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Palomar

Member

From: USA

Registered: 2002-05-30

Posts: 9,734

Re: "Chariots for Apollo"

*Found some interesting stuff in a book I purchased last evening (same title as the thread).

http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/models/a … ations/]LM (LEM) Variations

http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/models/a … 1.jpg]This cutie was to have no ascent engine.  It'd be landed on a descent stage, then used as a "camper" by astronauts descending in a 2nd LM (LEM).  Mission was designed to last "several weeks."

Book also includes nice illustrative "pic" of MOLAB (Mobile Lunar Laboratory) by Grumman.  It's now on exhibit at Long Island's Cradle of Aviation Museum (anyone here ever been there)?  I tried to find a comparable illustration on the 'net...no such luck (even with Google Images...odd).

Let's get these things OUT of museums and into space! 

***
Anyway, book also states (not sure I knew this, perhaps forgot...impossible to remember everything) a false fuel reading almost led to an abort of the Apollo 11 landing.  Hmmmm.  [:edit:  Yes, I do remember this...never mind]

Lots of good stuff in the book _Chariots for Apollo:  The Untold Story behind the Race to the Moon_."

--Cindy

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We all know [i]those[/i] Venusians: Doing their hair in shock waves, smoking electrical coronas, wearing Van Allen belts and resting their tiny elbows on a Geiger counter...

--John Sladek (The New Apocrypha)

~Eternal~

Member

Registered: 2003-09-25

Posts: 211

Re: "Chariots for Apollo"

Its makes me wonder why we never put wheels on the Apollo's ... or the Viking's...

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The MiniTruth passed its first act #001, comname: PATRIOT ACT on  October 26, 2001.

Palomar

Member

From: USA

Registered: 2002-05-30

Posts: 9,734

Re: "Chariots for Apollo"

*Hot damn!  This is a whole lot of brain power (I'm summarizing from the book, NOT quoting):

Book mentions that 27 days after Sputnik I dipped back into the atmosphere, an American Redstone rocket launched Explorer I.  One of von Braun's associates, Ernest Stuhlinger, pushed the button which circularized Explorer's orbit.  What's so great about that?  Authors point out that back then space-tracking stations, on-board programming, and ground-support computers didn't exist (of course). 

Stuhlinger had to work it all out in his head, and with a stopwatch.  He did quit mental adjustments, and when he thought the Redstone had reached the apex of its parabolic curve, he pressed the SEND button and ignited the 2nd stage.  This boosted Explorer into the radiation belt.

Successfully.   

Geez!  Imagine doing all that...in your head, with a stopwatch.

Incredible.  This is a REALLY good book!!

--Cindy

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We all know [i]those[/i] Venusians: Doing their hair in shock waves, smoking electrical coronas, wearing Van Allen belts and resting their tiny elbows on a Geiger counter...

--John Sladek (The New Apocrypha)