Posted on June 4, 2015
A few seconds after liftoff, a fin-vane at the base of the booster stuck and started the 13-meter-tall spacecraft-booster combination spinning like a bullet. Twenty-six seconds into the flight the vehicle started coming apart. The abort-sensing syste...
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Little Joe II- On Pad, Complex 36 (December 7, 1964)
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A pad abort test at White Sands, left, helped determine that the launch escape system could propel the Apollo command module away from danger if a Saturn launch vehicle explosion should threaten
A desert area at White Sands Test Facility, New Mexico, was used for testing the spacecraft propulsion system module
Tagged:A 001, A 002, A 003, A 004, Alan Kehlet, Algol, Apex Cover, Apollo, Canard, Command Module, Convair, Exploration, General Dynamics, Gordon Cooper, History, Houston, John Glenn, Langley, Launch Escape System, Les, Little Joe Ii, Manned Space Flight, Max Q, Msc, Msfc, Nasa, Project Apollo, Q Ball, Qtv, Recruit Te 29, Rocket, Saturn, Saturn I, Scott Carpenter, Service Module, Space, Wally Schirra, White Sands Missile Range
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
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...
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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
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...
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4-Group 4 L-R- Garriott, Gibson. Front row, L-R- Michel, Schmitt, Kerwin.
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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
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
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
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
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...
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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
Posted on June 20, 2013
On April 1, 1959, Robert Gilruth, the head of the Space Task Group, Charles Donlan, Warren North, and Stanley White selected the first American astronauts. The “Mercury Seven” were Scott Carpenter, L. Gordon Cooper, Jr., John H. Glenn, Jr., Virgil I....
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Tagged:Air Force Flight Test Center, Alan Shepard, Charles J Donlan, Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, Deke, Donald Slayton, Edwards Air Force, Glennan, Gordo, Gordon Cooper, Gus, Gus Grissom, History, John Glenn, Mercury, Mercury 7, Mercury Seven, Nasa, Patuxent, Project Mercury, Robert Gilruth, Rocket, Scott Carpenter, Stanley White, Virgil Grissom, Walter Schirra, Warren North
Posted on December 14, 2016
With the passing of John Glenn last week, I thought it would be appropriate to pause my coverage of Apollo 10 for a week and create an episode that celebrates the life of the American Icon, John Glenn. I covered John Glenn’s Mercury flight in episod...
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Tagged:Air Force Flight Test Center, Alan Shepard, Charles J Donlan, Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, Deke, Donald Slayton, Edwards Air Force, Glennan, Godspeed John Glenn, Gordo, Gordon Cooper, Gus, Gus Grissom, History, John Glenn, Mercury, Mercury 7, Mercury Seven, Nasa, Patuxent, Project Mercury, Robert Gilruth, Rocket, Scott Carpenter, Senator John Glenn, Stanley White, Virgil Grissom, Walter Schirra, Warren North
Posted on September 19, 2013
“I am in a big mass of some very small particles, they’re brilliantly lit up like they’re luminescent. I never saw anything like it! They round a little: they’re coming by the capsule and they look like little stars. A whole shower of them coming by....
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Tagged:Africa, Alan Shepard, Atlas, Australia, Canary Islands, Canton Island, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Donalk Slayton, Enos, Exploration, Fireflies, Friendship 7, Goddard, Godspeed, Gordon Cooper, Guaymas, Gus Grissom, Hawaii, History, Icbm, Indian Ocean, John Glenn, Kano Nigeria, Kauai, Luminescent, Lyndon Johnson, Max Q, Mercury, Mercury 6, Mercury 7, Mercury Control, Mercury Atlas 6, Mexico, Muchea, Nasa, Pacific, Perth, Posigrade, Robert Gilruth, Rocket, Rockingham, Russia, Scott Carpenter, Segment 51, Soviet, Space, Vostok, Walter Schirra, Zanzibar
Posted on October 17, 2013
In February of 1962, the United States put John Glenn into orbit. This prompted Soviet leadership to suddenly asked Chief Designer Korolev to launch the next space spectacular promptly. To make this mission truly spectacular the Soviets decided to la...
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Tagged:3ka, 8k72k, Balkhash, Bykovsky, Chertok, Exploration, Gagarin, Groza, History, John Glenn, Kamanin, Kazakhstan, Keldysh, Korolev, Mercury, Nelyubov, Nikolaev, Nikolai Kamanin, Popovich, R 7, R7, Rocket, Rudenko, Russia, Scott Carpenter, Smirnov, Soviet, Space, Tass, Titov, Vostok, Vostok 3, Vostok 4, Zenit
Posted on November 7, 2013
Mercury-Atlas 9 was the fourth and final manned orbital flight of the Mercury program. The flight objectives were to:
(1) evaluate the effects on the astronaut of approximately one day in orbital flight;
(2) verify that man can function for an exte...
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Tagged:0 05g, Airglow, Apollo, Atlas, Beco, Boy Scouts Of America, Cape Canaveral, Cape Kennedy, Coastal Sentry Quebec, Exploration, Faith 7, Gordo, Gordon Cooper, Gus Grissom, Himalayas, History, John Glenn, Kearsarge, Kentucky, Kyushu Japan, Leroy G Cooper, Life Scout, Mcdonnell, Mercury, Mercury 7, Mercury 9, Mercury Control, Mercury Atlas 8, Mercury Atlas 9, Murray, Nasa, Oklahoma, Prayer, President Kennedy, Retro, Rocket, Scott Carpenter, Seco, Shawnee, Space, Tibetan, University Of Ohio, Virgil Grissom, Visual Acquisition And Perception, Walter Schirra, Xenon Strobe Lights, Zanzibar, Zodiacal Light
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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