LO_o (66-H-926, original Boeing promo. photo)
“Artist’s concept shows the Lunar Orbiter spacecraft positioned to make detailed photographs of wide areas of the Moon’s surface. Camera lenses are not visible in this view. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia, manages the Lunar Orbiter Project. The craft will provide extensive photographic exploration of the lunar surface to aid in selection of [possible landing areas for the Project Apollo manned landing mission. The Lunar Orbiter Project is necessary and valuable contributor to man’s knowledge of the Moon and its environment. An Atlas/Agena launch vehicle will place the Orbiter in translunar trajectory, where an internal rocket-engine propulsion system will provide midcourse trajectory correction and, later, inject the spacecraft into lunar orbit. The Boeing Company, Seattle, Washington, is developing the Lunar Orbiter for NASA.”
An amazing mobile camera/photo lab, operating while orbiting the moon, OVER 50 years ago!
Consider the following: FIVE attempts, FIVE successes, 1966-67, from launch vehicle to spacecraft. Remarkable.
In my opinion, one of Boeing’s most impressive accomplishments to this day.
YES, another one in the “W” column! A beautiful, rarely seen depiction by Boeing illustrator/artist James W. Potter.
"James Potter was born May 12, 1920 in Denver. He lived his early years there and graduated from East Denver High School, Class of 1939. After graduation, he joined the 120th Observation Squadron of the Colorado National Guard, serving with Major General Joe C. Moffitt, resigning to join the Army Air Corps. He then served on active duty and in the reserves until 1958 when he was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant. After the war, Jim returned to Denver and attended the University of Colorado Architectural School and the University of Denver Art School.
Jim worked as aviation artist/illustrator for the Boeing Airplane Company in Seattle for thirty-three years and produced cut-away and concept-type illustrations of future airplane designs that are currently in service or that may be developed. He considered that participation in the design of future aircraft through his art was his greatest contribution to aviation. A large mural he painted, depicting the early history of the Boeing Company, is displayed at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington. His work has appeared in Aviation Week, Air Force Magazine as well as other trade journals and aviation books.
After his retirement from Boeing in 1986, Jim did seventeen paintings for the Colorado Air National Guard for their commemorative history book, Colorado Pride: From Jennies to Jets. The original paintings depicting the aircraft flown by the Colorado Air National Guard throughout its history are on display at the Guard headquarters in Denver. Prints of the series are available at the Wings Over the Rockies Museum Gift Shop.
Jim was an active member of the Colorado Aviation Historical Society and with Ruby, his wife of many years, attended many of the meetings. Their smiling faces invited conversation, participation and the sharing of aviation history lore. After retirement Jim was also active in the American Society of Aviation Artists. A book, Airplanes that Never Flew, written and illustrated by Jim Potter, will soon be published.
Jim's last work for the Air Guard, a painting of their current fighter aircraft, the Lockheed-Martin F-16 remains unfinished, interrupted by his passing.
The Colorado Aviation Historical Society and the Museum will be benefactors of the generosity of Jim and Ruby.
Jim returned to Colorado from Washington in 1990 and lived in Evergreen until his death on March 19, 1996. He will be missed, but his works will be a continual reminder of James W. Potter, an aviation artist and gentleman."
Above at:
www.coloradoaviationhistoricalsociety.org/bio_popup.asp?i...
Credit: Colorado Aviation Historical Society website
And thanks to the tireless efforts of Garrett O'Donoghue/Numbers Station and the Internet Archive website:
archive.org/details/NIX-EL-2002-00438
e05.code.blog/2021/09/20/64-l-02494/
Thank you for your service Brother.
Rest In Peace.
LO_o (66-H-926, original Boeing promo. photo)
“Artist’s concept shows the Lunar Orbiter spacecraft positioned to make detailed photographs of wide areas of the Moon’s surface. Camera lenses are not visible in this view. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia, manages the Lunar Orbiter Project. The craft will provide extensive photographic exploration of the lunar surface to aid in selection of [possible landing areas for the Project Apollo manned landing mission. The Lunar Orbiter Project is necessary and valuable contributor to man’s knowledge of the Moon and its environment. An Atlas/Agena launch vehicle will place the Orbiter in translunar trajectory, where an internal rocket-engine propulsion system will provide midcourse trajectory correction and, later, inject the spacecraft into lunar orbit. The Boeing Company, Seattle, Washington, is developing the Lunar Orbiter for NASA.”
An amazing mobile camera/photo lab, operating while orbiting the moon, OVER 50 years ago!
Consider the following: FIVE attempts, FIVE successes, 1966-67, from launch vehicle to spacecraft. Remarkable.
In my opinion, one of Boeing’s most impressive accomplishments to this day.
YES, another one in the “W” column! A beautiful, rarely seen depiction by Boeing illustrator/artist James W. Potter.
"James Potter was born May 12, 1920 in Denver. He lived his early years there and graduated from East Denver High School, Class of 1939. After graduation, he joined the 120th Observation Squadron of the Colorado National Guard, serving with Major General Joe C. Moffitt, resigning to join the Army Air Corps. He then served on active duty and in the reserves until 1958 when he was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant. After the war, Jim returned to Denver and attended the University of Colorado Architectural School and the University of Denver Art School.
Jim worked as aviation artist/illustrator for the Boeing Airplane Company in Seattle for thirty-three years and produced cut-away and concept-type illustrations of future airplane designs that are currently in service or that may be developed. He considered that participation in the design of future aircraft through his art was his greatest contribution to aviation. A large mural he painted, depicting the early history of the Boeing Company, is displayed at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington. His work has appeared in Aviation Week, Air Force Magazine as well as other trade journals and aviation books.
After his retirement from Boeing in 1986, Jim did seventeen paintings for the Colorado Air National Guard for their commemorative history book, Colorado Pride: From Jennies to Jets. The original paintings depicting the aircraft flown by the Colorado Air National Guard throughout its history are on display at the Guard headquarters in Denver. Prints of the series are available at the Wings Over the Rockies Museum Gift Shop.
Jim was an active member of the Colorado Aviation Historical Society and with Ruby, his wife of many years, attended many of the meetings. Their smiling faces invited conversation, participation and the sharing of aviation history lore. After retirement Jim was also active in the American Society of Aviation Artists. A book, Airplanes that Never Flew, written and illustrated by Jim Potter, will soon be published.
Jim's last work for the Air Guard, a painting of their current fighter aircraft, the Lockheed-Martin F-16 remains unfinished, interrupted by his passing.
The Colorado Aviation Historical Society and the Museum will be benefactors of the generosity of Jim and Ruby.
Jim returned to Colorado from Washington in 1990 and lived in Evergreen until his death on March 19, 1996. He will be missed, but his works will be a continual reminder of James W. Potter, an aviation artist and gentleman."
Above at:
www.coloradoaviationhistoricalsociety.org/bio_popup.asp?i...
Credit: Colorado Aviation Historical Society website
And thanks to the tireless efforts of Garrett O'Donoghue/Numbers Station and the Internet Archive website:
archive.org/details/NIX-EL-2002-00438
e05.code.blog/2021/09/20/64-l-02494/
Thank you for your service Brother.
Rest In Peace.