Episodes Tagged with "George Low"

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

Apr 2

Space Rocket History #107 – Apollo: The Mode Decision – Part 2

Posted on April 2, 2015

Langley’s brochure for the Golovin Committee described Lunar landers of varied sizes and payload capabilities. There were illustrations and data on a very small lander that was able to carry one man for 2 to 4 hours on the moon. There was an “econo...

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

NASA announced selection of the lunar-orbit-rendezvous landing technique at an 11 July 1962 press conference. left to right James E. Webb, Robert C. Seamans, Jr., D. Brainerd Holmes, and Joseph F. Shea

Harry C. Shoaf (Space Task Group Engineering Division 15 November 1961 of a proposed lunar lander to be used with an advanced version of the Mercury spacecraft

concept of a small lunar lander during descent to the surface of the moon, as proposed by Langley Research Center employees in October 1961

Tagged:Abe Silverstein, Abma, Alfred Eggers, Ames Research Center, Apollo, Brainerd Holmes, Caldwell Johnson, Charles Frick, Charles Houbolt, Charles Mattews, Charlie Fricks Road Show, Clinton Brown, Congress, Direct Ascent, Docking, Dolan, Eldon Hall, Eor, Exploration, Faget, Fleming, General Dynamics Convair, George Low, Gilruth, Golovin, Harold Hornby, History, Holmes, Houbolt, Houston, Hugh Dryden, Huntsville, James Chamberlin, James Webb, Jfk, John Eggleston, Joseph Shea, Jpl, Kennedy, Kurt Strass, Langley, Lewis Research Center, Lina, Lindsay, Lor, Lunar, Lunar Crasher, Lunar Module, Lunar Orbit Rendezvous, Lunar Orbit, Manned Space Flight, Manned Spacecraft Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, Max Faget, Mode, Moon, Nasa, Nova, Project Apollo, Rendezvous, Robert Seamans, Rocket, Saturn, Saturn C 5, Seamans, Soviet, Space, Space Task Group, Spacecraft Research Division, Vogeley, Von Braun, Vought, William Rector

Apr 9

Space Rocket History #108 – Apollo: The Mode Decision – Part 3

Posted on April 9, 2015

“I would like to reiterate once more that it is absolutely mandatory that we arrive at a definite mode decision within the next few weeks. . . . If we do not make a clear-cut decision on the mode very soon, our chances of accomplishing the first luna...

Shea uses models to demonstrate how the lunar module would dock with the command module

Rocket Comparison

Lunar orbit insertion

Tagged:Abe Silverstein, Abma, Alfred Eggers, Ames Research Center, Apollo, Brainerd Holmes, Caldwell Johnson, Charles Frick, Charles Houbolt, Charles Mattews, Charlie Fricks Road Show, Clinton Brown, Congress, Csm, Direct Ascent, Docking, Dolan, Douglas, Dryden, Eldon Hall, Eor, Exploration, Faget, Fleming, General Dynamics Convair, George Low, Gilruth, Golovin, Grumman, Harold Hornby, History, Holmes, Houbolt, Houston, Hugh Dryden, Huntsville, James Chamberlin, James Webb, Jerome Wiesner, Jfk, John Eggleston, Joseph Shea, Jpl, Kennedy, Kurt Strass, Langley, Lem, Lewis Research Center, Lina, Lindsay, Lor, Lunar, Lunar Crasher, Lunar Module, Lunar Orbit Rendezvous, Lunar Orbit, Manned Space Flight, Manned Spacecraft Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, Max Faget, Mode, Moon, Msc, Msfc, Nasa, Nicholas Golovin, Nova, Presidents Science Advisory Committee, Project Apollo, Psac, Rca, Rendezvous, Robert Seamans, Rocket, Saturn, Saturn C 5, Saturn C 8, Saturn C Ib, Seamans, Soviet, Space, Space Task Group, Spacecraft Research Division, Vogeley, Von Braun, Vought, William Rector

Apr 16

Space Rocket History #109 – Apollo: The PSAC Strikes Back and Saturn SA-2

Posted on April 16, 2015

After viewing the Apollo spaceport being built in Florida, President Kennedy flew on to Huntsville, Alabama. There, during a tour of Marshall and a briefing on the Saturn V and the lunar-rendezvous mission by von Braun, Jerome Wiesner interrupted Von...

REF: 2-903-6 SA-2 LAUNCH AT CAPE. IGNITION OF ROCKET (SATURN 1 VEHICLE)

SA-2 erected on launch pedestal

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Tagged:Apollo, Brainerd Holmes, Bruce Lundin, Csm, Direct Ascent, Docking, Downey, Dryden, Eor, Exploration, Fleming, Franklin A Long, General Dynamics Convair, George Low, Gilruth, Golovin, Grumman, High Water, Highwater, History, Holmes, Houbolt, Houston, Hugh Dryden, Huntsville, James Webb, Jerome Wiesner, Jfk, Joseph Shea, Jpl, Kennedy, Kurt Debus, Langley, Lc34, Lem, Lester Lees, Lewis Research Center, Lina, Lor, Lunar, Lunar Module, Lunar Orbit Rendezvous, Lunar Orbit, Manned Space Flight, Manned Spacecraft Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, Mercury, Mode, Moon, Msc, Msfc, Nasa, Nicholas Golovin, Nova, Presidents Science Advisory Committee, Project Apollo, Psac, Rendezvous, Robert Seamans, Rocket, Saturn, Saturn C 5, Seamans, Soviet, Space, Space Vehicle Panel, Von Braun

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...

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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

Jun 11

Space Rocket History #117 – Apollo: Lunar Module Design

Posted on June 11, 2015

Since the lunar module would fly only in space (earth orbit and lunar vicinity), the designers could ignore the aerodynamic streamlining demanded by earth’s atmosphere and build the first true manned spacecraft, designed solely for operating in the s...

6-NASA engineers in 1964 decided that astronauts could stand in the lunar module cabin during the trip to the lunar surface. Note triangular windows

7-Proposed sleeping positions for astronauts on the moon

5-Mockup of lunar module cabin with seats

4-The drawing of the stage indicates positions of components

3-underside of the lunar module descent stage shows fuel tank installation

2-Administrator James Webb examines models of the lunar and command modules in docked position

1-Lunar module generations from 1962 (above left; the vehicle originally proposed by Grumman) to 1969

Tagged:8 Ball, Ac Electronics, Apollo, Ascent Stage, Bethpage, Block I, Block Ii, Cline W Frasier, Cruciform, Decent Stage, Donn Eislee, Downey, Electroluminescence, Exploration, Father Of The Lem, George Low, George Mueller, Gilruth, Grumman, Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, Hamilton Standard, History, Holmes, Houston, Hugh Dryden, Huntsville, J 2, J T Markley, James Webb, John P Mayer, John Paup, Joseph Shea, Langley, Lunar, Lunar Module, Lunar Orbit Rendezvous, Manned Space Flight, Manned Spacecraft Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, Mit, Mockup, Moon, Msc, Msfc, Nasa, North American Aviation, Office Of Manned Space Flight, Owen Maynard, Pete Conrad, Project Apollo, Rca, Rendezvous Radar, Robert Seamans, Rocket, Saturn V, Scott Carpenter, Seamans, Service Module, Space, Space Technology Laboratories, Spacecraft Technology Division, Thomas J Kelly, William Rector

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

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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…

1-1024px-AS-204_-_hatch

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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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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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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 12

Space Rocket History #160 – Apollo 8 – The Decision Part 1

Posted on May 12, 2016

An ‘A’ type mission would be flown with a Saturn V and be used to test the Launch vehicle, spacecraft, and a high velocity lunar return. Nasa cover the ‘A’ mission with Apollo 4 & 6. A ‘B’ type mission would be flow with a Saturn IB and test the lun...

OwenMaynardStepstotheMoon

chief of the LEM engineering office in the Apollo Program Office in Houston, TexasJPG

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Tagged:Apollo 1, Apollo 4, Apollo 5, Apollo 6, Apollo 7, Apollo 8, Apollo Stack, Bowman, Chris Kraft, Commandservice Module, Csm, Deke Slayton, Donald Slayton, Eberhard Rees, George Hage, George Low, Gilruth, Goodfellow, Houston, Huntsville, Joseph Kotanchik, Julian Scheer, Kleinknecht, Kurt Debus, Lee James, Lm 3, Ludie Richard, Marshall Space Flight Center, Mueller, Naca, Nasa, Owen Maynard, Phillips, President Johnson, Rocco Petrone, Saturn Ib, Saturn V, Schneider, Seven Step Plan To Lunar Landing, Webb, Wernher Von Braun, Willis H Shapley

May 19

Space Rocket History #161 – Apollo 8 – The Decision Part 2

Posted on May 19, 2016

Perhaps the most significant point about the lunar-orbit flight proposed for Apollo 8 was that the command and service modules would fly the same route to the moon as would be used for the actual lunar landing.

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Tagged:Ac Electronics, Apollo 1, Apollo 4, Apollo 5, Apollo 6, Apollo 7, Apollo 8, Apollo Stack, Apollo The Race To The Moon, B O Evans, B P Blasingame, Boeing, Bowman, Carl Duckett, Chris Kraft, Chrysler, Cia, Circumlunar Simulation, Commandservice Module, Csm, Deke Slayton, Donald Slayton, Fmsac, G H Stoner, General Electric, George Low, George M Bunker, Gerald T Smiley, Gerald Truszynski, Gilruth, Grumman, Hilliard Paige, Houston, Huntsville, Ibm, Joseph Gavin, Kurt Debus, Lee James, Leland Atwood, Lieutenant General Vincent G Huston, Lm 3, Ludie Richard, Marshall Space Flight Center, Martin Marietta, Mcdonnell Douglas, Mit, Mueller, Nasa, National Intelligence Estimate, North American, Owen Maynard, Paine, Philco Ford, Phillips, President Johnson, Presidents Science Advisory Committee, R W Hubner, Robert E Hunter, Rocco Petrone, Saturn Ib, Saturn V, Schneider, Science And Technology Advisory Committee, Seven Step Plan To Lunar Landing, Stark Draper, T A Wilson, Thomas F Morrow, United Aircraft, Walter F Burke, Webb, Wernher Von Braun, William Bergen, William P Gwinn, Zond 4, Zond 5

Jun 8

Space Rocket History #164 – Apollo 8 – Pre-launch

Posted on June 8, 2016

For now the mighty Saturn V stood empty. But overnight, even while Borman’s crew slept, technicians would ready it for departure. By morning its enormous fuel thanks would be filled with cryogenic propellants, until the rocket would contain the exp...

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Tagged:Al Shepard, Apollo 7, Apollo 8, Bill Anders, Buzz Aldrin, Clifford Charlesworth, Csm, Deke Slayton, Dick Proffitt, Donald Slayton, F 1, Frank Borman, Gemini 7, George Low, Goddard, Howard Tindall, Huntsville, Jack King, Jack Schmitt, James Lovell, John Mayer, Lindbergh, Lyndon Johnson, Marilyn Lovell, Marshall Space Flight Center, Nasa, Neil Armstrong, Saturn V, Simulation Supervisor, Titan, Trench, Wernher Von Braun, William Anders

Jun 15

Space Rocket History #165 – Apollo 8 – The Launch

Posted on June 15, 2016

Until now the astronauts knew, in the back of their minds, there was a possibility that a malfunction would turn this countdown into just another practice run and they would have to get out and try again another day. But, as the count reached T minus...

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Tagged:Apollo 7, Apollo 8, Apollo 9, Bill Anders, Buzz Aldrin, Clifford Charlesworth, Csm, Dave Scott, Deke Slayton, Dick Proffitt, Donald Slayton, F 1, Frank Borman, Gemini 7, George Low, Goddard, Huntsville, Jack King, Jack Schmitt, James Lovell, John Mayer, Marilyn Lovell, Marshall Space Flight Center, Nasa, Saturn V, Titan, Trench, William Anders

Jun 22

Space Rocket History #166 – Apollo 8 – Translunar Injection

Posted on June 22, 2016

At T plus 40 seconds Apollo 8 went supersonic and the ride smoothed out. Now it was quite again, but Borman kept a watchful eye on the trajectory readouts. If there was a Saturn malfunction he could whisk the capsule away just by twisting the abort h...

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2-Apollo8 Staging

1-Apollo 8 Lunar Plan

Jul 6

Space Rocket History #167 – Apollo 8 – Coasting Up Hill and Waste Management

Posted on July 6, 2016

Just a few minutes after Apollo 8’s second TV broadcast, Borman, Lovell, and Anders passed Earth’s gravitational hill top and crossed into the Moon’s gravitational sphere of influence.

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Tagged:Apollo 7, Apollo 8, Apollo 9, Bill Anders, Clifford Charlesworth, Csm, Deke Slayton, Donald Slayton, F 1, Frank Borman, Gemini 7, George Low, Goddard, Huntsville, James Lovell, John Mayer, Marilyn Lovell, Marshall Space Flight Center, Nasa, Saturn V, Titan, Trench, Wally Schirra, William Anders

Jul 13

Space Rocket History #168 – Apollo 8 – Lunar Orbit and Earthrise

Posted on July 13, 2016

As Apollo 8 drifted above the far side of the moon Borman, Lovell, and Anders observed a scene of total desolation. It appeared absent of color, except for various shades of gray. There was no atmosphere to soften the view, it was a scene of extrem...

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Far Side Of The Moon

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Tagged:Apollo 10, Apollo 11, Apollo 7, Apollo 8, Apollo 9, Bill Anders, Buzz Aldrin, Chis Kraft, Clifford Charlesworth, Csm, Deke Slayton, Donald Slayton, Earthrise, Frank Borman, Gemini 7, George Low, Houston, Huntsville, Jack King, James Lovell, Marilyn Lovell, Marshall Space Flight Center, Mission Control Center, Nasa, Saturn V, Titan, Tsiokovsky, William Anders

Jul 20

Space Rocket History #169 – Apollo 8 – Christmas 1968

Posted on July 20, 2016

Bill Anders: “We are now approaching lunar sunrise, and for all the people back on Earth, the crew of Apollo 8 has a message that we would like to send to you.” “‘In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. ‘And the earth was without fo...

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Tagged:540, Apollo 10, Apollo 11, Apollo 7, Apollo 8, Apollo 9, Bible, Bill Anders, Buzz Aldrin, Chis Kraft, Christmas, Clifford Charlesworth, Csm, Deke Slayton, Democratic National Convention, Donald Slayton, Earthrise, Frank Borman, Gemini 7, Genesis, George Low, Houston, Huntsville, Jack King, James Lovell, Marilyn Lovell, Marshall Space Flight Center, Martin Luther King, Mission Control Center, Nasa, President Johnson, President Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Saturn V, Titan, Tsiokovsky, William Anders

Sep 14

Space Rocket History #177 – Apollo 9 – Preparations

Posted on September 14, 2016

The biggest concern before Apollo 9 was the docking maneuver. In early 1969, at NASA there was little confidence in the docking system. At a January program review, Phillips said that problems encountered during probe and drogue testing worried him…

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Tagged:A7l Pressure Suit, Apollo 1, Apollo 10, Apollo 11, Apollo 7, Apollo 8, Apollo 9, As 205208, Bethpage, Chis Kraft, Csm, Dave Scott, Deke Slayton, Donald Cheatham, Donald Slayton, Frank Borman, Gemini 6, Gemini 7, George Low, George Mueller, Gilruth, Golden Slippers, Grumman, Gumdrop, Houston, Kleinknecht, Langley, Launch Complex 39, Lunar Module 3, Marshall Space Flight Center, Martin Raines, Mcdivitt, Mission Control Center, Nasa, Neil Armstrong, North American, Paul Haney, President Kennedy, Samuel Phillips, Saturn V, Schweickart, Scott, Spider

Nov 16

Space Rocket History #185 – Apollo 10 – Preparations

Posted on November 16, 2016

Although the contractors had shipped excellent spacecrafts, preparations at Kennedy did not go quickly from the assembly building to the launch pad. Testing was delayed several days in order to stay out of the way of Apollo 9 pre-flight activities. A...

1-apollo-10-logo

Tagged:Apollo 12, Apollo 15, Apollo 9, Chris Kraft, Cm, Command Module, Dave Scott, Deke Slayton, Donn Eisele, Edgar Mitchell, Eugene Cernan, George Low, George Mueller, Gordon Cooper, John Young, Lem, Lm, Lunar Module, Nasa, S Ivb, Sps, Thomas Stafford, Thruster, Walter Cronkite

Nov 23

Space Rocket History #186 – Apollo 10 – Commander Thomas P. Stafford

Posted on November 23, 2016

Thomas P. Stafford was the first member of his Naval Academy Class of 1952 to pin on the first, second, and third stars of a General Officer. He flew six rendezvous in space; logged 507 hours and 43 minutes in space flight and wore the Air Force comm...

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Tagged:Apollo 12, Apollo 15, Apollo 9, Chris Kraft, Cm, Command Module, Dave Scott, Deke Slayton, Donn Eisele, Edgar Mitchell, Eugene Cernan, George Low, George Mueller, Gordon Cooper, Jim Lovell, John Glen, John Young, Lem, Lm, Lunar Module, Nasa, Neil Armstrong, S Ivb, Sps, Thomas Stafford, Thruster, Wally Schirra, Walter Cronkite

Dec 7

Space Rocket History #188 – Apollo 10 – Command Module Pilot John Young

Posted on December 7, 2016

John Young enjoyed the longest career of any astronaut thus far. Over the course of 42 years of active NASA service he made six space flights and is the only person to have piloted, and been commander of, four different classes of spacecraft: Gemini,...

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2-ap10-john-young-looking-at-flight-plan

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Tagged:Apollo 12, Apollo 15, Apollo 9, Chris Kraft, Cm, Command Module, Dave Scott, Deke Slayton, Donn Eisele, Edgar Mitchell, Eugene Cernan, George Low, George Mueller, Gordon Cooper, Jim Lovell, John Glen, John Young, Lem, Lm, Lunar Module, Nasa, Neil Armstrong, S Ivb, Sps, Thomas Stafford, Thruster, Wally Schirra, Walter Cronkite

Dec 21

Space Rocket History #190 – Apollo 10 – The Launch

Posted on December 21, 2016

On May 18th 1969, a king, some congressmen, other distinguished guests, and a hundred thousand other watchers waited at scattered vantage points around the Cape area. At 49 minutes past noon, Rocco Petrone’s launch team sent Apollo 10 on its way to t...

3-launch-a10

2-launch-of-apollo-10

1-crew-of-apollo-10-spaceflight-insider

Tagged:Apollo 12, Apollo 15, Apollo 9, Authur C Clarke, Chris Kraft, Cm, Command Module, Dave Scott, Deke Slayton, Donn Eisele, Edgar Mitchell, Eugene Cernan, George Low, George Mueller, Gordon Cooper, Jack King, Jim Lovell, John Glen, John Young, Lem, Lm, Lunar Module, Nasa, Neil Armstrong, Paul Haney, S Ivb, Sps, Thomas Stafford, Thruster, Wally Schirra, Walter Cronkite

Jan 11

Space Rocket History #192 – Apollo 10 – Translunar Injection & First Docking

Posted on January 11, 2017

After a shaky but successful S-IVB burn Apollo 10 was on the way to the Moon. Now the first order of business was for John Young to move to the command module pilot seat.

3-Preparing for First docking

2-Earth from A10

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Tagged:Charlie Dukes, Chris Kraft, George Low, George Mueller

Feb 15

Space Rocket History #197 – Apollo 10 – Ascent Stage Rendezvous, Docking & Jettisoning

Posted on February 15, 2017

As the lunar module approached, Young saw it through his sextant at a distance of 259 kilometers. Stafford and Cernan got a radar lock on the command module shortly after the insertion burn and watched with interest as the instrument measured the dwi...

3CSM and LM pre-jettison attitude

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1-A10-redocking

Tagged:Deke Slayton, Donn Eisele, Eugene Cernan, George Low, Lunar Module, Thomas Stafford

Jun 7

Space Rocket History #211 – Apollo 11 – Mission Training – Part 3 & Contamination

Posted on June 7, 2017

In addition to the fixed-base lunar module simulators in Houston and at the Cape, astronauts also practiced at Langley Research Center on the suspended lunar landing trainer which was equipped with realistic surface views and lighting.

‘s weight was used by nearly all the astronaut corps

‘s modular equipment stowage assembly (MESA) hatch

1-Aldrin, lunar module pilot for Apollo 11, sets up a solar wind experiment during a practice session.

Tagged:Armstrong, Buzz, George Low, Houston, Langley, Paine

Jun 28

Space Rocket History #417 – Skylab – Skylab 3 – Maximum Effort, Determination, Efficiency, and Accomplishment

Posted on June 28, 2023

Finally, the crew became efficient enough to get all of the work done that was scheduled for a given day. But, that did not make up for the time lost at the beginning of the mission. Reaching 100 percent efficiency was not enough for Bean. ht...

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Tagged:Al Bean, Apollo Telescope Mount, Flare, George Low, Jack Lousma, Jim Fletcher, Jsc, Marshall Space Flight Center, Owen Garriott, Skylab, Skylab 3, Thruster, White Light Coronagraph

Aug 16

Space Rocket History #445 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – A Kind Invitation

Posted on August 16, 2024

In 1969, NASA Administrator Thomas O. Paine saw an opportunity for a paradigm shift in Soviet-American space relations. Given the United States’ clear lead in the race to the moon, he believed an offer of cooperation would not jeopardize the US luna...

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Tagged:Apollo Soyuz, Arnold Frutkin, Astp, Blagonravov, Caldwell Johnson, Chuck Mathews, Dale Myers, Feoktistov, George Hardy, George Low, Glynn Lunney, Keldysh, Nixon, Office Of Manned Space Flight, Petrov, Philip Culbertson, Robert Gilruth, Thomas Paine, Willard Taub, William C Schneider

Aug 30

Space Rocket History #446 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Tell Us All Your Secrets

Posted on August 30, 2024

Lunney and his colleagues were especially captivated by the descriptions of the Soyuz control systems provided by Shatalov and Beregovoy. While immersed in the U.S. space programs, the NASA representatives could only follow the U.S.-U.S.S.R. competit...

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Tagged:Apollo Soyuz, Arnold Frutkin, Astp, Blagonravov, Caldwell Johnson, Feoktistov, George Hardy, George Low, Glynn Lunney, Keldysh, Petrov, Robert Gilruth

Sep 14

Space Rocket History #447 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Creating a Partnership

Posted on September 14, 2024

On January 20th, 1971 in private negotiation, Low and Frutkin met with Keldysh and Feoktistov to discuss rendezvous and docking. NASA proposed developing compatible systems for Apollo and Soyuz rather than future spacecraft, aiming to give specialist...

P-1Academician Aleksandr Pavlovich Vinogradov, left, examines a lunar rock collected on the Apollo 12 mission

P-3 Academician Keldysh below headed the delegations and signed the agreements Soviet Academy of Sciences photos)

P-2 At the Presidium of the Soviet Academy of Sciences, the Soviet and American negotiators face one another at the conference table in January 1971

Tagged:Apollo Soyuz, Arnold Frutkin, Astp, Caldwell Johnson, Feoktistov, George Hardy, George Low, Glynn Lunney, Keldysh, Petrov, Robert Gilruth, Vinogradov

Sep 28

Space Rocket History #448 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Soyuz/Skylab & Apollo/Salyut

Posted on September 28, 2024

Two options were presented: Apollo docking with Salyut/Soyuz or Soyuz with Skylab/Apollo. Caldwell Johnson was taken aback by the Soviets’ eagerness to immediately pursue the development of a universal docking mechanism.

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2-Soyuz Skylab

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Tagged:Apollo Soyuz, Arnold Frutkin, Astp, Caldwell Johnson, Feoktistov, George Hardy, George Low, Glynn Lunney, Keldysh, Petrov, Robert Gilruth, Salyut, Skylab

Oct 11

Space Rocket History #449 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Apollo-Salyut Test Mission Planning

Posted on October 11, 2024

The spacecraft designers led by Caldwell Johnson faced a demanding task. Director Gilruth urged them to accelerate the development of the docking adapter design, aiming to have a functional model ready for the upcoming November meeting with the Sovie...

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Tagged:Apollo Salyut, Apollo Soyuz, Arnold Frutkin, Astp, Bill Creasy, Bushuyev, Caldwell Johnson, Covington, Docking Module, George Hardy, George Low, Glynn Lunney, International Rendezvous And Docking Mission, James Jones, Petrov, Robert Gilruth, Salyut, Skylab, Soyuz 11

Oct 25

Space Rocket History #450 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Round 3 with the Soviets

Posted on October 25, 2024

Finally Kraft and Gilruth told the Soviets that if they were unwilling to agree to the telephone conversations then the NASA delegation might as well pack up and go back to Houston. After some hesitation, the Soviets decided to try the telephone tele...

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Tagged:Apollo Salyut, Apollo Soyuz, Astp, Bill Creasy, Bobkov, Bushuyev, Caldwell Johnson, Docking Module, Edgar Lineberry, George Hardy, George Low, Glynn Lunney, Igor Shmyglevskiy, Ilya Lavrov, Leroy Roberts, Petrov, Robert Gilruth, Robert Smylie, Salyut, Star City

Nov 8

Space Rocket History #451 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – No More Salyut?

Posted on November 8, 2024

In a re-evaluation of the proposed test mission, the Soviets concluded that utilizing the Salyut spacecraft would not be technically and economically viable.

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2-Konstantin Bushuyev

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Tagged:Apollo Salyut, Apollo Soyuz, Astp, Bill Creasy, Bushuyev, Caldwell Johnson, Docking Module, George Low, Glynn Lunney, Kotelnikov, Leroy Roberts, Petrov, Robert Gilruth, Salyut

Nov 22

Space Rocket History #452 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Full Speed Ahead

Posted on November 22, 2024

In April of 1972, George Low returned to Washington from Moscow and briefed Henry Kissinger. He conveyed NASA’s assessment that a joint space mission in 1975 was feasible.

P2-Soviet two-fifths-scale model of their version of the ASTP docking system

P1- Nixon Kosygin summit

P3-Apollo communications links

Tagged:Apollo Soyuz, Astp, Berglund, Bushuyev, Caldwell Johnson, Chet Lee, Csm 111, Dale Myers, Docking Module, Gene Cernan, George Low, Glynn Lunney, James Fletcher, Kosygin, Nixon, Owen Morris, Petrov, Robert Gilruth, Rocco Petrone, Syromyatnikov

Dec 6

Space Rocket History #453 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Mid-term Review

Posted on December 6, 2024

According to George Low, the Soviet mission operations control room was quite large – it contained 16 two-man consoles, thus allowing them 32 flight controllers. In addition, there was a back row of consoles which were used for personnel such as the ...

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Tagged:Apollo Soyuz, Arnold Frutkin, Astp, Berglund, Bushuyev, George Low, Glynn Lunney, Ilya Lavrov, James Fletcher, Kaliningrad, Leonov, Makarov, Petrov, Robert Gilruth, Salyut 2, Soyuz 11, Soyuz 12, Tom Stafford, Vasily Lazarev, Yeliseyev

Dec 20

Space Rocket History #454 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Astronauts & Cosmonauts

Posted on December 20, 2024

For the first time, the Soviet Union publicly announced the crew assignments for a Soyuz mission before the flight. Previously, cosmonaut identities were kept secret until after their flights.

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P3-Rest stop during trip from Star City to Moscow provides crewmen with a chance for a snowball fight November 1973

P2- ASTPmockat 73Paris

Tagged:Apollo Soyuz, Astp, Bushuyev, Deke Slaton, George Low, Glynn Lunney, Ilya Lavrov, Leonov, Makarov, Petrov, Robert Gilruth, Tom Stafford, Valeriy Kubasov, Vance Brand, Vasily Lazarev, Yeliseyev

Jan 10

Space Rocket History #455 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Spacecraft Orientation

Posted on January 10, 2025

The American astronauts acknowledged the necessity of enhancing their Russian language proficiency. They observed that their Russian counterparts, had demonstrated a remarkable commitment to learning English, dedicating 6 to 8 hours each day to indiv...

P2-Spacecraft Simulators at Star City

P1-Interior view of environmental control system

P3-Docking systems installed on a simulator

Tagged:Apollo Soyuz, Astp, Bob Overmyer, Bushuyev, Deke Slaton, George Low, Glynn Lunney, Ilya Lavrov, Leonov, Makarov, Petrov, Robert Gilruth, Ron Evans, Tom Stafford, Valeriy Kubasov, Vance Brand, Vasily Lazarev, Vladimir Shatalov, Yeliseyev

Jan 24

Space Rocket History #456 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Soyuz 16

Posted on January 24, 2025

Soyuz 16 served as a comprehensive rehearsal for the Soviet contribution to Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP).

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P2-Anatoli Filipchenko

Tagged:Apollo Soyuz, Astp, Bob Overmyer, Bushuyev, Deke Slaton, Filipchenko, George Low, Glynn Lunney, Leonov, Makarov, Petrov, Robert Gilruth, Rukavishnikov, Tom Stafford, Vasily Lazarev, Vladimir Shatalov, Yeliseyev

Mar 7

Space Rocket History #459 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – I Want my Apollo/Soyuz TV

Posted on March 7, 2025

Television coverage involved meticulous planning of specific television transmissions, detailed preparation for an onboard press conference, and careful scheduling of symbolic activities designed to engage and inform the public.

2-Rollout

3-Rollout

1-Inside the high bay of the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center, work progresses on the replacement of the first-stage fins of ASTP’s Saturn IB launch vehicle, March 1975

Tagged:Apollo Soyuz, Astp, Ats F, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Baykonur, Bob Shafer, Bushuyev, Carl Ducket, Chet Lee, Donnelly, Gallagher, George Low, Glynn Lunney, Jack King, James Fletcher, Jsc, Ksc, Leonov, Proxmire, Tom Stafford, Vasily Lazarev, Vereshchetin

Mar 28

Space Rocket History #460 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Light the Candles

Posted on March 28, 2025

Reports from Baykonur indicated that the weather was perfect for the launch: clear skies, light winds, and hot July sunshine.

P3-ASTP

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P2-Soyuz launch

Tagged:Apollo Soyuz, Astp, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Baykonur, Bushuyev, Chet Lee, Chris Kraft, Deke Slaton, George Low, Glynn Lunney, James Fletcher, Jesse Gulick, John Yardley, Jsc, Ksc, Leonov, Max Faget, Proxmire, Tom Stafford, Vance Brand, Vasily Lazarev

Apr 11

Space Rocket History #461 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Rendezvous

Posted on April 11, 2025

CapCom Truly radioed at 10:46 with the go-ahead: “I’ve got two messages for you: Moscow is go for docking; Houston is go for docking. It’s up to you guys. Have fun.”

P3-AI Generated Image of Apollo Soyuz docke

P2-Improperly installed connector on the docking latch

P1-separated from the s-ivb

Tagged:Apollo Soyuz, Astp, Ats 6, Baykonur, Bob Crippen, Bushuyev, Chet Lee, Chris Kraft, Deke Slaton, Dzani Bek Ov, Farouk El Baz, George Low, Glynn Lunney, James Fletcher, Jsc, Karol Bobko, Ksc, Kubasov, Leonov, Nell Hutchinson, Pyotr Klimuk, Sevastyanov, Tom Stafford, Truly, Vance Brand

Apr 25

Space Rocket History #462 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Handshake

Posted on April 25, 2025

On July 17, 1975, orbiting in space high above the French city of Metz, the American and Russian commanders shook hands. Their conversation, a mix of personal and technical remarks, reflected a casual familiarity, reminiscent of their simulator train...

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Tagged:Apollo Soyuz, Astp, Ats 6, Baykonur, Brezhnev, Bushuyev, Deke Slaton, Dzani Bek Ov, Ford, George Low, Glynn Lunney, James Fletcher, Jsc, Ksc, Kubasov, Leonov, Nell Hutchinson, Pyotr Klimuk, Sevastyanov, Tom Stafford, Truly, Vance Brand

Jun 6

Space Rocket History #465 – Apollo-Soyuz Test Project – Epilogue

Posted on June 6, 2025

Due to the deterioration of relations between the United States and the Soviet Union in the late 1970s, no follow-on missions to ASTP took place. A backup Apollo spacecraft and Saturn IB rocket were available and there were some discussions of possib...

P3-crewmembers pose with the Apollo Command Module from their mission

P2-President Ford at the White House during the tour of the United States

P1-Stafford, Leonov, Brand, Kubasov, and Slayton in Moscow during the tour of the Soviet Union

Tagged:Apollo Soyuz, Arnold Aldrich, Astp, Baykonur, Bobko, Chris Kraft, Crippen, Deke Slaton, Ellington Air Force Base, George Low, Gerald R Ford, Glynn Lunney, Iss, John F Kennedy, Jsc, Kiev, Kubasov, Leningrad, Leonov, Mir, Novosibirsk, Rockwell, Saturn Ib, Skylab, Space Shuttle, Star City, Tbilisi, Tom Stafford, Uss New Orleans, Vance Brand, Volgograd

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 ...

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Gemini 4

Gemini 4 Astronauts

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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...