Despite predictions, events seldom occur precisely as expected. The calculated breakup altitude of Skylab was based on its intended structural strength specifications. However, the actual vehicle was stronger than the specified strength requirements. The post Space Rocket History #433 – Skylab – Crashdown first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The official decision to proceed with the Skylab reboost mission was made on September 1st 1977, initiating a two-year preparation period for the development and production of the required hardware and systems. The post Space Rocket History #432 – Skylab – Reboost first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Early in the planning stages of the Skylab flight, there was a desire to keep it in orbit long enough to use it as the core of a larger station. The post Space Rocket History #431 – Skylab – Skylab 5 & Skylab B first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Activating the station upon arrival was a challenge, but packing up to return home was also a major event that took several days. For Carr and his crew, this was the last planned visit, but they left open the possibility … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #430 – Skylab – Skylab 4 – Leaving Skylab first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The next time an American would venture outside of a spacecraft would be on a Space Shuttle flight and that was nine years later. In less than a decade, from June 1965 to February 1974, American astronauts had learned to … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #429 – Skylab – Skylab 4 – Solar Observations and the Last EVA first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

This crew was the first to celebrate a new year in space 17 times as they orbited the earth and moved through the time zones. The post Space Rocket History #428 – Skylab – Skylab 4 – Kohoutek in all its Glory first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“We and everybody on the ground thought that it was going to be a beautiful, brilliant comet. It turned out to be beautiful all right, but it was so faint that we really had to work to find it. Once … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #427 – Skylab – Skylab 4 – Christmas in Space first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“Nothing was outside, three times I went out that hatch into the ‘truly great outdoors.’ When I was out there, it was a silent world, except for the whispers of my own breath. Sometimes I felt totally alone, like the … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #426 – Skylab – Skylab 4 – The First EVA first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“There was no strike in space by any stretch of the imagination. What could we threaten to do, go live on the moon? If any of these writers had gotten their information from just one of us, the crew or … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #425 – Skylab – Skylab 4 – The Strike (Fake News) first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

One stowaway was on the bicycle ergometer, another was in the LBNP (lower body negative pressure device), and the third was sitting on the toilet in the waste management compartment. The post Space Rocket History #424 – Skylab – Skylab 4 – Stowaways & We Lost Gibson first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“As we rode, the big blue eyes of Al Shepard bored into each of us looking for any sign of weakness, any indication that one of these rookies was not ready to go. I looked back with a defiant smile, … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #423 – Skylab – Skylab 4 – Launch & The Vomit Bag Scandal first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

In space, on the day the second crew left Skylab, which was September 25, 1973, the orbital workshop began it’s third unmanned period. The post Space Rocket History #422 – Skylab – Skylab 4 – Kohoutek, Experiments, Flight Prep & Training first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“I felt like that mission was from my viewpoint the highlight of my career, as being the best astronaut that I could be. I felt like our crew was the best crew we could be because we had done the … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #421 – Skylab – Skylab 3 – Recovery & Re-acclimation first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“The thing I remember about reentry was not positioning some RCS switches correctly. We got behind and Owen could not read my notes in the checklist because of the limited space (and my ‘unique’ penmanship). I said, ‘Give me the … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #420 – Skylab – Skylab 3 – De-orbit, Re-entry, & Splashdown first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“Hello Houston. Roger. Well I, haven’t talked with you for a while. Isn’t that you down there. Bob? This is Helen, here in Skylab. The boys hadn’t had a good home cooked meal in so long, I  thought I’d bring … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #419 – Skylab – Skylab 3 – Those Tricky Garriotts first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

On mission day 28, August 24th 1973, it was time to perform the 2nd EVA.  Garriott and Lousma once again stepped outside the orbital workshop for a 4 and ½ hour spacewalk. The post Space Rocket History #418 – Skylab – Skylab 3 – AMU, EVA 2, Space Physics, Solar Physics and Mission Extension first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

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 … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #417 – Skylab – Skylab 3 – Maximum Effort, Determination, Efficiency, and Accomplishment first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“I had to connect eleven five-foot sections of aluminum poles, twice, forming two long poles. These were then extended to Jack some forty or fifty feet away, where the poles were mounted in a ‘V’, and a large ‘sail’ pulled … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #416 – Skylab – Skylab 3 – Wives, Spiders, Minnows and a Spacewalk first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“Near the end of our preparation period, management said; Well, we believe, we can do this, now let’s set about to see how we can get them down without expending the resources for a rescue mission.  So just overnight we … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #415 – Skylab – Skylab 3 – Rescue Mission Part 2 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“I think for me that was probably the low point of the mission because it threatened our ability to get our job done, and I wasn’t willing to come home.  I’ve never been afraid of space, but that was a … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #414 – Skylab – Skylab 3 – Rescue Mission Part 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Garriott was in the center couch and Lousma was on his right with a small window near his seat, Suddenly Jack announced, “Owen, there goes one of our thrusters floating by the window!”   The post Space Rocket History #413 – Skylab – Skylab 3-Rendezvous, Docking & Vomit first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The crew complement for the Skylab 3 mission was 783 life forms (52 fish, 720 flies, 6 mice, 2 spiders and 3 humans), by far the largest crew yet. The post Space Rocket History #412 – Skylab – The Launch of Skylab 3 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Before the astronauts could leave there was one final problem to solve. Skylab’s refrigeration system began warming up. Houston immediately went to work on finding a solution. Now, there was some concern that the crews return would be delayed. The post Space Rocket History #411 – Skylab – Skylab 2 – Splashdown first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

On Mission day 25, the crew was informed that they had surpassed the Russian space endurance record set by Soyuz 11 on Salyut 1 in 1971. The post Space Rocket History #410 – Skylab – Skylab 2 – Days 24-28 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“Houston, Skylab. I’d like you to be the first to know that the PLT is the proud father of a genuine flare.” Joe Kerwin The post Space Rocket History #409 – Skylab – Skylab 2 – Days 8-23 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

NASA’s first priority was to get Skylab back into solar inertial attitude.  This was both the coolest attitude and would point the Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM) solar arrays directly at the sun. Thus the crew would have the most electrical … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #408 – Skylab – Skylab 2 – Days 2-7 & 10th Anniversary Celebration first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

During the stand up EVA, Kerwin held Weitz while he pulled at the debris several times which disturbed the stability of the Skylab station and caused the Skylabs gyros to compensate. This was a big problem because it nearly pulled … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #407 – Skylab – “We Can Fix Anything” first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

At 07:00 hours Houston time, Skylab 2 roared off its Milk Stool from LC-39B; the first Saturn IB launch in almost five years and only the second launch from Pad 39B. The post Space Rocket History #406 – Skylab – The Launch of Skylab 2 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Nasa concluded that the failure of the micrometeoroid shield 63 seconds into the flight caused the breaking of the solar array system. Furthermore, at 593 seconds into the flight the second stage retro rocket plume exhaust resulted in the ripping … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #405 – Skylab – What Went Wrong and How Do We Fix It? first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Having two rockets stacked on pads 39A and 39B at the same time made for quite a sight at the Kennedy Space Center. There were also two firing rooms at KSC’s Launch Control Center that would control the countdowns for … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #404 – Skylab – The Launch of Skylab 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

This SMEAT crew would test out various elements of the Skylab equipment and procedures in a series of trials, ending in a full-scale simulation that was set at 56 days. The post Space Rocket History #403 – Skylab – S.M.E.A.T. – Skylab Mission 0 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The backup crew and some support crew participated in an interesting rescue scenario with 2 astronauts flying to Skylab to take back the crew of 3 onboard Skylab. This would mean 5 astronauts returning to earth in the command module. The post Space Rocket History #402 – Skylab – Training Part 2 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Aside from physically training for the longest crewed missions that the United States had ever attempted, the actual training program was developed simultaneously with the hardware and experiments for the mission. The post Space Rocket History #401 – Skylab – Training Part 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Bill Pogue served with the Thunderbirds as an aerobatics pilot from 1955 to 1957. The post Space Rocket History #400 – Skylab – The Astronauts Part 5 – Pogue & Weitz first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Carr was in the likely crew rotation position to serve as lunar module pilot for Apollo 19 and walk on the Moon before the mission was canceled by NASA in 1970. The post Space Rocket History #399 – Skylab – The Astronauts Part 4 – Lousma & Carr first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“Farewell, Aquarius, and we thank you.” Joe Kerwin The post Space Rocket History #398 – Skylab – The Astronauts Part 3 – Kerwin & Lousma first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“I started out being president of my first grade class, two years in a row.” Ed Gibson The post Space Rocket History #397 – Skylab – The Astronauts Part 2 – Garriott & Gibson first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“Pete wanted to do Skylab and we both felt that we did not want the moon program to get crowded, other people deserved chances too.” Al Bean The post Space Rocket History #396 – Skylab – The Astronauts Part 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Skylab had three bedrooms or sleep compartments, one for each astronaut aboard.  To save space, the beds were arranged vertically in the quarters.  The post Space Rocket History #395 – Skylab – The Tour Part 2 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

As a crew would approach Skylab in their Apollo Command Module, they would see its docking port that was called the Multiple Docking Adapter or MDA.  The post Space Rocket History #394 – Skylab – The Tour Part 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

During 1970-1972, a possible fourth “new” docking mission with Skylab was considered. This new mission would not be just another Apollo docking, instead it was a radically different idea.  The post Space Rocket History #393 – Skylab – Soyuz Mission first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

On February 1970, Nasa announced that the AAP had been renamed.  America’s first space station would enter the history books as Skylab. The post Space Rocket History #392 – Skylab – Let’s Call it Skylab first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The Apollo Applications Program (AAP) was created in 1966 by NASA headquarters to develop science-based human spaceflight missions using hardware developed for the Apollo program. The post Space Rocket History #391 – Skylab – Pre-history – Apollo Applications Program first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

On June 7th 1969, General Stewart ordered all work on Gemini B, the Titan IIIM and the MOL spacesuit, to cease and to cancel or curtail all other contracts. The official announcement that the MOL had been canceled was made … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #390 – Skylab – Pre-history – MOL Part 4 & Extending Apollo first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

A planning document depicted 12-man and 40-man stations, both with self-defense capability. It described the 40-man, Y-shaped station as a “spaceborne command post” in synchronous orbit. The key requirement was “post attack survivability”, the station would be capable of “Strategic/tactical … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #389 – Skylab – Pre-history – MOL Part 3 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Strangely enough the MOL astronauts only knew of the cover story that the program would be a space laboratory for military experiments and did not learn of the reconnaissance role until after selection. The post Space Rocket History #388 – Skylab – Pre-history – MOL Part 2 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

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 … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #387 – Skylab – Pre-history – Dyna-Soar & MOL first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

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. The post Space Rocket History #386 – Skylab – Pre-history first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Once its antennas were deployed, Explorer 49 was the largest human-made object to orbit the Moon as of 2022.   The post Space Rocket History #385 – Copernicus (OAO-3), SAS-2, Venera 8, Luna 20 & 21, and Explorer 49 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Launched in 1972 and weighing 258 kilograms (569 pounds), Pioneer 10 completed the first mission to the planet Jupiter and became the first of five artificial objects to achieve the escape velocity needed to leave the Solar System.   The post Space Rocket History #384 – Pioneer 10 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“The UK 4 (United Kingdom Research Satellite 4), a.k.a. Ariel 4, was a small observatory designed to investigate the interactions between electromagnetic waves, plasmas, and energetic particles present in the upper ionosphere.” Wikipedia             The post Space Rocket History #383 – Ariel 4, Prospero X-3, Shinsei, Isis-2, And Our 9th Anniversary first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

This is how Deputy Chief Designer for OKB-1, Boris Chertok described the launch of Mars 3. “The red disk of the Sun was just touching the horizon and dramatically illuminated the rocket as it lifted off with a roar. Separation … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #382 – Mars 2 & 3 and Luna 18 & 19 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Mariner 8 and 9 were virtually identical and designed to continue the atmospheric studies begun by Mariner 6 and 7, and to hopefully map over 70% of the Martian surface. The post Space Rocket History #381 – Mariner 8 & 9 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The Apollo 17 mission was the most productive and trouble-free piloted mission to the moon and represented the culmination of continual advancements in hardware, procedures, training, planning, operations, and scientific experiments. The post Space Rocket History #380 – Apollo 17 – The Finale first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

At 4:56 Houston time, Gene rested the tip of his left index finger on the yellow ignition button.   The post Space Rocket History #379 – Apollo 17 – Lunar Lift off, Docking & Orbital Science first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“As we leave the Moon and Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came, and God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind. Godspeed the crew of Apollo Seventeen.” – Gene Cernan’s final words from the surface of … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #378 – Apollo 17 – Moonwalk 3 – The Last Steps on the Moon first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“How can there be orange soil on the Moon?! (Pause) Jack, that is really orange.” Gene Cernan The post Space Rocket History #377 – Apollo 17 – Moonwalk 1 & 2 – Orange Soil first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Gene Cernan’s first words were “As I step off at the surface of Taurus-Littrow, I’d like to dedicate the first steps of Apollo Seventeen to all those who made it possible.”   The post Space Rocket History #376 – Apollo 17 – Moonwalk 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Gene had a deadlock visual on the landing site. He knew exactly where he was, and the LM had become part of him, responding to his wishes as well as his touch on the controls as they lowered closer to … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #375 – Apollo 17 – The Last Manned Landing first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

For the next two days, Jack Schmitt would do a running account of Earth’s weather patterns. One Capcom even called Schmitt the human weather satellite.       The post Space Rocket History #374 – Apollo 17 – To the Moon first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

At 12:33 A.M. Dec. 7th 1972, “the hold-down arms released and the mighty Saturn V stirred, balanced on a dazzling fireball that grew to the size of an atomic bomb. As a show-stopping spectacular, nothing in the entire space program … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #373 – Apollo 17 – The Launch first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

By the time they reached the elevator, Cernan felt absolutely charmed, and was grinning from ear to ear. His Saturn V sparkled like a 363-foot-high jewel rampant against the night sky, center stage and draped in spotlights.   The post Space Rocket History #372 – Apollo 17 – Glitches first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Flight director Gene Kranz wrote that Cernan was his favorite because of his carefree and jovial attitude, unabashed patriotism, and his close personal relationship with the flight controllers.  The post Space Rocket History #371 – Apollo 17 – Commander Eugene Cernan first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Harrison Schmitt played a key role in training Apollo crews to be geologic observers when they were in lunar orbit and competent geologic field workers when they were on the lunar surface. After each of the landing missions, he participated … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #370 – Apollo 17 – Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Apollo 17 would break several crewed spaceflight records: 1) longest moon mission duration: 12 days 13 hours 52 minutes (just a day and a third shorter than the 14 days set in 1965 by Gemini 7), 2) longest total lunar … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #369 – Apollo 17 – Mankind’s Last Giant Leap first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

On re-entry Casper hit the atmosphere at an altitude of about 400,000 feet above the earth and at a velocity of nearly 25,000 miles per hour.  The post Space Rocket History #368 – Apollo 16 – Splashdown first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The LM eventually crashed due to lunar gravity anomalies. Since Houston didn’t know exactly where it landed, it was not useful to calibrate seismic experiments on the surface.  The post Space Rocket History #367 – Apollo 16 – Rendezvous, Docking, Ascent Stage Dump, Ken’s EVA and Lord of the Wedding Rings first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

It was the only time in their whole lunar stay that Charlie had a real moment of panic and thought he had killed himself. The post Space Rocket History #366 – Apollo 16 – Moonwalk 3, Lunar Olympics & Lift-off From the Moon first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The crew nicknamed this operation “The Big Sneak.” They figured the only way to do this was to approach from behind a big rock, then reach over and collect the sample. The post Space Rocket History #365 – Apollo 16 – Moonwalk 2 & 3 – “The Big Sneak” first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

John and Charlie also collected several rusty-looking rocks with brown stains on their surfaces. These were exciting finds because the rusty appearance suggested the presence of hydrated oxides of iron. “Hydrated” meant water and the scientists had a serious interest … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #364 – Apollo 16 – Moonwalk 2 – Evidence of Water first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Flag Crater was so steep that if either one of them fell in, it would have been fatal! There was no rescue from the bottom of a big crater. The post Space Rocket History #363 – Apollo 16 – Moonwalk 1 – Part 3 – Grand Prix first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Charlie and John were startled by their landing spot. Much of the landing area was covered with rocks or had a steep slope.  Fortunately, they had managed to land on the only level and smooth spot around. The post Space Rocket History #362 – Apollo 16 – Moonwalk 1 – Part 2 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“There you are, our mysterious and unknown Descartes Highlands Plains. Apollo 16 is gonna change your image.” John Young The post Space Rocket History #361 – Apollo 16 – Post Landing & Moonwalk 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Due to the change in their flight plan caused by the six-hour delay, the crew had to reprogram a great deal of their onboard data, and this had to be done before they had LOS.   The post Space Rocket History #360 – Apollo 16 – Lunar Landing first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

In the event of a secondary control system failure in the engine, the mission rules stated the entire landing phase of the mission would have to be terminated.   The post Space Rocket History #359 – Apollo 16 – Lunar Orbit & No Go for Landing – Big Reveal & Tang Ceremony first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“Unlike the roller-coaster ride of Earth orbit, we are entering a slow-motion domain where time and distance seem to have more meaning than speed.” Mike Collins  The post Space Rocket History #358 – Apollo 16 – Trans-Lunar Coast first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

It looked like they had a leak from one of the propellant tanks on the Lunar Module.  If so, that meant abort!  The post Space Rocket History #357 – Apollo 16 – TLI, Transposition & the LM Fuel Leak? first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Duke was startled. Why was it shaking so hard? What in the world was happening? There had to be something wrong with this rocket. He didn’t recall any briefing to expect this violent vibration as they sat on the launch … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #356 – Apollo 16 – Climb to Orbit first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

T-90 seconds and all Charlie Duke could think about was let’s go! There was no fear, no reluctance, no second thoughts. He was consumed with the desire to hear the words Lift-off.  He felt this was his one and only … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #355 – Apollo 16 – The Launch first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

John Watts Young was an astronaut, naval officer and aviator, test pilot, and aeronautical engineer. He became the ninth person to walk on the Moon as commander of the Apollo 16 mission in 1972. He flew on four different classes … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #354 – Apollo 16 – CMDR John W. Young first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“Roger, Twank…Tranquility, we copy you on the ground. You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue. We’re breathing again. Thanks a lot!,” Capcom Charlie Duke, Apollo 11 landing. The post Space Rocket History #353 – Apollo 16 – LMP Charlie Duke first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“cogito, ergo sum” (I think, therefore I am). Rene Descartes. The post Space Rocket History #352 – Apollo 16 – Introduction, Crew Selection & CMP Ken Mattingly first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

As the red smoke cleared, Al saw widening holes in one of their parachutes, collapsing it into a useless strip of cloth. “We’ve got a streamer on one,” Al reported. The post Space Rocket History #351 – Apollo 15 – First Deep Space EVA and Splashdown first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

On Hadley Plain, at 171:37 GET, right on schedule, Falcon’s engine lit, hurling the ascent stage upward in an impressive flurry of dust and debris, captured for the first time on camera and transmitted live to a world-wide audience. The post Space Rocket History #350 – Apollo 15 – Lunar Liftoff, Rendezvous and Docking – Tang Ceremony first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

After being cooped up together so closely with his fellow astronauts inside Endeavor, Worden enjoyed stretching out for his solo flight.  Now he really got to fly. The post Space Rocket History #349 – Apollo 15 – Meanwhile on Endeavour first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“We pray for one last landingOn the globe that gave us birth;Let us rest our eyes on the fleecy skiesAnd the cool, green hills of Earth.” Robert A. Heinlein The post Space Rocket History #348 – Apollo 15 – Traverse 3 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Both men realized what they had discovered. The rock was almost entirely plagioclase. This was surely a chunk of anorthosite, a piece of the primordial crust, the Genesis Rock. The post Space Rocket History #347 – Apollo 15 – Traverse 2-Part 2 – The Genesis Rock first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Suddenly, Scott called out that the Rover was beginning to slide down the hill.  As the back wheels came off the ground, Scott quickly got back on to hold the rover down. The post Space Rocket History #346 – Apollo 15 – Traverse 2-Part 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The whole stripped-down rover weighed about 455 pounds on Earth but only 76 pounds on the moon and was built to carry 2 1/2 times its weight at a maximum speed of about 10 miles per hour. The post Space Rocket History #345 – Apollo 15 – The Lunar Rover & Traverse 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

After a good nights sleep, Houston woke the astronauts up an hour early the next morning because of a slight oxygen leak. The post Space Rocket History #344 – Apollo 15 – Oxygen Leak, Glass Ball, First Steps & The Lunar Rover first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

It was immediately clear that Falcon had landed on uneven ground, right on the rim of a small crater; the LM was tipped backward at a slight angle. It turned out that one of the rear feet had landed in … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #343 – Apollo 15 – Falcon on the Moon first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Craning to look through the triangular window for a glimpse of the land ahead, Scott saw no sign of Hadley Rille. The post Space Rocket History #342 – Apollo 15 – Lunar Orbit & Landing first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The SPS engine was used for all the future burns.   It was the astronauts ticket home.  Any doubt as to whether it could fire raised the question as to whether the mission could continue. The post Space Rocket History #341 – Apollo 15 – Serious Problems first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

For Scott all feelings were forgotten. All senses except sight were subordinated. All Scott’s concentration was focused on hearing information from Irwin, Worden and Mission Control about the status of the spacecraft and the Saturn V. The post Space Rocket History #340 – Apollo 15 – Climb to Orbit first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The last face they saw was Guenter’s, smiling and waving an enormous crescent wrench. Then the heavy hatch closed with a deep thunk. The post Space Rocket History #339 – Apollo 15 – The Launch first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

As Command Module Pilot for Apollo 9, Scott’s responsibilities were heavy. The Lunar Module was to separate from the Command and Service Module during the mission; if it failed to return, Scott would have to run the entire spacecraft for … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #338 – Apollo 15 – CDR Dave Scott Part 2 & The Postal Covers Incident first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Dave Scott showed incredible presence of mind during the unexpected events of the Gemini 8 mission. Even in the middle of an emergency, out of contact with Mission Control, he had thought to reenable ground control of the Agena before … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #337 – Apollo 15 – LMP Jim Irwin & CDR Dave Scott first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The twelve day Apollo 15 mission was scheduled to launch on July 26, 1971.  It would be the fourth United States human exploration of the Moon. As compared with earlier missions, Apollo 15 would double the time and extend by … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #336 – Apollo 15 – Introduction, Crew Selection & CMP Al Worden first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

It was decided that henceforth, cosmonauts would wear pressure suits for launch and the return to Earth. Also, a system was installed to automatically pump air into the descent module in the event of decompression.  Additionally, the ventilation valves were … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #335 – Impacts of Soyuz 11 on Future Soyuz, Salyut-1 & Apollo first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Dobrovolsky wrote in his diary, “Some days were a nightmare. There was a general absence of everything: no interesting things, no happiness, the monotonous sound of the ventilators, strong smells, numerous experiments. It seemed to me that Flight Control simply … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #331 – Soyuz 11/Salyut 1 – Life Aboard the First Space Station first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Volkov radioed “Zarya, wait! Yantar 3 is in Soyuz. Don’t start until Yantar 3 has returned to the Salyut! There is a strong smell in Salyut! He will put on a mask and go in again!” The post Space Rocket History #330 – Soyuz 11/Salyut 1 – What’s That Smell? first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“I am proud to have been involved in the Vostok spacecraft which carried Gagarin on the first manned space flight and in its modification for Voskhod.” Volkov The post Space Rocket History #329 – Soyuz 11 – The Replacement Crew – Dobrovolsky, Volkov, and Patsayev – Part 2 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Dobrovolsky was blond, tall, broad-shouldered, and tough. He was kind-hearted and had a contagious belly laugh. At the Air Force school, his friends nicknamed him `Odessa’, and he was proud of it.  The post Space Rocket History #328 – Soyuz 11 – The Replacement Crew – Dobrovolsky, Volkov, and Patsayev – Part 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

On May 4th, 1971 the prime crew of Soyuz 11 was confirmed to be Leonov, Commander; Kubusov, Flight Engineer; and Kolodin, Research Engineer. Their assignment was to spend between 30 and 45 days on board Salyut 1. The post Space Rocket History #327 – Soyuz 11 – The Prime Crew first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

… There was no provision for the possibility of undocking if the entire docking cycle had not been executed … The post Space Rocket History #326 – Soyuz 10 – Undocking and Re-entry first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“They can’t approach at that rate,” fretted Mishin. “Why aren’t you doing anything? Tell the crew what to do!” “We don’t need to do anything; deceleration will begin now,” Rauschenbach reassured Mishin. The post Space Rocket History #325 – Soyuz 10 – Docking with Salyut 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The objective of the Soyuz 10 mission was to deliver and return to earth the first crew of Salyut 1.  The Soyuz was to hard dock with Salyut 1 and then the crew was to transfer internally to the station. … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #324 – Soyuz 10 with Shatalov, Yeliseyev and Rukavishnikov first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

In record time, the OKB-1 rebels led by Yuri Semenov developed the space station designated DOS-7K. The station used the body of a vehicle from the Almaz project, but outfitted it with modified systems from the Soyuz spacecraft. The post Space Rocket History #323 – Salyut 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“For one priceless moment, in the whole history of man, all the people on this earth are truly one. One in their pride in what you have done. And one in our prayers that you will return safely to earth” … Continue reading → The post 50th Anniversary Special – An Encore Presentation of Space Rocket History #224 – Apollo 11 – Moonwalk – Part 2 – One Priceless Moment first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Alan Shepard’s wife Louise was elated after watching on TV as Shepard boarded a Navy ship bound for Houston, where he would be safe behind the glass windows of the post-flight quarantine room. The post Space Rocket History #322 – Apollo 14 – Recovery & Conclusion first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Gradually, as Mitchell worked and glanced at the bright crescent, he was filled with a quiet euphoria, great tranquillity, and an overpowering sense of understanding. It was as if he had suddenly begun to hear a new language, one being … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #321 – Apollo 14 – Splashdown first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Would the docking probe that caused so much difficulty a week ago during the first docking work now or would Shepard and Mitchell be forced into a space walk in Lunar orbit? The post Space Rocket History #320 – Apollo 14 – Docking & Alexei Leonov first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

141:45:30 Shepard: Okay. The abort stage is set. Ascent Engine is Armed. 6, 5, 4… 141:45:38 Mitchell: Proceed with the ignition program 141:45:38 Shepard: …3, 2, 1, 0… 141:45:42 Mitchell: Ignition. 141:45:43 Shepard: We have ignition… 141:45:44 Mitchell: What a … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #319 – Apollo 14 – Lunar Lift-off first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“It was terribly, terribly frustrating; coming up over that ridge that we were going up, and thinking, finally, that was it; and it wasn’t – suddenly recognizing that, really, you just don’t know where you are.” Ed Mitchell The post Space Rocket History #318 – Apollo 14 – Moonwalk 2 – Part 2 – How about a round of golf? first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Silently and carefully, Armstrong raised his left boot over the lip of the footpad and lowered it to the dust. Immediately he tested his weight, bouncing in the gentle gravity, and when he felt firm ground, he was still, one … Continue reading → The post 50th Anniversary Special – An Encore Presentation of Space Rocket History #223 – Apollo 11 – Moonwalk – Part 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The majority of the second moonwalk was dedicated to reaching the rim of Cone Crater.  The wide, deep geological gold mine, which scientists believed was actually the remains of an ancient volcano. The post Space Rocket History #317 – Apollo 14 – Moonwalk 2 – Part 1 – The Rim of Cone Crater first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

With the Hycon camera down, Roosa would have to step in and use a Hasselblad with a 500 mm lens, to take detailed photos of the Apollo 16 potential landing site.  If Roosa did nothing else, he had to return … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #316 – Apollo 14 – Solo Flight Over the Moon & Lunar Geology first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The mortar package contained a set of grenades which were planned to be fired to distances of 500, 1000, 3000, and 5000 feet to the north of the ALSEP site. The post Space Rocket History #315 – Apollo 14 – Moonwalk 1 – Part 3 – ALSEP Deployment first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

A small plutonium source was used to power the Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) that would provide electric power for the ALSEP experiments.  Ed Mitchell performed the delicate maneuver of inserting the fuel capsule into the RTG. The post Space Rocket History #314 – Apollo 14 – Moonwalk 1 – Part 2 – Fueling the Nuke first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“Al is on the surface. And it’s been a long way, but we’re here.” Alan Shepard The post Space Rocket History #313 – Apollo 14 – Moonwalk 1 – Part 1 – Color TV From the Moon first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Suddenly the caution lights went out and the radar signals began to transmit. Within seconds the astronauts could see that its data was good. Seconds later in mission control, a jubilant Will Presley shouted, “Flight, we got radar lockup!” The post Space Rocket History #312 – Apollo 14 – Lunar Landing – Part 2 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

While checking the lander’s guidance software, during a final practice run for the landing, engineers in mission control detected that the computer was receiving an errant signal from the abort pushbutton. The post Space Rocket History #311 – Apollo 14 – Lunar Landing – Part 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The first extended use of the Service Propulsion System engine on the Command and Service module was for the Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI) burn. The post Space Rocket History #310 – Apollo 14 – Lunar Orbit first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Mitchell kept his plan a secret from NASA, knowing that the agency would be completely unreceptive to the idea. He said nothing about it to his crewmates. The test subjects had also agreed to keep quiet. The post Space Rocket History #309 – Apollo 14 – The Long Coast first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“Houston, Tranquillity Base here. The Eagle has landed.” The post 50th Anniversary Special – An Encore Presentation of Space Rocket History #221 – Apollo 11 – Lunar Landing – Part 3 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Suddenly, Buzz and Neil heard the high-pitched sound of the Master Alarm. On the computer display the “PROG” light glowed amber. “Program alarm,” Armstrong radioed. Quickly, Aldrin queried the computer for the alarm code, and “1202” flashed on the display. The post 50th Anniversary Special – An Encore Presentation of Space Rocket History #220 – Apollo 11 – Lunar Landing – Part 2 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The machine-like performance of flight crew and ground controllers continued. Each participant was in perfect harmony with the other, moving to a cadence dictated by the laws of physics and the clock. The post 50th Anniversary Special – An Encore Presentation of Space Rocket History #219 – Apollo 11 – Lunar Landing – Part 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Docking was a delicate maneuver, since both ships were traveling at nearly five miles per second, but the docking mechanism itself was one of the simplest on the entire spacecraft, and the docking procedure had been perfected on previous Apollo flights, … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #308 – Apollo 14 – Transposition, Docking & Extraction first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“The approaching dusk and the damp mistiness left by the now-departed rainstorm only enhanced the spectacular sight and the sound of the launch. Tentacles of flame erupted on either side of the bottom of the Saturn V, which seemed to … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #307 – Apollo 14 – The Climb to Orbit & TLI first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The first launch window for Apollo 14 began at 15:23, Eastern Standard Time, 31 January 1971, and lasted almost four hours. The post Space Rocket History #306 – Apollo 14 – The Launch first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

On November 9, 1970, the Apollo 14/Saturn V assembly, as tall as a 36-story building, rolled out of the Vehicle Assembly Building on the proportionally huge crawler transporter. The post Space Rocket History #305 – Apollo 14 – Pre-launch first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Even with all the problems, Shepard piloted the Lunar Module Antares to the most accurate landing of the entire Apollo program. Shepard became the fifth and, at the age of 47, the oldest man to walk on the Moon, and … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #304 – Apollo 14 – Commander Alan B. Shepard Jr. – Part 4 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

After the Mercury-Atlas 10 mission was canceled, Shepard was designated as the Commander of the first crewed Gemini mission, with Thomas P. Stafford chosen as his pilot. The post Space Rocket History #303 – Apollo 14 – Commander Alan B. Shepard Jr. – Part 3 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

On January 19, 1961, Robert R. Gilruth, the director of NASA’s Space Task Group, informed the seven astronauts that Shepard had been chosen for the first American crewed mission into space. The post Space Rocket History #302 – Apollo 14 – Commander Alan B. Shepard Jr. – Part 2 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Although the Shepards were well off, the children were not coddled. Their father valued work and made sure each child performed their share of domestic chores.  Alan’s father was a stern and serious disciplinarian, Alan inherited a stoicism and toughness … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #301 – Apollo 14 – Commander Alan B. Shepard Jr. – Part 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

In the Astronaut Office, it was his intellectual bent that set him apart from some of the other pilots, along with a certain hard edge.  The post Space Rocket History #300 – Apollo 14 – Lunar Module Pilot Edgar Mitchell – Tang Ceremony first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

A Saturn V liftoff is spectacular, and the launch of Apollo 11 was no exception. But it didn’t give the audience any surprises. To the three Gemini-experienced pilots, who likened the sensation to the boost of a Titan II, it was a … Continue reading → The post 50th Anniversary Special – An Encore Presentation of Space Rocket History #214 – Apollo 11 – The Climb to Orbit first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

As a Smoke Jumper, Roosa parachuted into at least four active fires in Oregon and California during the 1953 fire season. The post Space Rocket History #299 – Apollo 14 – Command Module Pilot Stuart Roosa first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

There were some people who wondered why America’s first man in space Alan Shepard, at age forty-seven, having acquired fame, wealth, and status as an American hero, would risk his life to go to the moon. The post Space Rocket History #298 – Apollo 14 – Crew Selection first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The Apollo 14 crew were constantly aware that if their mission failed—if they had to turn back—it was probably the end of the Apollo program. The post Space Rocket History #297 – Apollo 14 – Introduction first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

With the successful launch of Dongfanghong I, China became the fifth country after the Soviet Union, United States, France, and Japan to independently launch a satellite. The post Space Rocket History #296 – Space 1970 – Dongfanghong 1 & Zond 8 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

On July 16th 1969, nearly a million people crowded the Florida highways, byways, and beaches to watch man’s departure from the earth to walk on the moon. Twenty thousand guests looked on from special vantage points. The post 50th Anniversary Special – An Encore Presentation of Space Rocket History #213 – Apollo 11 – The Launch first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Osumi was the name of the first Japanese satellite placed into orbit. It was named after the Osumi Province in the southern islands of Japan. The post Space Rocket History #295 – Space 1970 – Osumi (Japan) & Uhuru (US) first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

At midnight June 1, 1970 Soyuz 9 lifted off from Area 31 at Baikonur and successfully entered low earth orbit with an apogee of 227 km and a perigee of 176 km. The post Space Rocket History #294 – Space 1970 – Soyuz 9 – Part 2 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The original Soyuz 9 mission was planned to fly two Soyuz spacecraft in the August to September 1970 time frame for a rendezvous and docking; however, at the end of December 1969 the communist party bosses ordered that the mission … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #293 – Space 1970 – Soyuz 9 – Part 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The VENERA 7 lander was the hardiest of the Soviet Venus probes yet built. Its creators wanted the vessel to land on the planet’s surface in working order. The post Space Rocket History #292 – Space 1970 – Venera 7 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Luna 16 was the first robotic probe to land on the Moon and return a sample of lunar soil to Earth after five unsuccessful similar attempts. The post Space Rocket History #291 – Space 1970 – Luna 16 & 17 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“Three brave astronauts are alive and on Earth because of the mission operations teams’ dedication, and because at the critical moments the people of that team were wise enough and self-possessed enough to make the right decisions. Their extraordinary feat … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #290 – Apollo 13 – Welcome Home first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“During blackout every team member does his own soul searching, reviewing the decisions and the data, knowing they had to be nearly perfect and knowing how tough perfection is.” Gene Kranz The post Space Rocket History #289 – Apollo 13 – Splashdown first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

To Kranz and his team, this crew was special. They just could not lose them.  Failure was not an option. The post Space Rocket History #288 – Apollo 13 – Re-entry first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Three hours before dawn, Gene Kranz’ White Team took its place next to Windler’s Maroon Team controllers. The eighty hours of uncertainty were now past and mission control was down to Apollo 13’s final shift. The post Space Rocket History #287 – Apollo 13 – Separation Anxiety first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

While the Mercury 7 were fulfilling their roles as symbols of space exploration, Korolev was once again offering the real thing. He now prepared to undertake the most demanding mission yet. The mission that would accomplish the next step in … Continue reading → The post In Honor of China’s Moon Lander Chang’e-4 – An Encore Presentation of Space Rocket History #18 – Luna 2 and 3 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

As If there were not enough problems, Houston still had not completed the command module power up checklist. The post Space Rocket History #286 – Apollo 13 – I Want My Power Up Checklist. Now! first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

From beneath the Lunar Modules floor there was a thud, then a hiss, then another thump that vibrated through the cabin. The post Space Rocket History #285 – Apollo 13 – More Problems first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Swigert counted down five, four, three, two, one.” Lovell pressed the big red engine button set in the bulkhead and once again felt the vibration below his feet. “Ignition,” Lovell said to his crew-mates. The post Space Rocket History #284 – Apollo 13 – Mid-course Correction first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

In the White House, President Nixon was very concerned for the Apollo 13 crew. Since Apollo 8’s successful lunar orbit, just one month before his inauguration, Nixon had developed a fascination with moon flight and a special admiration for the … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #283 – Apollo 13 – Encouragement from the President first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

At the manned spacecraft center in Houston, Don Arabian was in Building 45 when battery number two in Aquarius’ descent stage exploded. The post Space Rocket History #282 – Apollo 13 – Battery #2 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

There was now cause for optimism in Mission Control. At the TELMU station, where the Lunar Module’s environmental signs were being continually monitored, the readings of the carbon dioxide concentrations aboard Aquarius were steadily dropping all day long. The post Space Rocket History #281 – Apollo 13 – Homeward Bound first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Mariner 4’s primary objective was to conduct closeup scientific observations of Mars and to transmit these observations to Earth. Additional goals included performing field and particle measurements in interplanetary space, and providing experience and knowledge of engineering capabilities for interplanetary … Continue reading → The post In Honor of NASA Mars Probe “InSight” – An Encore Presentation of Space Rocket History #46 – Mariner 4 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

In a healthy spacecraft, the CO2 meter should climb no higher than 2 or 3 millimeters of mercury. When it rose above 7, the crew was instructed to change their lithium hydroxide canisters. If it was allowed to rise above … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #280 – Apollo 13 – Carbon Dioxide first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

In the satellite room of the carrier Iwo Jima, the communications man sat back and removed his headset. He knew, that Apollo 13 was in fact coming their way. The post Space Rocket History #279 – Apollo 13 – Leaving the Moon – Part 2 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Lovell’s disappointment with Kranz’s decision to not run another star check was quickly becoming academic since the time to conduct it was running out anyway. The post Space Rocket History #278 – Apollo 13 – Leaving the Moon – Part 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“They’re all coming out,” Swigert said, straining for a glimpse through Lovell’s window.  “You said it,” Lovell said. “There’s Nunki, there’s Antares. We may have enough here for that confidence check.”  The post Space Rocket History #277 – Apollo 13 – Approaching the Moon first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

According to the profiles Bill Peters and his electrical specialists calculated, it was possible to power the LEM with just 12 amps. Under normal conditions it needed about 55 amps of current to run. The post Space Rocket History #276 – Apollo 13 – Minimizing Power – Part 3 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“The first burn, Griffin explained, would be a long one. Pushing the descent throttle all the way to the full position, Lovell would leave it there for more than six minutes before shutting the engine down. This maneuver, which for … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #275 – Apollo 13 – Minimizing Power – Part 2 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Electricity was in short supply. A fully functioning, up-and running LEM required about 55 amps of current to operate. The post Space Rocket History #274 – Apollo 13 – Minimizing Power – Part 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Lovell toggled the “master arm” switch to On and glanced around to see if everything else was in order. Guidance control was set to “Primary Guidance”; thrust control was on “Auto”; engine gimbals were enabled; the propellant quantity, temperature, and … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #273 – Apollo 13 – Free Return – Part 3 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Aquarius, can you see any stars yet? The post Space Rocket History #272 – Apollo 13 – Free Return – Part 2 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Kraft wanted to fire the descent engine now, get the ship back on its free-return slingshot course, and when it emerged from behind the moon and reached the PC+2 point, execute any maneuvers that might be required to refine the … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #271 – Apollo 13 – Free Return – Part 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

When Scott tried to release the lunar module, he did not hold the button long enough so the lander got hung on the capture latches. The post An Encore Presentation of Space Rocket History #183 – Apollo 9 – Lunar Module Maneuvers Part 4 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Cronkite did not look good. He called Schirra over and thrust a sheet of wire-service copy at him. Schirra scanned the text hurriedly, and with each sentence his heart sank. This was bad. This was worse than bad. This was … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #270 – Apollo 13 – The News Breaks first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

EECOM, Sy Liebergot looked away from his monitor; the end, he knew, was at last here. Liebergot, through no fault of his own, was about to become the first flight controller in the history of the manned space program to … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #269 – Apollo 13 – “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” – Part 4 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

As near as Lovell could tell, it would be a while before the ship’s endgame would play out. He had no way of calculating the leak rate in the tank, but if the moving needle was any indication, he had … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #268 – Apollo 13 – “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” – Part 3 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

By the time Flight Director Kranz heard Lovell’s report, of “Houston, we’ve had a problem. ” three controllers had reported related problems. Kranz was wondering which problem Lovell was reporting, as he started relaying the long list of warning indications … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #267 – Apollo 13 – “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” – Part 2 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Swigert: I believe we’ve had a problem here! CapComm: This is Houston. Say again, please. Lovell: Houston, we’ve had a problem. The post Space Rocket History #266 – Apollo 13 – “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” – Part 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

As Lovell prepared for the thruster adjustments, Haise finished closing down the LEM and drifted through the tunnel back toward the command module and Swigert threw the switch to stir all 4 cryogenic tanks. The post Space Rocket History #265 – Apollo 13 – Translunar Coast – The Calm Before the Storm first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Milt Windier’s team at mission control quickly reviewed the status of the remaining four engines, ran the computations for the new engine cutoff times, and passed them to the crew. The post Space Rocket History #264 – Apollo 13 – Orbit, Translunar Injection, Docking, and Extraction first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

During the Apollo era, North American-Downey built the Apollo Command & Service Module. After each completed spacecraft, Nasa conducted formal reviews of the build paper work before each vehicle was accepted for flight. The post Space Rocket History #263 – Apollo 13 – The Launch first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

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 … Continue reading → The post An Encore Presentation of Space Rocket History #169 – Apollo 8 – Christmas 1968 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Lovell completed four space flights and is one of only three men to travel to the Moon twice. Lovell accrued over 715 hours spent in space, and he saw a total of 269 sunrises from space on his Gemini and … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #262 – Apollo 13 – Commander Jim Lovell first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

At thirty-six, Haise was the youngest member of the crew of Apollo 13, and his black hair and angular features made him seem younger still. The post Space Rocket History #261 – Apollo 13 – Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

John Leonard Swigert Jr. aka Jack Swigert was born on August 30, 1931 in Denver, Colorado to parents John Leonard Sr. and Virginia Swigert. The post Space Rocket History #260 – Apollo 13 – Command Module Pilot Jack Swigert first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Just before the mission began things started to go wrong. The weekend before launch Charlie Duke, the backup lunar module pilot, came down with a case of German measles. The post Space Rocket History #259 – Apollo 13 – Introduction – Part 2 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Targeted for touchdown on the third lunar landing was a place known as the Fra Mauro range, a stretch of rugged, Appalachian-type mounds 110 miles east of the Apollo 12 landing site. The post Space Rocket History #258 – Apollo 13 – Introduction – Part 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Ten days ago, their Saturn V rocket had blasted Bean and his crew mates out of earth’s gravitational pull. Now their home planet was pulling them back at more than 24,000 miles per hour, twelve times faster than a high-speed … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #257 – Apollo 12 – Return, Re-entry and Splashdown first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Dick Gordon opened the tunnel to Intrepid, saw his companions floating in a dirty cloud of moon dust, and slammed the hatch closed. He called out, “You guys ain’t gonna mess up my nice clean spacecraft!” The post Space Rocket History #256 – Apollo 12 – Leaving the Moon first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

After a total of 31.6 hours on the moon, the Lunar Module ascent stage fired for about 7 minutes placing Intrepid into an orbit of 10 miles by 54 miles. The post Space Rocket History #255 – Apollo 12 – Lunar Liftoff first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

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 … Continue reading → The post An Encore Presentation of the Space Rocket History #122 – Apollo: Serious Problems with the Lunar Module and Grumman first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Conrad and Bean now walked north, up Surveyor Crater’s 14 degree slope. Fatigue set in as Pete and Al walked up the crater wall. The hand tool carrier was nearly full of rocks now and Bean felt the full weight … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #254 – Apollo 12 – Moonwalk 2 – Part 5 – Blocky Crater & Closeout first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Surveyor 3 was now to their right, 300 feet away, gleaming in the morning sunlight. Antennas and sensors still reached upward from its tubular frame, just as they had on April 20, 1967, when the spacecraft thumped onto the moon … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #253 – Apollo 12 – Moonwalk 2 – Part 4 – Surveyor Crater & Surveyor 3 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The primary objectives of the Surveyor program, were to support the Apollo landings by: (1) developing and validating the technology for landing softly on the Moon; (2) providing data on the compatibility of the Apollo design with conditions encountered on … Continue reading → The post An Encore Presentation of Space Rocket History #145 – Surveyors 2 – 7 with a Little Apollo 12 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The problem with running into the sun was it was so bright that Conrad and Bean could not see the moon’s surface features until they were right on top of them. The post Space Rocket History #252 – Apollo 12 – Moonwalk 2 – Part 3 – Rock ‘n’ Roll at Halo Crater first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

While Conrad led the way, Bean watched the ground for something interesting. It wasn’t easy to do field geology while running, and on the moon.   The post Space Rocket History #251 – Apollo 12 – Moonwalk 2 – Part 2 – Bench and Sharp Craters first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Pete and Al could not hear the excited shouts of the geologists in the back room down the hall from mission control, but they knew they had found something significant. The post Space Rocket History #250 – Apollo 12 – Moonwalk 2 – Part 1 – Head Crater – Tang Ceremony first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Most of the remaining moon walk time was spent collecting rock samples, making surface observations such as the small mounds or hills, and taking pictures. The post Space Rocket History #249 – Apollo 12 – Moonwalk 1 – Part 3 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

According to the checklist, Bean was allowed 5 minutes to gain his balance and learn to walk on the Moon. Bean was amazed at his new buoyancy saying, “You can jump up in the air…”  But Conrad wanted to press … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #248 – Apollo 12 – Moonwalk 1 – Part 2 – ALSEP first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“The old Surveyor, yes sir. It can’t be any more than 600 feet from here. How about that?” (Pete Conrad.) The post Space Rocket History #247 – Apollo 12 – Moonwalk 1 – Part 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“Hey, there it is! There it is! Son of a gun, right down the middle of the road! Look out there! I can’t believe it! Fantastic!”  Pete Conrad when he saw his landing site. The post Space Rocket History #246 – Apollo 12 – Pin Point Landing Part 2 – Right Down the Middle of the Road first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

There was adrenaline in Pete Conrad’s voice as he counted down the last seconds before ignition. He and Bean were still weightless, but their bodies were secured to the cabin floor by harnesses. “Seven, six, five.”  Conrad pushed the PROCEED … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #245 – Apollo 12 – Pin Point Landing Part 1 – Right Down the Middle of the Road first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

At 83 hours mission elapsed time, the long lunar coast was almost over. It was time for the lunar orbit insertion burn. This burn would put Yankee Clipper and Intrepid into lunar orbit. The post Space Rocket History #244 – Apollo 12 – Lunar Orbit first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

It was impossible to check out the entire spacecraft; that could only be done on the ground. In the short time available, Griffin’s team ran a pre-maneuver check list, re-aligned the CSM platform, and discussed proceeding with the mission with … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #243 – Apollo 12 – TLI and the Coast first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

John Aaron’s (EECOM) next call made him a legend in Mission Control. He said quickly and confidently, “Flight, try S-C-E to Aux.” The post Space Rocket History #242 – Apollo 12 – The Launch Part 2 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

It was 68 degrees, overcast, and raining at Cape Kennedy on November 14, 1969. The ceiling was 2,100 feet and the winds were light. There was some discussion, while the astronauts were suiting-up, of scrubbing the launch, but that would … Continue reading → The post Space Rocket History #241 – Apollo 12 – The Launch Part 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The Saturn V’s control system was housed inside and also referred to as the Instrument Unit (IU). Marshall Space Flight Centers Astrionics Laboratory categorized the IU as the “brain” and “nerve center” of Saturn V. The post Space Rocket History #240 – Apollo 12 – Saturn V Instrument Unit first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

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 … Continue reading → The post An Encore Presentation of Space Rocket History #188 – Apollo 10 – Command Module Pilot John Young first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.