a04 (AS-501)_v_bw_o_n (NAA publicity photo, DBA 102067, A-117)
“SPACECRAFT TUMBLE--Apollo 4 spacecraft command module receives final tumbling test in world’s largest clean room at North American Aviation’s Space Division, Downey, Calif., as part of last-minute inspection procedure of structure before shipment to Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Apollo 4 will be launched late this fall to gather additional spacecraft data on high heat rate entry of command module while simulating lunar reentry velocities of almost 25,000 miles per hour and 4,500 degree temperatures.”
1967 - preparations prior to testing a capsule intended for manned flight, of the ability to withstand the higher reentry heating expected, due the greater velocity inherent to returning from the moon.
The moon - 1967.
I’ll admit, I’m barely paying any attention to the latest ‘commitment” to send Americans beyond earth orbit, so the following may be irrelevant, wrong, not applicable, etc.
Does current ablative, heat dissipation... or whatever it is technology, preclude similar high temperature reentry testing, or does/will Orion or whatever it’s going to be, eventually, have the capability/fuel to decelerate on approach? Or is that not yet even a consideration...until the fundamental ability to just get someone into orbit & back, alive, is demonstrated?
Sobering.
Mind-blowing.
Depressing - 1967.
a04 (AS-501)_v_bw_o_n (NAA publicity photo, DBA 102067, A-117)
“SPACECRAFT TUMBLE--Apollo 4 spacecraft command module receives final tumbling test in world’s largest clean room at North American Aviation’s Space Division, Downey, Calif., as part of last-minute inspection procedure of structure before shipment to Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Apollo 4 will be launched late this fall to gather additional spacecraft data on high heat rate entry of command module while simulating lunar reentry velocities of almost 25,000 miles per hour and 4,500 degree temperatures.”
1967 - preparations prior to testing a capsule intended for manned flight, of the ability to withstand the higher reentry heating expected, due the greater velocity inherent to returning from the moon.
The moon - 1967.
I’ll admit, I’m barely paying any attention to the latest ‘commitment” to send Americans beyond earth orbit, so the following may be irrelevant, wrong, not applicable, etc.
Does current ablative, heat dissipation... or whatever it is technology, preclude similar high temperature reentry testing, or does/will Orion or whatever it’s going to be, eventually, have the capability/fuel to decelerate on approach? Or is that not yet even a consideration...until the fundamental ability to just get someone into orbit & back, alive, is demonstrated?
Sobering.
Mind-blowing.
Depressing - 1967.