Episodes Tagged with "Gemini"

Apr 23

Space Rocket History #110 – Early Apollo Command Module Design

Posted on April 23, 2015

The Apollo contract specified a shirt-sleeve environment. For this reason, North American was told not to include in its design a hatch that opened by explosives, like Mercury’s. An accidentally blown hatch in space would cause an instant vacuum and ...

The impact facility at North American was used to drop-test the CM

Selection of Little Joe II completed the Apollo family of launch vehicles.

Scott Carpenter, John Glenn, and Walter Schirra in 1963 inspect a full-scale mock up of the Apollo CM

North American Aviation Stormy,

Interior of a partial full-scale mockup of the Apollo command module

major parts of the command module structure

Tagged:Ablator, Ac Spark Plug, Aerojet General, Airesearch Manufacturing, Ames, Apollo, Apollo Spacecraft Project Office, Avco, B 25, B 45, Block I, Brainerd Holmes, California, California Institute Of Technology, Cambridge, Carpenter, Charles Frick, Charles H Feltz, Collins Radio Company, Direct Ascent, Downey, Dryden, Exploration, F 86, F100, Gemini, George Low, Gilruth, Glenn, Harrison Storms, History, Holmes, Honeycomb, Honeywell Regulator Company, Houston, Hugh Dryden, Impact Facility, John Paup, Langley, Lewis Research Center, Little Joe Ii, Lockheed, Lunar, Lunar Module, Lunar Orbit Rendezvous, Man In Space Soonest, Manned Space Flight, Manned Spacecraft Center, Marquardt Corporation, Marshall Space Flight Center, Mcdonnell, Mercury, Mit, Mode, Moon, Msc, Msfc, Nasa, Norman J Ryker, North American Aviation, Northrop, P 51, Phase A, Project Apollo, Radioplane, Robert Seamans, Rocket, Rocketdyne, S Ii, Saturn, Schirra, Seamans, Service Module, Shirt Sleve Environment, Smedal, Space, Stormy, Thiokol, White Sands, X 15, Xb 70

Apr 30

Space Rocket History #111 – Apollo: Early Lunar Module Design and Saturn SA-3”

Posted on April 30, 2015

During 1962, NASA faced three major tasks: first the mode selection and its defense (covered in episodes 106-109), second keeping North American moving on the command and service modules (covered in episode 110) and third finding a contractor to deve...

Tagged:Ames, Apollo, Apollo Spacecraft Project Office, Bell Aerosystems, Bethpage, Block I, Block Ii, Brainerd Holmes, C William Rathke, Charles Frick, Charles H Feltz, Clean Room, Cuban Missile Crisis, Dryden, E Clinton Towl, Ellington Air Force Base, Exploration, Gemini, George Low, Gilruth, Grumman, Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, H 1, Highwater, History, Holmes, Houston, Hugh Dryden, James Webb, John Snedeker, Joseph G Gavin, Joseph Shea, Kurt Debus, Langley, Lc 34, Lem, Leroy R Grumman, Little Joe Ii, Lunar, Lunar Module, Lunar Orbit Rendezvous, M 31 Heat Shield, Manned Space Flight, Manned Spacecraft Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, Max Faget, Mcdonnell, Mercury, Mode, Moon, Msc, Msfc, Nasa, North American Aviation, Project Apollo, Promise, Ranger, Robert S Mullaney, Robert Seamans, Rocket, Sa 2, Sa 3, Saturn, Saturn 103, Saturn C Ib, Saturn Apollo 3, Seamans, Service Module, Space, Surveyor 1, Thomas J Kelly, Thomas Markley, Von Braun, White Sands, William Rector

May 7

Space Rocket History #112 – Apollo: Headquarters

Posted on May 7, 2015

“The contractor role in Houston was not very firm. Frankly, they didn’t want us. There were two things against us down there. Number one, it was a Headquarters contract, and it was decreed that the Space Centers shall use GE for certain things; and n...

General Electric employees monitor activities of a spacecraft test in the automatic-checkout-equipment spacecraft control room in 1965

comparison of spacecraft and launch vehicle configuration

Apollo tracking network in 1966. Radar stations with large antennas for continuous tracking and communications were at Goldstone, California; Madrid, Spain; and Canberra, Australia

Tagged:Ames, Apollo, Apollo Spacecraft Project Office, Bellcomm, Block I, Block Ii, Brainerd Holmes, Charles Frick, Edward S Miller, Ellington Air Force Base, Exploration, F 1, Frederick R Kappel, Gemini, General Electric, George Low, Gilruth, Grumman, Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, H 1, Highwater, History, Holmes, Houston, Hugh Dryden, Huntsville, J 2, James Webb, John P Mayer, Joseph Shea, Kurt Debus, Langley, Lewis Research Center, Lunar, Lunar Module, Lunar Orbit Rendezvous, Manned Space Flight, Manned Spacecraft Center, Marshall, Marshall Space Flight Center, Mcdonnell, Mercury, Mode, Moon, Msc, Msfc, Nasa, North American Aviation, Office Of Manned Space Flight, Project Apollo, Robert Seamans, Rocket, Rocketdyne, Saturn, Seamans, Service Module, Space, William Rector

May 14

Space Rocket History #113 – Apollo: Command Module Design and Development 1963-1964

Posted on May 14, 2015

…From the information they gathered on the existing technical problems, Disher and Tischler concluded that prospects were only one in ten that Apollo would land on the moon before the end of the decade….

Full-scale model of the command module, above- the strake aerodynamic devices may be seen at either side of the spacecraft just above the aft heatshield

Removing LM from S=IVB stage

On 16 November 1963 in Cape Canaveral’s Blockhouse 37, NASA’s new manned space flight chief George Mueller

Communications with the moon as the earth turned. Astronauts on the moon’s surface also could talk to one another

Tagged:Apollo, Apollo Spacecraft Project Office, Apollo Soyuz, Bellcomm, Block I, Block Ii, Boilerplate, Brainerd Holmes, Canards, Charles Frick, Disher, Downey, Exploration, F 1, Gemini, General Electric, George Low, George Mueller, Gilruth, Grumman, Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, Harrison Storms, History, Holmes, Houston, Hugh Dryden, Huntsville, J 2, James Webb, John P Mayer, John Paup, Joseph Shea, Kurt Debus, Langley, Lewis Research Center, Lunar, Lunar Module, Lunar Orbit Rendezvous, Manned Space Flight, Manned Spacecraft Center, Marshall, Marshall Space Flight Center, Max Faget, Mcdonnell, Mercury, Mockup, Mode, Moon, Msc, Msfc, Nasa, North American Aviation, Office Of Manned Space Flight, Project Apollo, Robert Seamans, Rocket, Rocketdyne, Ruben Mettler, Samuel C Phillips, Saturn, Saturn I, Saturn Ib, Saturn V, Seamans, Service Module, Skylab, Space, Space Technology Laboratories, Strakes, Thomas Markley, Tischler, Tower Flaps, Tulsa, William Rector

May 21

Space Rocket History #114 – Apollo: Command Module Design and Development 1963-1964 Part 2

Posted on May 21, 2015

Max Faget’s position was that considering the difficulty of the job, if each mission was successful half the time, it would be well worth the effort. But Gilruth thought that was too low. He want a 90% mission success ratio and a 99% ratio for Ast...

download

The cabin section (or primary structure) of the CM is assembled at North American in 1965

The CM probe would slip into the LM’s dish-shaped drogue, and 12 latches on the docking ring would engage, to lock the spacecraft together, airtight

Full-scale model of the service module, resting on a mockup of a spacecraft-lunar module adapter, with panels off to reveal part of the internal arrangement

Jettison of the launch escape system (right) after successful launch, also pulls away the boost protective cover that protects the windows from flame and soot

On the drawing of the launch escape system at upper right, the canard aerodynamic devices are near the top of the escape tower

Jul 9

Space Rocket History #120 – Apollo: Stages S-IV and S-IVB

Posted on July 9, 2015

The key to high-energy stages was to use liquid hydrogen as the fuel. Liquid hydrogen fuel appealed to rocket designers because of its high specific impulse, which is a basic measure of rocket performance. Specific Impulse is the impulse delivered p...

4-SIV-SIVB

3-Saturn 1b-V

2-Cutaways

1- SIV_rocket_stage

Tagged:Apollo, Block I, Block Ii, Convair, Cryogenic, Csm, Earth Orbit Rendezvouz, Exploration, Gemini, George Mueller, Gilruth, Hamilton Standard, Harold Felix, History, Houston, Hugh Dryden, Huntsville, J 2, J B Gayle, James Webb, Joseph Shea, Kerosene, Liquid Hydrogen, Lm, Lox, Lunar, Lunar Orbit Rendezvous, Manned Space Flight, Manned Spacecraft Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, Mercury, Mockup, Moon, Msc, Msfc, Nasa, Office Of Manned Space Flight, Project Apollo, Retro Rocket, Rl 10, Robert Seamans, Rocket, Rp 1, S Iv, S Ivb, Sa 5, Sacramento Test Operations, Sacto, Saturn I, Saturn Ib, Saturn V, Seamans, Space, Thor, Translunar, Transposition Maneuver, Ullage, W R Lucas

Jul 23

Space Rocket History #122 – Apollo: Serious Problems with the Lunar Module and Grumman

Posted on July 23, 2015

Toward the end of January 1967, it was revealed that Lunar Module 1 would not reach the Cape in February, as expected. This meant, the moon landing might be delayed because the lander was not ready. But the mission planners could not wait for the Apo...

3- 1230_Lunar_module_LTA-2_R

2-Disher_John_

1-Lunar_Module_diagram

Tagged:Apollo, Ascent Stage, Bell, Bethpage, Block I, Block Ii, Decent Stage, Deke Slayton, Donald Sullivan, Exploration, Gemini, George Mueller, George Titterton, Gerorge Skurla, Gilruth, Ground Support Equipment, Grumman, Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, Gse, Hamilton Standard, History, Hjornevik, Houston, Hugh Dryden, Hughes Aircraft, Huntsville, James Webb, John Rubel, Joseph Shea, Langley, Llewellyn Evans, Lm 1, Lm 2, Lm 3, Lm 4, Lm 5, Lm 6, Lm7, Lta, Lunar, Lunar Module, Manned Space Flight, Manned Spacecraft Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, Max Faget, Mockup, Moon, Msc, Msfc, Nasa, North American Aviation, Office Of Manned Space Flight, Optical Tracker, Pintle, Project Apollo, R Wayne Young, Rca, Rendezvous Radar, Richard E Mayo, Robert Brader, Robert Seamans, Rocket, Russell Schwickart, Saturn V, Seamans, Space, Space Technology Laboratories, Spacecraft Technology Division, Thomas J Kelly, Trw, William Lee, William Rector

Jul 30

Space Rocket History #123 – Apollo: Astronaut Selection and Training – Part 1

Posted on July 30, 2015

Selection of Group Two virtually depleted the pool of qualified candidates from the small corps of test pilots in the country, and it was the last group for which test-pilot certification would be a requirement. The new trainees reported to Houston i...

2-NASA_Group_1_and_2_Astronauts_Photo_With_Autopens

2-Back row- See, McDivitt, Lovell, White, & Stafford. Front row- Conrad, Borman, Armstrong, & Young

1- Project_Mercury_AstronautsBack row- Shepard, Grissom, Cooper; front row- Schirra, Slayton, Glenn, Carpenter.

Tagged:Alan Shepard, Apollo, Deke Slaton, Deke Slayton, Ed White, Exploration, Frank Borman, Gemini, George Mueller, Gilruth, Gordon Cooper, Gus Grissom, History, Houston, Hugh Dryden, James A Mcdivitt, James Webb, Jim Lovell, John Glen, John Young, Joseph Shea, Lunar, Lunar Module, Manned Space Flight, Manned Spacecraft Center, Mockup, Moon, Nasa, Neil Armstrong, Office Of Manned Space Flight, Pete C, Project Apollo, Richard E Mayo, Robert Seamans, Rocket, Scott Carpenter, Seamans, Space, Space Task Group, Tom Stafford, Wally Schirra

Aug 5

Space Rocket History #124 – Apollo: Astronaut Selection and Training – Part 2

Posted on August 5, 2015

With Group 4, for the first time, the selection criteria did not include a requirement for test pilot proficiency. Selectees who were not qualified pilots would be assigned to the Air Force for a year of flight training. The primary scientific requir...

Group4Astronaut

4-Group 4 L-R- Garriott, Gibson. Front row, L-R- Michel, Schmitt, Kerwin.

3-Astronaut_Group_Three_-_GPN-2000-001476

Tagged:Alan Bean, Alan Shepard, Apollo, Charles Bassett, Clifton Williams, Curtis Michel, David Scott, Deke Slaton, Deke Slayton, Donn Eisele, Duane M Graveline, Ed White, Edward G Gibson, Edwin Buzz Aldrin, Eugene Cernan, Exploration, Frank Borman, Gemini, George Mueller, Gilruth, Gordon Cooper, Gus Grissom, Harrison Jack Schmitt, History, Houston, Hugh Dryden, James A Mcdivitt, James Webb, Jim Lovell, John Glen, John Young, Joseph P Kerwin, Joseph Shea, Lunar, Lunar Module, Manned Space Flight, Manned Spacecraft Center, Mike Collins, Mockup, Moon, Nasa, Neil Armstrong, Office Of Manned Space Flight, Owen K Garriott, Pete C, Project Apollo, Richard E Mayo, Richard Gordon, Robert Seamans, Rocket, Rodger Chaffee, Russell Schweickart, Scott Carpenter, Seamans, Space, Space Task Group, Theodore Freeman, Tom Stafford, Wally Schirra, Walter Cunningham, William Anders

Aug 13

Space Rocket History #125 – Apollo: Astronaut Selection and Training – Part 3

Posted on August 13, 2015

“Some of those guys came in figuring, “I’ll write my textbooks and my thesis and teach [university courses] and I’ll come by twice a week and be an astronaut.” Well, that didn’t work …. We were devoting our lives to this whole thing, and you couldn’t...

5-Back row, from L-R- Swigert, Pogue, Evans, Weitz, Irwin, Carr, Roosa, Worden, Mattingly, Lousma. Front row, from L-R- Givens, Mitchell, Duke, Lind, Haise, Engle, Brand, Bull, McCandless

Tagged:Alan Bean, Alan Shepard, Alfred Worden, Apollo, Bruce Mccandless Ii, Charles Bassett, Charles M Duke, Clifton Williams, Curtis Michel, David Scott, Deke Slaton, Deke Slayton, Don L Lind, Donn Eisele, Duane M Graveline, Ed White, Edgar D Mitchell, Edward G Gibson, Edward G Givens, Edwin Buzz Aldrin, Eugene Cernan, Exploration, Frank Borman, Fred W Haise, Gemini, George Mueller, Gerald P Carr, Gilruth, Gordon Cooper, Gus Grissom, Harrison Jack Schmitt, History, Houston, Hugh Dryden, James A Mcdivitt, James B Irwin, James Webb, Jim Lovell, Joe H Engle, John Glen, John L Swigert, John R Lousma, John S Bull, John Young, Joseph P Kerwin, Joseph Shea, Lunar, Lunar Module, Manned Space Flight, Manned Spacecraft Center, Mike Collins, Mockup, Moon, Nasa, Neil Armstrong, Office Of Manned Space Flight, Owen K Garriott, Paul J Weitz, Pete C, Project Apollo, Richard E Mayo, Richard Gordon, Robert Seamans, Rocket, Rodger Chaffee, Ronald E Evans, Russell Schweickart, Scott Carpenter, Seamans, Space, Space Task Group, Stuart A Roosa, Theodore Freeman, Thomas K Mattingly Ii, Tom Stafford, Vance D Brand, Wally Schirra, Walter Cunningham, William Anders, William R Pogue

Aug 27

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

Posted on August 27, 2015

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

3-Christopher_Kraft,_flight_director_during_Project_Mercury,_works_at_his_console_inside_the_Flight_Control_area_at_Mercury_Mission_Control

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

1-Chris Kraft and Rober Gilruth

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

Sep 3

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

Posted on September 3, 2015

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

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

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

1-Kraft Kranz Gemini Fuel Cell problem

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

Sep 10

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

Posted on September 10, 2015

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

3-Kranz and his teacher Kraft

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

1-Kranz-F86 Sabre Cat

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

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

apollo1-sketch-jg

the-Apollo-1-launch-pad-fire-that-killed-astronauts-Gus-Grissom-Roger-Chaffee-and-Ed-White-celebrities-who-died-young-31704639-1372-740

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.

3-Apollo_1_patch

2-apollo1chaffee

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 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…

3-apollo

2-c216a

1-Apollo_1’s_Command_Module_-_GPN-2003-00057

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

Feb 25

Space Rocket History #150 – Apollo 6: Pogo and the Tang Ceremony

Posted on February 25, 2016

The success of Apollo 4 gave good reason to believe that the Saturn V could be trusted to propel men into space. But NASA pushed on with its plans for a second unmanned booster flight, primarily to give the Pad 39 launch team another rehearsal before...

5-Apollo-6-1968-04-04

4-Apollo 6’s interstage falling away

3-Apollo6fireyExhaustPlume

2-Apollo_6_launch

1-The Lunar Module Test Article (LTA-2R) is being moved for mating with the spacecraft Lunar Module Adapter

0-apollo-6-final_0

Tagged:Aerospace Corporation, All Up, Apollo 1, Apollo 11, Apollo 4, Apollo 5, Apollo 6, Apollo Stack, Arnold Engineering Development Center, Arthur Rudolph, Baja, Clifford E Charlesworth, Commandservice Module, Csm, Direct Return Abort, Donald Slayton, Downey, Eberhard Rees, Edwards Air Force Base, F 1, Florida, Gemini, George H Hage, Grumman, Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, Houston, Huntsville, Instrument Unit, J 2, John F Kennedy Space Center, John Hodge, John J Williams, John Mayer, Kleinknecht, Launch Complex 34, Lee B James, Lm 2, Lm 3, Lox, Lta 2r, Lunar Module, Marshall Space Flight Center, Martin Luther King, Memphis, Merritt Island, Michoud, Mississippi Test, Mueller, Naca, North American Rockwell, Phillips, Pogo, President Johnson, Resonance, Rocco Petrone, Rocketdyne, Rp 1, S 1c, S Ii, S Ivb, Saturn 1b, Saturn Ib 204, Saturn V, Schneider, Scimitar, Sheldon Rubin, Spacecraft 012, Supper Guppy, Tennessee, Translunar, Tullahoma, U S S Okinawa, Vab, Wernher Von Braun

Mar 23

Space Rocket History #154 – Apollo 7 – The Crew

Posted on March 23, 2016

Had it not been for the fact that Eisele damaged his shoulder during a zero-G training flight aboard a KC-135 aircraft just before Christmas 1965, he might have been in the senior pilot’s seat aboard Apollo 1, instead of Ed White.

3-Cunningham during the Apollo 7 mission

2-Donn_F._Eisele prior to launch of ap17

1- Schirra as the Commander of Apollo 7 crew

Tagged:Alan Shepard, Apollo 1, Apollo 10, Apollo 13, Apollo 4, Apollo 5, Apollo 6, Apollo 7, Apollo Stack, Commandservice Module, Csm, Deke Slayton, Donald Slayton, Donn Eisele, Downey, Duane Graveline, Eagle Scout, Edward H White, F 4h, F7u 3, Fj 3, Florida, Gemini, Goodfellow, Grumman, Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, Guenter Wendt, Gus Grissom, Houston, Huntsville, Jim Webb, Langley Research Center, Lm 3, Marshall Space Flight Center, Mercury, Michoud, Mike Collins, Mississippi Test, Mueller, Naca, Nasa Distinguished Service Medals, North American Rockwell, Peace Corps, President Johnson, Roger Chaffee, S Ii, Satuen Ib, Saturn V, Skylab, Tyndall, Wally Schirra, Walter Cunningham, Wernher Von Braun, Wheelus, Wright Patterson

Mar 30

Space Rocket History #155 – Apollo 7 – Assembly, Testing, Training, and Launch

Posted on March 30, 2016

Command Service Module-101 started through the manufacturing cycle early in 1966. By July, it had been formed, wired, fitted with subsystems, and made ready for testing. After the Apollo 1 fire in January 1967, changes had to be made, mainly in the w...

3-Apollo 7 Launch

2-Schirra, Eisele, and Cunningham (left to right) practice climbing out of the spacecraft into a life raft, to perfect recovery procedures

1-Saturn 205’s first stage rests on the pedestal at Launch Complex 34 before mating with other stages for launch

Tagged:Apollo 1, Apollo 4, Apollo 5, Apollo 6, Apollo 7, Apollo Stack, Chysler, Commandservice Module, Csm, Csm 101, Donn Eisele, Douglas, Douglas Aircraft, Downey, Florida, Gemini, Gene Kranz, Gerald Griffin, Glynn Lunney, Griffith Planetarium, Grumman, Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, Houston, Huntsville, J 2, Jim Webb, John Hodge, John Young, Lm, Marshall Space Flight Center, Mercury, Michoud, Mississippi Test, Morehead Planetarium, North American Rockwell, S Ib, S Ii, S Ivb, Satuen Ib, Saturn V, T 38, Wally Schirra, Walter Cunningham, Wernher Von Braun

Apr 6

Space Rocket History #156 – Apollo 7-The Flight Part 1

Posted on April 6, 2016

SCHIRRA: You’ve added two burns to this flight schedule, and you’ve added a urine water dump; and we have a new vehicle up here, and I can tell you at this point TV will be delayed without any further discussion until after the rendezvous. CAPCOM (J...

Untitled

2u-Distant view of the S-IVB stage

1u-Apollo 7 S-IVB rocket stage in orbit

Tagged:Apollo 1, Apollo 7, Chysler, Commandservice Module, Csm, Csm 101, Donn Eisele, Douglas Aircraft, Downey, Florida, Gemini, Gene Kranz, Gerald Griffin, Glynn Lunney, Grumman, Houston, Huntsville, Iva, John Hodge, John Young, Lm, Marshall Space Flight Center, Mercury, Mississippi Test, North American Rockwell, S Ib, S Ii, S Ivb, Satuen Ib, Saturn V, T 38, Tom Stafford, Wally Schirra, Walter Cunningham

Apr 13

Space Rocket History #157 – Apollo 7-The Flight Part 2

Posted on April 13, 2016

CAPCOM Number 1 (Deke Slayton): Okay. I think you ought to clearly understand there is absolutely no experience at all with landing without the helmet on. SCHIRRA: And there no experience with the helmet either on that one. CAPCOM: That one we’ve g...

10-The Apollo 7 Command Module as exhibited at The Frontiers of Flight Museum

9-Barbara Eden, Bob Hope, the Apollo 7 astronauts, and Paul Haney (voice of Mission Control) on The Bob Hope Show (November 6, 1968)

8-Crew after recovery aboard USS Essex

6-The crew is welcomed aboard the USS Essex

5-A crewmember being hoisted into the recovery helicopter

3U-At the end of the nearly 11-day mission, flight controllers Gene Kranz, Glynn Lunney, and Gerald Griffin left to right with cigars celebrate splashdown

2U-View of Florida from Apollo 7

1u-Mission Control watches the first live television beamed by an American spacecraft, as Eisele and Schirra signal, %22Keep Those Cards and Letters Coming in, Folks

Tagged:Actifed, Apollo 1, Apollo 7, Bob Hope, Chris Kraft, Chysler, Commandservice Module, Csm, Csm 101, Deke Slayton, Donn Eisele, Douglas Aircraft, Downey, Florida, Fuel Cell, Gemini, Gene Kranz, Gerald Griffin, Glenn Lunney, Glynn Lunney, Grumman, Houston, Huntsville, Intravehicular Activity, Iva, John Hodge, John Young, Lbj, Lh2, Lm, Lox, Marshall Space Flight Center, Mercury, Mississippi Test, North American Rockwell, Paul Haney, S Ib, S Ii, S Ivb, Satuen Ib, Saturn V, T 38, Tom Stafford, Wally Schirra, Walter Cunningham

Apr 27

Space Rocket History #158 – Soyuz 2 and 3

Posted on April 27, 2016

The soviets showed some confidence in their spacecraft by launching the unmanned Soyuz 2 first, but showed some caution by not sending a cosmonaut in Soyuz 2.

soyuz-3on the pad

beregovoy_georgi

Soyuz 7K-OK assembly credit rkk Energia

Tagged:11a511, 7k L1, 7k Ok, Armstrong, Baikinor, Borovichy, Brezhnev, Cernan, Circumlunar, Cosomodrome, Design Bureau 1, Gemini, Georgy Beregovoy, Kazakhstan, Komarov, Kremlin, Kurt Douglas, Mississippi Test Facilit, Okb 1, Parachute, Rkk Energiya Museum, Salyut, Sirius, Soviet Union, Soyuz, Soyuz 1, Soyuz 2, Soyuz 3, Ussr, Vladimir Shatalov, Voskhod, Yuri Gagarin, Zond, Zond 6

Jun 13

Space Rocket History #16 – Astronaut Candidates

Posted on June 13, 2013

Candidates were given continuous psychiatric interviews throughout the week, and extensive self-examination through a battery of 13 psychological tests for personality and motivation, and another dozen different tests on intellectual functions and sp...

Cent

gustraining

GPN

Centrifuge

Scott

472046main_GPN-2000-000596-4x3_946-710

gustraining

Tagged:Alan Shepard, Allen Gamble, Apollo, Astronaut, Bill Bridgeman, Charles J Donlan, Chuck Yeager, Donald Slayton, Edwin Levy, Eisenhower, Gemini, George Ruff, Gordon Cooper, History, Icbm, Ike, John Glenn, Man In Space Soonest, Mercury, Mercury 7, Nasa, National Aeronautics And Space Administration, Neil Armstrong, Project Mercury, Robert Gilruth, Robert Rushworth, Robert Voas, Scott Carpenter, Scott Crossfield, Space, Space Task Group, Stanley White, T Keith Glennan, Test Pilot, Virgil Grissom, Walter Schirra, Warren North, William Argerson, Wright Air Development Center

Aug 10

Space Rocket History #172 – Soyuz 4 & 5 – World’s First Space Station? – Part 1

Posted on August 10, 2016

The objectives of the Soyuz 4 & 5 mission were to dock two manned Soyuz 7K-0Ks, transfer two Cosmonauts from Soyuz 5 to Soyuz 4 by means of a space walk, and then safely return both crews to earth.

Tagged:11a511, 7k Ok, Aleksei Yeliseyev, Baikinor, Circumlunar, Cosomodrome, Design Bureau 1, Gemini, Georgy Beregovoy, Igla, Kazakhstan, Khrunov, Komarov, Kremlin, Okb 1, Parachute, Rkk Energiya Museum, Salyut, Sirius, Soviet Union, Soyuz, Soyuz 1, Soyuz 2, Soyuz 3, Ussr, Vladimir Shatalov, Volynov, Voskhod, Zond, Zond 6

Aug 17

Space Rocket History #173 – Soyuz 4 & 5 – World’s First Space Station? – Part 2

Posted on August 17, 2016

Vladimir Shatalov would become the Soviet Union’s 13th space traveler, his home telephone number ended in “13” and the launch itself was set for 13:00 hours Moscow Time, on January 13th, 1969.

2-Soyuz-5-patch

1-Model of Soyuz 5 approaching Soyuz 4 prior to the first docking of two manned spacecraft on 16 January 1969

Aug 24

Space Rocket History #174 – Early History of the Soviet N1 – Part 1

Posted on August 24, 2016

The L-3 manned spacecraft was designed to make a direct lunar landing using the earth orbit rendezvous method. It was a 200 metric ton spacecraft requiring three N1 launches and a single Soyuz 11A5ll launch to assemble in low earth orbit. The first N...

3-n1_launch_diagram

Comparison of U.S. Saturn V with Soviet N1/L3

Aug 31

Space Rocket History #175 – Early History of the Soviet N1 – Part 2

Posted on August 31, 2016

On August the third 1964 Decree number 655-268 was issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party. For the first time a command was given for OKB-1 to put one man on the moon and return him safely to earth before the United States (Keep in mi...

3-n1diagko

1-N1-L3 as per advanced project, 1964

Apr 6

Space Rocket History #386 – Skylab – Pre-history

Posted on April 6, 2022

A scant five months after Apollo 17 splashed down in the Pacific Ocean in December of 1972, NASA launched Skylab to begin a new phase of American manned spaceflight – space station operations.

P3-apollo A

P2-wetstage a home in space

P1-Outpost

Tagged:A Home In Space, Apollo 17, Apollo A, Apollo Soyuz, Atlas, Brick Moon, Gemini, Mercury, Outpost, Skylab, Wernher Von Braun

Apr 20

Space Rocket History #387 – Skylab – Pre-history – Dyna-Soar & MOL

Posted on April 20, 2022

NASA feasibility studies determined that a research space laboratory could be placed in orbit by 1967. However, to fund such a project it had to be justified by achieving a national goal, or an important science goal, or test of technology.

P1-Dyna-Soar

P3-Dorian_9_

P3-MOL_01

P2-MOL_configuration

Tagged:Dyna Soar, Gemini, Gemini B, Gemini Blue, Manned Orbiting Laboratory, Mercury, Mol, Skylab, Titan Iii

Jan 2

Space Rocket History #44 – Voskhod-1with Kamarov, Yegorov, and Feoktistov – Part 1

Posted on January 2, 2014

Premiere Khrushchev was not willing to wait until Soyuz for another space first. Khrushchev believed, There could be no final victories in the race for space propaganda. He knew the US was working on project Gemini which would carry two astronauts ...

461px-Voskhod_1_and_2

255px-Voskhod-1_mission_patch.svg

komarov_vladimir

Boris Y

feoktistov_konstantin_7

By Dave

Tagged:11a57, 3ka, Cosmonaunt, Feoktistov, Gagarin, Gemini, Germany, History, Icbm, Kamanin, Kamarov, Katys, Khrushchev, Korolev, Nazi, R 7, R7, Rocket, Russia, Soviet, Space, Sputnik, Ss, Volynov, Voronezh, Voskhod, Vostok, Yegorov

Jan 23

Space Rocket History #47 – Gemini Concepts

Posted on January 23, 2014

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

fig6 (1)McDonnell-proposed two-man Mercury spacecraft. Shown is the interior arrangement of spacecraft equipment

fig4

fig3

Tagged:Ames, Apollo, Demarquis D Wyatt, Exploration, Gemini, Goddard, History, Houbolt, Jpl, Kehlet, Kondratyuk, Langley, Lewis, Luna, Lunar, Mark Ii, Marshall, Mercury, Moon, Nasa, National Space Vehicle Program, Noordung, Nova, Oberth, Pirquet, Post Mercury, Rca, Rendezvous, Rocket, Seamans, Soviet, Space, Space Task Group, Station, Stg, Strass, Tsander, Tsiolkovskii, Von Braun, Werner, William Michael

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 6

Space Rocket History #49 – Gemini Systems Design – 1962

Posted on February 6, 2014

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

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

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

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

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

fig27Gemini spacecraft nomenclature – Copy

Agena B

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

Feb 12

Space Rocket History #50 – Blue Gemini – 1963

Posted on February 12, 2014

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

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

Goal

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

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

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

fig48 Proposed deployment sequence for the ballute stabilization device

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

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

Feb 20

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

Posted on February 20, 2014

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

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

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

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

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

Feb 27

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

Posted on February 27, 2014

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

Tang

space rocket history pic69

Gemini1-1

Gemini Launch

Gemini 1 Left Instrument Pallet

Gemini 1 Experiment Pallets

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

Mar 6

Space Rocket History #53 – Gemini 2 – Part 1

Posted on March 6, 2014

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

Retro Adapter

Mercury and Gemini

Ejection

Retro Adapter

GT2_S-64-40154

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

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

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

Mar 20

Space Rocket History #55 – First Space Walk – Voskhod 2 with Alexei Leonov and Pavel Belyayev – Part 1

Posted on March 20, 2014

Voskhod 2 was a high risk mission. It was the final space race victory for the Soviet Union before NASA claimed the lead and ultimately won with the lunar landing of 1969. Voskhod 2 was the peak of the Soviet Space Program. It nearly killed its two...

ivokhod2

IMAGE-of-berkut-spacesuit

Pavel_Belyayev

alexei-leonov

450px-Voskhod-2_airlock_and_spacesuit

Voskhod_spacecraft_diagram

Tagged:11a57, 3kd, Airbooms, Airlock, Alexey, Babushkinsky, Baikonur, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Berkut, Chelishchevo, Cosmonaut, Eva, Exploration, Gagarin, Gemini, Golden Eagle, History, Icbm, Inflatable Airlock, Komarov, Korolev, Leonov, Mercury, Nasa, Npp Zvezda, Oblast, Pavel Belyayev, R 7, R7, Rocket, Russia, Soviet, Space, Stalin, Vologda, Voskhod, Vostok

Mar 27

Space Rocket History #56 – First Space Walk – Voskhod 2 with Alexei Leonov and Pavel Belyayev – Part 2

Posted on March 27, 2014

Leonov opened the airlocks outer hatch He was positioned on his “back” and this orientation revealed the beauty of earth in its entirety. His heart began to race as he pushed his upper body outside and saw the deep blue vista of the Mediterranean Se...

images

voskhod-2_leonov

Descent module of Voskhod-2 from which Alexey Leonov pioneered extravehicular activity

Leonov and Belyayev in Voskhod-2, 1965

qvok2eva

GPN-2002-000176

cosomonauts

Tagged:3kd, Baikonur, Berkut, Bonn, Breszhnev, Caucasus Mountains, Crimea, Decent Module, Ed White, Exploration, Gagarin, Gemini, Gemini 4, Golden Eagle, Greece, History, Icbm, Italy, Kamanin, Keldysh, Korolev, Leninsk, Leonov, Orbital Module, Pavel Belyayev, Perm, Politburo, R 7, R7, Rocket, Russia, Siberia, Solikamsk, Soviet, Space, Spacesuit, Tass, Upper Kama Upland, Volga River, Voskhod, Vostok

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 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

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 14

Space Rocket History #75 – Luna 10, Surveyor 1, and Lunar Orbiter 1 – Scouting the Moon

Posted on August 14, 2014

In the 1960s, during the cold war, the US and Soviet Union turned their attention to the moon. The question was, who could place a man on the moon and return him safely to the earth first? Obtaining the necessary data on the moon to risk sending a pe...

First_View_of_Earth_from_Moon

lunar_orbiter1

Surveyor_1_shadow_lunarsurface

Surveyor_1_Foot_Pad on the moon

Surveyor_1_launch with Atlas Centar

surveyor 1 mockup_beach

luna10

Tagged:Apollo, Atlas, Canopus, Centaur, Gemini, History, Luna 1, Lunar Orbiter 1, Lunar Orbiter 2, Lunar Orbiter 3, Lunar Orbiter 4, Lunar Orbiter 5, Lunik 1, Mercury Atlas, Mercury Redstone, Orion, Rocket, Soviet, Space, Sputnik, Surveyor 1, Surveyor 2, Surveyor 3, U S, Vernier, Vostok

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...

c012a

GilruthThompsonGlennan

c010

c002c

c002b

c002a

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

Nov 26

Space Rocket History an Encore Presentation of Episode #44 – Voskhod-1with Kamarov, Yegorov, and Feoktistov – Part 1

Posted on November 26, 2015