieth Glennan, Kurt Debus, Launch Complex 34, Lox, Lr 119, Lunar, Lunar Module, Lyndon Johnson, Marshall Space Flight Center, Medaris, Missile Firing Laboratory, Moon, Nasa, North American Aviation, Nova, Prat Whitney, Project Apollo, Rendezvous, Rocket, Rocketdyne, Roy Johnson, Rp 1, S 3d, S I, S Iv, S V, Saturn, Saturn C 3, Saturn I, Saturn Ib, Saturn V, Soviet, Space, Sputnik, Tennessee River, Thor, Titan C, Von Braun
Mar 12

Space Rocket History #104 – Saturn’s First Flight – SA-1 – Part 1

Posted on March 12, 2015

Just as launch complex 34 dwarfed its predecessors, Saturn’s checkout represented a new magnitude in launch operations. The Saturn C-1 stood three times higher, required six times more fuel, and produced ten times more thrust than the Jupiter. Its si...

Lifting the first stage from the transporter

Hoisting the stage in vertical attitude

Erecting the upper stages

Early design concepts of C-1 and C-5 versions of the Saturn launch vehicles

16-Unloading Compromise in Florida

15-S-I and S-IV stages aboard the Compromise

14-Booster movement around Wheeler Dam

11-Launch Complex 34

10-Configurations of Saturn flight vehicles

9-Saturn Barge route

7-Six-engine configuration of the S-IV stage

6-Redesigned tail of the Saturn booster

5- The barge Palaemon

3-First horizontal mating of the Saturn vehicle

2-Movement of dummy S-IV stage to checkout

Tagged:Alabama, Albert Zeiler, Apollo, Arpa, Atlantic Missile Range, Block I, Block Ii, Braunschweig, C 2 Saturn, C 4, Cape Kennedy, Centaur, Circumlunar, Compromise, Corps Of Engineers, Crunk, Dyna Soar, Exploration, Explorer 1, F 1, Fort Bliss, Grady Williams, Green Cove Springs, H 1, Hans Gruene, History, Hugh Dryden, Huntsville, Intracoastal Waterway, J 2, Jupiter, Karl Sendler, Kennedy, Kerosene, Kurt Debus, Launch Complex 34, Lox, Lr 119, Lunar, Lunar Module, M 26, Marshall Space Flight Center, Mercury Redstone, Milton Rosen, Missile Firing Laboratory, Missle Firing Labatory, Moon, Nasa, Nova, Palaemon, Peenemunde, Pershing, Project Apollo, Ranger, Rendezvous, Robert Gorman, Robert Moser, Rocket, Rp 1, S I, S Iv, S V, Sa 1, Saturn, Saturn C 3, Saturn I, Saturn Ib, Saturn V, Sendler, Soviet, Space, Tennessee River, Titan C, Von Braun, Wheeler Dam, White Sands
Mar 18

Space Rocket History #105 – Saturn’s First Flight – SA-1 – Part 2

Posted on March 18, 2015

No previous maiden launch had gone flawlessly, and the Saturn C-1 was considerably more complicated than any rocket launched thus far. Launch Operations Directorate officials gave the rocket a 75% chance of getting off the ground, and a 30% chance of...

To assemble the large Saturns, NASA needed a plant, preferably one already built. The Michoud facility (above), close to New Orleans, suited the requirements

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Modules of the Apollo spacecraft were tested in Florida in the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building. Above, NASA officials Walt Williams, Merritt Preston, Kurt Debus, Brainerd Holmes, and Wernher von Braun

Maiden launch of the Apollo program- Saturn SA-1 from Cape Canaveral, 27 October 1961

First Saturn Launch

Liftoff of Saturn I. Note the long cable mast falling away on the right

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Abe Silverstein, NASA’s Director of Space Flight Development, is shown touring a rocket engine facility

1-Launch Complex 34, blockhouse interior

Tagged:Alabama, Albert Zeiler, Ames Research Center, Andrew Pickett, Apollo, Atlantic Missile Range, Block I, Block Ii, C 2 Saturn, C 4, Cape Kennedy, Centaur, Circumlunar, Compromise, Congressman Albert W Thomas, Corps Of Engineers, Crunk, Daniel Mcmath, Dyna Soar, Exploration, Explorer 1, F 1, Fort Bliss, Gainsville, General W K Wilson, H 1, History, Houston, Hugh Dryden, Huntsville, Intracoastal Waterway, J 2, Jim White, John Parsons, Jupiter, Karl Sendler, Kennedy, Kerosene, Kurt Debus, Launch Complex 34, Launch Operations Directorate, Lc 37, Lox, Lr 119, Lunar, Lunar Module, M 26, Marshall Space Flight Center, Mercury Redstone, Merritt Island, Michoud, Milton Rosen, Missile Firing Laboratory, Missile Systems Group, Missle Firing Labatory, Moon, Multiplexer, Nasa, Nova, Palaemon, Paul Dembling, Pearl River, Peenemunde, Pershing, Project Apollo, Ralph Ulmer, Ranger, Redstone Arsenal, Rendezvous, Robert Gorman, Robert Moser, Rocket, Rp 1, S 1, S I, S Iv, S V, Sa 1, Saturn, Saturn C 3, Saturn I, Saturn Ib, Saturn V, Sendler, Soviet, Space, Tennessee River, Titan C, Vice President Johnson, Von Braun, Xo 4b, Xo 6b
Mar 26

Space Rocket History #106 – Apollo: The Mode Decision – Part 1

Posted on March 26, 2015

The mode that Apollo would use to land on the moon was the most studied, analyzed, and debated decision made for the lunar landing program.  There were four main choices Direct-ascent, Earth-Orbit Rendezvous, Lunar-Orbit Rendezvous, and Lunar Surface...

two landing techniques proposed for the direct ascent mode

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proposed lunar-surface-rendezvous procedure, a propellant-transfer vehicle takes fuel from the tanker to a manned space vehicle. After loading the fuel, the two astronauts would fire the engine of their spacecraft to return to the earth

Major configuration changes in the Apollo spacecraft from May 1960 to July 1962

Early design concepts of C-1 and C-5 versions of the Saturn launch vehicles

A ferry that would leave a command ship in orbit around the moon, visit the lunar surface, and then return to the command ship for the voyage back to the earth

Tagged:Abe Silverstein, Abma, Apollo, Arthur Bogeley, Astraco, Bell Aerosystems, C 2 Saturn, Cape Kennedy, Charles Houbolt, Charles Mattews, Clinton Brown, Congress, Direct Ascent, Docking, Dolan, Donald Heaton, E J Daniels, Earth0orbit, Eldon Hall, Eor, Exploration, Faget, Fleming, Gilruth, Glennan, Golovin, History, Hugh Dryden, Huntsville, Institute Of Aerospace Sciences, J R Clark, James Webb, Jfk, John Bird, John Cord, John Rubel, Jpl, Juno V, Kavanau, Kennedy, Kieth Glennan, Koppenhaver, Kurbjun, Kurt Strass, Langley, Leonard Seale, Lor, Lunar, Lunar Module, Lunar Orbit, Lundin, Lunex, Marshall Space Flight Center, Max Faget, Mode, Moon, Nasa, Nova, Owen Maynard, Paul Purser, Project Apollo, Rendezvous, Robert Oneal, Robert Seamans, Rocket, Saturn, Saturn C 3, Seamans, Soviet, Space, Space Task Group, Von Braun, William Fleming, William Michael, William Pickering
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 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...

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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.

apollo-1-disassembly

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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1-Apollo1 Inve

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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Apollo1plaque

Apollo_1_Silver-Colored_Fliteline_Medallion_(Flown_on_Apollo_9)

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 ...

Vanguard_1

Vanguard_rocket

Pioneer_I_on_the_Launch_Pad_-_GPN-2002-000204

Pioneer_1

Pioneer Satellite Replica

753px-Pioneer_3

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
Feb 4

Space Rocket History #147 – Saturn: S-II Stage Part 2: Trials and Tribulations

Posted on February 4, 2016

“The S-II stage was a nightmare the minute it was conceived, and it only got worse from there. During the course of its creation, it would grind up people and careers the way the transcontinental railway devoured laborers.  Though the methods and mat...

5-Test firing of a Saturn V second stage rocket S-II

6-s-ii-subassemblies

4-S-II_Inboard_1963

3-The S-II stage during stacking operations of Apollo 6 in the VAB

2-S-2 assembly building in Seal Beach, CA

1=7s-ii-cut-away-w-callouts

1=6s-ii-subassemblies-sm

1-Saturn_V_second_stage

Tagged:2014 T6, 1929, 1930, 1931, Apollo 1, Apollo 4, Arthur Rudolph, As 501, Bill Bergen, Black Saturdays, California, Cape Kennedy, Colonel Sam Yarchin, Common Bulkhead, Cryogenic, Debus, Eberhard Rees, General Edmund F L Oconnor, General Oconnor, General Samuel C Phillips, George Loss, George Mueller, Gores, Harrison Storms, History, Honeycomb, Huntsville, J 2, Jerome Weisner, Joe Shea, Lee Atwood, Lh2, Liquid Hydrogen, Liquid Oxygen, Lox, Marshall Space Flight Center, Mississippi Test Facility, Msfc, Mtf, Naa, Nasa, Navy, North American Avaiation, Oxider, Paul Vogt, Phillips Report, Presidents Scientific Advisory Committee, Psac, Ralph H Ruud, Robert Gilruth, Robert Greer, Rocket, S Ic, S Ii, S Ii 1, S Ii D, S Ii F, S Ii S, S Ii T, S Ivb, Saturn, Saturn V, Seal Beach, Space, Stormy, Tiger Team, Weld, Wernher Von Braun
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...

442px-Echo_1_Communications_Satellite_(flight_spare)_-_Udvar-Hazy_Center

photo1

Tiros1Launch

Echo-1

tiros_clip_image002_0002

tiros_clip_image002_0001

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
Jul 18

Space Rocket History #21 – Cry Havoc and Launch the Dogs of Vostok!

Posted on July 18, 2013

For the Soviet Union, 1960 was a mixed bag of success and failure as it struggled for new achievements in space exploration.  The main driving force was to be the first nation to launch a man into space.  An achievement their adversary, the United St...

strelwpups

KS1

Vostokdogscapsule

vostok-1k__1

Vostok_spacecraft_diagram

vostok_flight_plan

vostok on test stand at factory

tvofdogsx

sacard

Korabl_Sputnik_2

Ejection container used by Belka and Strelka

796px-Vostok_spacecraft with 3rd stage attached

400px-Vostok

3d02162v

Tagged:8k72l, Belka, Bondarenko, Cape Kennedy, Chernushka, Exploration, Gagarin, History, Ivan, Ivanovich, Jaqueline Kennedy, John F Kennedy, Kazakhstan, Khrushchev, Kometa, Korabl Spunitk 1, Korabl Sputnik 2, Korabl Sputnik 4, Korabl Sputnik 5, Korolev, Lost Cosmonauts, Mushka, Nedelin, Orsk, Pchyolka, R 7, R7, Rocket, Russia, Shutka, Soviet, Space, Sputnik, Sputnik 4, Sputnik 5, Strelka, Vostok, Vostok 1k 1, Vostok 3ka, Zvezdochka
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...

WhiteRoom

tumblr_ma6ui4M49C1r6kbseo1_500

The_Celebration_for_Freedom_7_at_Huntsville,_Alabama_

SurvivalEquipment

shepard_freedom7_big

mercurycontrolPanel

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mercury7

mercury5

mercury3

kennedy-awarding-medal-to-astronaut-shepard

Kennedy,_Johnson,_and_others_watching_flight_of_Astronaut_Shepard_on_television,_05_May_1961

freedom7redstone

Freedom_7_Diagram

Freedom_7_Diagram – Copy

Untitled

Astronaut_Alan_Shepard_1961 – Copy

Alan_Shepard_pouso – Copy

Alan_Shepard_in_Mercury_flight_suit – Copy

800px-Mr3-flight-timeline – Copy

448px-Shepard_in_Space_Suit_MSFC-6417073 – Copy

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 ...

mime-attachment2

1658

413px-John_F._Kennedy_speaks_at_Rice_University

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
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...

Enos-MA-5a

t189

space rocket history pic18

Mercury-Atlas_5_display

Atlas_D_with_Mercury-Atlas_5_(Nov._29_1961)

163088main_unmanned-collage

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....

space rocket history pic21

Mercury-Atlas_6_Earth_photo

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 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

018

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
Jan 30

Space Rocket History #48 – Gemini Design – 1961

Posted on January 30, 2014

“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 operating principle of the fuel cell designed by General Electric, adopted for use in the Gemini spacecraft

modified Titan II booster

Gemini spacecraft to be released publicly

Adapter Section of Mark II

Four stages in a rendezvous mission as conceived early in 1962

An artist’s version of the use of ejection seats to escape from the Gemini spacecraft

fig8 proposed lunar lander to be used with an advanced version of the Mercury spacecraft

Tagged:Adapter Ring, Agena, Apollo, Atlas Agena B, Cape Kennedy, Ejection Seat, Escape Tower, Eva, Exploration, Extravehicular Activity, Gemini, Goddard, History, Hypergolic, James Chamberlin, James Decker, Lunar, Manned Spacecraft Center, Mark Ii, Martin Company, Mcdonnell, Mercury, Modularization, Nasa, Paraglider, President Kennedy, Robert Gilruth, Rocket, Saturn C 3, Space, Space Task Group, Stg, Titan, Titan Ii
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
Sep 4

Space Rocket History #78 – Gemini IX-A with Tom Stafford and Gene Cernan – Part 2 – Rendevouz

Posted on September 4, 2014

As contractors worried about technical problems with the Atlas, Once again NASA, faced the necessity for a quick recovery plan when a target vehicle failed to reach orbit. You may recall the first time was with Gemini 6.  But this time Nasa had somet...

AugmentTargetDockingAdapter

tom Stafford in orbit

hint for facebook

Tagged:Agena, Amu, Angry Alligator, Apollo, Atlas, Augment Target Docking Adapter, Cape Kennedy, Carnarvon, Charles Mathews, Clifford Charlesworth, Colonel Daniel Mckee, Dave Scott, Docking, Elliot See, Equiperiod, Eva, Exploration, Frank Borman, Gatv, Gemini 10, Gemini 5, Gemini 6, Gemini 8, Gemini 9, Gemini 9a, Gemini Ix, Gemini Ix A, Gemini Ixa, Gemini Project, Gemini Project Office, Gemini V, Gemini Vi, Gemini Viii, Gemini X, Gene Cernan, Gene Kranz, General Dynamics, George Mueller, George Towner, Gpo, History, Houston, Ivar, Jim Lovell, John Hudson, Mcdonnell, Melbourne, Merritt Preston, Mission Control Center, Msc, Nasa, Neil Armstrong, Rendezvous, Richard Keehn, Rocket, Sahara Desert, Scott Simpkinson, Space, Tananarive, Thruster, Tom Stafford, Warren J North, Westinghouse, William Schneider
Sep 11

Space Rocket History #79 – Gemini IX-A with Tom Stafford and Gene Cernan – Part 3 – EVA

Posted on September 11, 2014

We left off last week with Tom Stafford and Gene Cernan completing three rendezvous with the ATDA but, no docking because the shroud was still in place on the Docking Adapter. On June 5, 1966 at 5:30 a.m., nearly 45 hours and 30 minutes into the miss...

Gemini 9 splashes down at 9-00 A.M., June 6, 1966. The day of the EVA was also their last in space

gemini9_crew_a

Gem9down-S66-34118

eugene_cernan

cernan_gt9_eva

Tagged:Amu, Angry Alligator, Apollo, Augment Target Docking Adapter, Cape Kennedy, Docking, Eva, Exploration, Gatv, Gemini 10, Gemini 5, Gemini 6, Gemini 8, Gemini 9, Gemini 9a, Gemini Ix, Gemini Ix A, Gemini Ixa, Gemini Project, Gemini Project Office, Gemini V, Gemini Vi, Gemini Viii, Gemini X, Gene Cernan, Gene Kranz, Gpo, History, Houston, Ivar, Jim Lovell, Mcdonnell, Mission Control Center, Msc, Nasa, Neil Armstrong, Rendezvous, Rocket, Space, Tom Stafford
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
Sep 18

Space Rocket History #80 – Gemini X with John Young and Mike Collins – Part 1

Posted on September 18, 2014

Deputy Administrator Seamans wanted a mission review board created to study: (1) Corrective measures for the Atlas-Agena failure (2) The guidance update problem that delayed the launch two days (3) The shroud incident (4) The suit environmental c...

KSC-66P-0323

KSC-66P-0317

gemini-10-astronaunt-michael-collins-pilot-for-nasa

Gemini 9 astronauts Gene Cernan and Tom Stafford brief Gemini 10 astronauts John Young and Mike Collins. And….how about that nice ATDA model in full gator

640px-Gemini10crew

Tagged:Agena, Alan Bean, Alexandria, Amu, Angry Alligator, Apollo, Brooks Air Force Base, Buzz Aldrin, Cape Kennedy, Charles Bassett, Chaumont, Clifton Williams, Colorado Springs, Columbus Air Force Base, David Scott, Deke Slayton, Docking, Ed White, Edward Givens, Edwards Air Force Base, Elliot See, Episcopalian, Eva, Exploration, F 104, F 86, Frank Borman, Gatv, Gemini 10, Gemini 4, Gemini 5, Gemini 6, Gemini 8, Gemini 9, Gemini 9a, Gemini Ix, Gemini Ix A, Gemini Ixa, Gemini Project, Gemini Project Office, Gemini V, Gemini Vi, Gemini Viii, Gemini X, George Air Force Base, Governors Island, Gpo, History, Houston, Hungarian Revolution, James Lawton Collins, Jim Irwin, Jim Lovell, Joe Engle, Joesph Collins, John Glenn, John Young, Kate Collins, Lunney, Mcdonnell, Mercury Atlas 6, Mike Collins, Mission Control Center, Msc, Mueller, Nasa, Nato, Nellis, New York, Norad, Patricia Finnegan, Protestantism, Puerto Rico, Rendezvous, Rocket, Roman Catholic, Rome, San Antonio, Seamans, Space, St Albans, T 6, Tom Stafford, Usaf Aerospace Research, Washington D C, West Germany, West Point
Sep 25

Space Rocket History #81 – Gemini X with John Young and Mike Collins – Part 2 – Riding the Agena

Posted on September 25, 2014

“At first, the sensation I got was that there was a pop, then there was a big explosion and a clang. We were thrown forward in the seats. We had our shoulder harnesses fastened. Fire and sparks started coming out of the back end of that rascal. The l...

John Young in Gemini 10

Gemini_10_launch_time_exposure_-_GPN-2006-000036

Gemini 10 Agena

Ge10Patch_orig

Collins shortly after launch

Agena_Firing_-_GPN-2000-001355

Tagged:Agena, Agena 10, Agena 8, Airglow, Amu, Angry Alligator, Apollo, Beta Crucis, Beta Spectrometer, Bremsstrahlung Spectrometer, Capcom, Cape Kennedy, Carnarvon, Charlesworth, Colorado Springs, Docking, Ed White, Eva, Exploration, Eyeballs Out, Gamma Velorum, Gatv, Gemini 10, Gemini 4, Gemini 5, Gemini 6, Gemini 8, Gemini 9, Gemini 9a, Gemini Ix, Gemini Ix A, Gemini Ixa, Gemini Project, Gemini Project Office, Gemini V, Gemini Vi, Gemini Viii, Gemini X, Gpo, Hawaii, History, Houston, Ilon, Ion Wake, Jim Irwin, John Young, Kollsman, Lunney, Mcdonnell, Mike Collins, Milky Way, Mission Control Center, Msc, Mueller, Nasa, Norad, Red Sea, Rendezvous, Rocket, Rome, South Atlantic Anomaly, Space, Tri Axis Magnetometer
Oct 2

Space Rocket History #82 – Gemini X with John Young and Mike Collins – Part 3

Posted on October 2, 2014

Collins emerged from the spacecraft at dawn. Like Gene Cernan on Gemini IX-A, he found that all tasks took longer than he expected. But he was able to retrieve the package from the exterior of his spacecraft…

gemini-10_recovery

gemini_11_splashdown_recovery_print-r5a59c8d7c6244f54af0dc3eba26b9a72_wa3_8byvr_512

G10RecoveryCertificate

DaveG10

Tagged:Agena, Agena 10, Agena 8, Apollo, Capcom, Cape Kennedy, Carnarvon, Charles Mattews, Charlesworth, Docking, Eva, Exploration, Gatv, Gemini 10, Gemini 4, Gemini 5, Gemini 6, Gemini 8, Gemini 9, Gemini 9a, Gemini Ix, Gemini Ix A, Gemini Ixa, Gemini Project, Gemini Project Office, Gemini V, Gemini Vi, Gemini Viii, Gemini X, Gpo, Hasselblad, Hawaii, History, Houston, John Young, Lunney, Mcdonnell, Mike Collins, Mission Control Center, Msc, Mueller, Nasa, Paul Haney, Rendezvous, Rocket, Shuttle, South Atlantic Anomaly, Space, Space Station, Sunday School, Umbillical
Oct 9

Space Rocket History #83 – Gemini XI With Charles (Pete) Conrad and Richard Gordon – Part 1

Posted on October 9, 2014

Some significant goals had been set for the last two Gemini flights. For example, the Apollo Spacecraft Program Office wanted a rendezvous in the first spacecraft orbit, which would simulate lunar orbit rendezvous. There was also interest in linking ...

scan0704

RichardFGordon

320px-Gemini_11_patch

agena 11

Gemini_11_prime_crew_(Gordon_and_Conrad)

Gemini_11_Gordon_suits_up for G11

Tagged:A 4d, Agena, Agena 10, Agena 11, Agena 8, Amu, Apollo, Artificial Gravity, Autopilot, Bendix Trophy Race, Capcom, Cape Kennedy, Carnarvon, Charles Mattews, Docking, Eva, Exploration, F 11f, F 4h, F 8u, Gatv, Gemini 10, Gemini 4, Gemini 5, Gemini 6, Gemini 8, Gemini 9, Gemini 9a, Gemini Ix, Gemini Ix A, Gemini Ixa, Gemini Project, Gemini Project Office, Gemini V, Gemini Vi, Gemini Viii, Gemini X, Gemini Xii, Gordon Cooper, Gpo, Hasselblad, Hawaii, History, Houston, John Young, Lunney, Mcdonnell, Mike Collins, Mission Control Center, Msc, Mueller, Nasa, Niel Armstrong, Pete Conrad, Poulsbo, Rendezvous, Richard Gordon, Robert Seamans, Rocket, Seattle, Space, Space Station, Sunday School, Umbillical, Uss Ranger, Vf 121, Vf 96, William Anders
Oct 16

Space Rocket History #84 – Gemini XI With Charles (Pete) Conrad and Richard Gordon – Part 2

Posted on October 16, 2014

Conrad shouted to Gordon “Ride ’em, cowboy!”  Gordon was Riding bareback, with his feet and legs wedged between the docked vehicles. In practice sessions in zero-g aircraft flights, Gordon had been able to push himself forward, straddle the reentry a...

Gordon Astride Agena

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Tagged:Agena, Agena 11, Apollo, Artificial Gravity, Capcom, Cape Kennedy, Carnarvon, Charles Mattews, Charlesworth, Docking, Eva, Exploration, Gatv, Gemini 10, Gemini 4, Gemini 5, Gemini 6, Gemini 8, Gemini 9, Gemini 9a, Gemini Ix, Gemini Ix A, Gemini Ixa, Gemini Project, Gemini Project Office, Gemini V, Gemini Vi, Gemini Viii, Gemini X, Gemini Xii, Gpo, Guenter Wendt, Hawaii, History, Houston, Ivar, James Elms, John Young, Lunney, M Equals 1, Mcdonnell, Mike Collins, Mission Control Center, Msc, Mueller, Nasa, Pete Conrad, Rendezvous, Richard Gordon, Rocket, Rose Knot Victor, Space, Tananarive, Tether, Umbillical, Vf 121, William Anders, William Schneider
Oct 23

Space Rocket History #85 – Gemini XI With Charles (Pete) Conrad and Richard Gordon – Part 3

Posted on October 23, 2014

The rotation rate checked out at 55 degrees per minute, and the crew could now test for a minute amount of artificial gravity. When they put a camera against the instrument panel and then let it go, it moved in a straight line to the rear of the cock...

Recovery of G11

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G11 parachute

Agena Tether Experiment

Tagged:Agena, Agena 11, Apollo, Artificial Gravity, Bean, Canary Islands, Capcom, Cape Kennedy, Carnarvon, Cernan, Charles Mattews, Charlesworth, Coincident Orbit, Computer Controlled Reentry, Docking, Eva, Exploration, Gatv, Gemini 10, Gemini 4, Gemini 5, Gemini 6, Gemini 8, Gemini 9, Gemini 9a, Gemini Ix, Gemini Ix A, Gemini Ixa, Gemini Project, Gemini Project Office, Gemini V, Gemini Vi, Gemini Viii, Gemini X, Gemini Xii, Gpo, Gravity Gradient, Hawaii, History, Houston, John Young, Lunney, M Equals 1, Mcdonnell, Mission Control Center, Msc, Mueller, Nasa, Pete Conrad, Pps, Rendezvous, Richard Gordon, Rocket, Rose Knot Victor, Space, Stafford, Tananarive, Tether, Umbillical, Uss Guam, Velcro, William Schneider
Oct 30

Space Rocket History #86 – Gemini XII With Jim Lovell and and Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin – Part 1

Posted on October 30, 2014

When the  Gemini IX-A Agena fell into the Atlantic Ocean, Gemini XII was threatened with a major hardware shortage of an Agena and an Atlas to launch it. Replacing the Agena was no real problem. Lockheed’s first production model, 5001, used for devel...

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Tagged:Agena, Agena 12, Agena 5001, Amu, Apollo, Buzz Aldrin, Cape Kennedy, Cernan, Charles Mattews, Charlesworth, Colonel John Albert, Computer Controlled Reentry, Docking, Edwin Aldrin, Eva, Exploration, Francis Carey, Gatv, Gemini 10, Gemini 12, Gemini 4, Gemini 5, Gemini 6, Gemini 8, Gemini 9, Gemini 9a, Gemini Ix, Gemini Ix A, Gemini Ixa, Gemini Mission Review Board, Gemini Project, Gemini Project Office, Gemini V, Gemini Vi, Gemini Viii, Gemini X, Gemini Xii, Gpo, Gravity Gradient, Hawaii, History, Houston, John Young, Keplerian Trajectory, Langley Research Center, Lunney, M Equals 1, Major General Ben Funk, Maryland, Mcdonnell, Mcdonogh, Mike Collins, Mission Control Center, Msc, Mueller, Nasa, Pete Conrad, Rendezvous, Richard Gordon, Rocket, Space, Stafford, Tether, Umbillical, William Schneider
Nov 6

Space Rocket History #87 – Gemini XII With Jim Lovell and and Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin – Part 2

Posted on November 6, 2014

In space, Jim and Buzz began to wonder if everything had been shut down too soon. For 25 minutes, with one brief exception, they heard nothing from the ground. The Ascension Island tracking station had the wrong acquisition time, so its communicators...

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G12 tether

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Tagged:Agena, Agena 12, Apollo, Buzz Aldrin, Cape Kennedy, Charles Mattews, Charlesworth, Coastal Sentry Qebec, Computer Controlled Reentry, Conrad, Csq, Docking, Edwin Aldrin, Eva, Exploration, Fuel Cell, Gatv, Gemini 10, Gemini 12, Gemini 4, Gemini 5, Gemini 6, Gemini 8, Gemini 9, Gemini 9a, Gemini Ix, Gemini Ix A, Gemini Ixa, Gemini Mission Review Board, Gemini Project, Gemini Project Office, Gemini V, Gemini Vi, Gemini Viii, Gemini X, Gemini Xii, Gpo, Gravity Gradient, Hawaii, History, Houston, James Bates, John Young, Keplerian Trajectory, Langley Research Center, Lima Peru, Lunney, Mcdonnell, Mcdonogh, Mike Collins, Mission Control Center, Mit, Msc, Mueller, Nasa, Pps, Rendezvous, Richard Gordon, Rocket, Space, T 2, Tether, Umbillical, William Schneider
Nov 13

Space Rocket History #88 – Gemini XII With Jim Lovell and and Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin – Part 3

Posted on November 13, 2014

We left off last week after Buzz Aldrin’s third and final EVA. The hard work for the Gemini 12 mission was now complete.  Even with the problems with the radar, the Agena main engines, and the fuel cells, Gemini XII as a whole had gone very well…

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Tagged:Agena, Agena 12, Apollo, Apollo 13, Buzz Aldrin, Cape Kennedy, Charles Mattews, Charlesworth, Christopher Kraft, Coastal Sentry Qebec, Computer Controlled Reentry, Conrad, Csq, Docking, Edwin Aldrin, Eva, Exploration, Fuel Cell, Gatv, Gemini 10, Gemini 12, Gemini 4, Gemini 5, Gemini 6, Gemini 8, Gemini 9, Gemini 9a, Gemini Ix, Gemini Ix A, Gemini Ixa, Gemini Mission Review Board, Gemini Project, Gemini Project Office, Gemini V, Gemini Vi, Gemini Viii, Gemini X, Gemini Xii, Gpo, Gravity Gradient, Grumman, Hawaii, History, Homer Newell, Houston, Howard Tindall, Ibm 7094, James Bates, Jfk, John Glen, John Young, Joseph Loftus, Kennedy, Kieth Glennan, Lbj, Leonov, Lima Peru, Lunar Module, Lunney, Lyndon Johnson, Manned Spacecraft Center, Mcdonnell, Mcdonogh, Mercury, Mike Collins, Mission Control Center, Mit, Moon, Msc, Mueller, Nasa, North American, Paraglider, Pps, Rendezvous, Richard Gordon, Rocket, Rolf Lanzkron, Soviet, Space, T 2, Tether, Umbillical, Uss Wasp, William Schneider, Wright Brothers
Jan 29

Space Rocket History #98 – Apollo Beginnings

Posted on January 29, 2015

President Kennedy proposed the manned lunar landing as the focus of the US space program but, at the time of his address, only one American, Alan B. Shepard, Jr. had been into space, on a suborbital lob shot lasting 15 minutes. No rocket launch vehic...

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Tagged:Abe Silverstein, Abraham Hyatt, Air Force, Ames, Apollo, Army, Caldwell Johnson, Cape Kennedy, Circumlunar, Csq, Docking, Eisenhower, Eldon Hall, Exploration, F 1, Gatv, Gemini, Gemini Project, George Sutton, Glennon, Goddard, Goett, History, Homer Newell, Houston, Jfk, John Hodge, Jpl, Kennedy, Kieth Glennan, Lbj, Lewis, Lunar, Lunar Module, Lyndon Johnson, Manned Spacecraft Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, Max Faget, Mercury, Mit, Moon, Naca, Nasa, Nova, Project Apollo, Rendezvous, Robert Piland, Rocket, Rocketdyne, Saturn, Soviet, Space, Space Task Group, Sputnik, Strass, Thomas Muse, Von Braun, William Schneider, X 15
Feb 5

Space Rocket History #99 – Apollo: The Opposition

Posted on February 5, 2015

The goal of the nation’s space program should be the scientific exploration of the moon and the planets but also to recognize that nontechnical factors are vital to public acceptance of a space program. Human exploration of the moon and planets would...

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Tagged:Alan Shepard, Alfred Sloan, Apollo, Brainerd Holmes, Cape Kennedy, Circumlunar, Clinton Anderson, Congress, Docking, Eisenhower, Exploration, Gagarin, Gemini Project, Goett, History, Houston, Hugh Dryden, James Killian, James Webb, Jerome Wiesner, Jfk, Jpl, Kennedy, Kieth Glennan, Lbj, Lunar, Lunar Module, Lyndon Johnson, Manned Spacecraft Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, Mercury, Moon, Nasa, Philip Abelson, Project Apollo, Rendezvous, Rocket, Saturn, Sky Scientist, Soviet, Space, Space Science Board, Space Task Group, Sputnik, Strass, Urgent National Needs, Von Braun, Warren Weaver
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