View allAll Photos Tagged engineeringmarvel
Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong (in the background) Commander; and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. (on right), Lunar Module Pilot, are seen in this black and white reproduction taken from a telecast by the Apollo 11 lunar surface television camera during the Apollo 11 Extravehicular Activity (EVA). This picture was made from a televised image received at the Deep Space Network tracking station at Goldstone, California. Armstrong is working at the Modular(ized) Equipment Stowage Assembly (MESA) of the Lunar Module (LM). In the foreground, Aldrin is conducting a mobility test, during which he tried different methods of locomotion, relaying his observations and evaluations of each back to Mission Control in Houston.
The caption from an official NASA ‘verso-annotated’ version:
“APOLLO 11 LUNAR ACTIVITIES --A-8--Astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., conducting bulk and soll sample collection experiment on lunar surface during their historic Apollo 11 mission.”
What did a sample of bulk look like?
As usual & expected, poorly written, with minimal to no comprehension by the writer of anything beyond this being a “MOONWALK”.
The ‘frame’ is from the following segment of Aldrin’s mobility testing, at the 0:40 mark:
youtu.be/Ptx_c7g4Lsg?si=4iW3Wh6zzNAQVeOY
Credit: NASM/YouTube
And I'm sure it's somewhere in here as well:
Under a blanket of low-hanging clouds, the three iconic bridges of the Firth of Forth emerge as enduring testaments to Scotland’s engineering legacy. To the left, the angular cantilevers of the Forth Rail Bridge dominate, a symbol of Victorian strength and precision. The Forth Road Bridge takes a quieter role in the centre, its slender lines blending subtly into the overcast sky. Meanwhile, the Queensferry Crossing tower rises faintly in the mist to the right, its modern silhouette softened by the atmospheric haze. This asymmetrical composition draws the eye across the scene, where muted tones of grey, blue, and winter green evoke a reflective calm. This is a real but refined landscape, where human ingenuity meets nature’s quiet persistence, offering a tranquil moment to pause and appreciate the interplay of history, design, and environment.
Commissioned in 1959, Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) was independent India’s first Integrated Steel Plant and was built with the help of German Collaboration. The four look-alike towering structures in this snap are the Blast Furnaces of RSP, which converts the Iron ore into molten iron. These furnaces supplies raw materials to all downstream plants/mills and in an indirect way they are instrumental in sustaining a township of over 700,000 people.
Tower Bridge, London... one of the most iconic, and readily recognizable structures of London, and perhaps the world. It is so famous that many people in fact mistake it for London Bridge, the subject of the wildly popular nursery rhyme "London Bridge is falling down", which is a different bridge from the medieval times. In fact, London bridge was reconstructed in the 1970s, and there is nothing spectacular about that bridge.
The tour of Tower Bridge, while giving a brief history of London, and a detailed history of the construction of the bridge, which completed in 1894, also gives a glimpse of other bridges around the world built in the last 2000 years and are engineering marvels.
The opening of the bridge bascules for ships to pass happens several times a day, and is still a tourist attraction. The place where I stood to take this picture has some very pretty restaurants with outside seating, overseeing the bridge and Thames.
In the background is the Square Mile and the Gherkin can be seen almost at the center of the image.
The right-hand side is the former Zuiderzee, formerly a salt-water inlet of the North Sea. After it was dammed, it became a fresh-water man-made lake named IJsselmeer, measuring 1,100 km² in area.
North of the dyke, the left hand-side, is the Waddenzee, an inlet of the North Sea (Noordzee in Nederlands).
The Apollo 4 (Spacecraft 017/Saturn 501) space mission was launched from Pad A, Launch Complex 39, Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The liftoff of the huge 363-feet tall Apollo/Saturn V space vehicle was at 7:00:01 a.m. (EST), Nov. 9, 1967. The successful objectives of the Apollo 4 Earth-orbital unmanned space mission obtained included (1) flight information on launch vehicle and spacecraft structural integrity and compatibility, flight loads, stage separation, subsystem operation, and (2) evaluation of the Apollo Command Module heat shield under conditions encountered on return from a moon mission.
Highly entertaining & informative discussion:
forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=41286.0
www.nasa.gov/feature/55-years-ago-apollo-4-the-first-flig...
Thanks for the comments.
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission.
Copyright Notice: All rights reserved.
View of the Bay Bridge and the Oakland Span from the top of twin Peaks. Before the addition of the glass and steel towers at the end of the SF side.
Thanks for the comments. Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission. copyright all rights reserved.
Collection Name: RG107 Missouri Department of Transportation Photograph Collection
Photographer/Studio: Unknown (likely MoDOT staff)
Description: Construction of the Gateway Arch and St. Louis Riverfront. Also visible is the partially constructed Busch Stadium (former home of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball and football teams) and the Old Courthouse.
Coverage: United States – Missouri – St. Louis City
Date: 07/08/1965
Rights: public domain
Credit: Courtesy of Missouri State Archives
Image Number: MoDOT_2606-03.tif
Institution: Missouri State Archives
Calcutta boasts the third largest cantielver bridge in the world. Its real importance, however, lies in the fact that it serves as Calcutta's gateway to the wese, being the city's only bridge spanning the Hooghly. Taking 7 years to build, it cost $10,000,000. It towers 310 feet as the city's highes structure, is 2,150 feet long with a center span of 1,500 feet. It was completed in 1942, opened in February, 1943.
Editing style purely inspired by, or should I say copied from my friend and inspiration, Linhberg.
Sorry I had to steal the glow again, Linh.
Picture was taken at HuangPu Port in GuangZhou. It's the 3rd largest port in China and 5th in the world in terms of size and operation.
Lothal was one of the most prominent cities of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization. Located in the state of Gujarat in India, it was discovered in 1954, and its existence dates from 2400 BCE. Lothal's dock—the world's earliest—made the city a vital centre of trade between Harappan cities, West Asia and Africa. The dock, its wharf, lock-gate system, and sophisticated drainage system are unusual marvels of engineering. Lothal yielded the most important Indus-era antiquities in modern India.
"View of VAB from S. 50' tower."
An amazing view looking generally northward, through the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) Low Bay (nearest the camera), down the transfer aisle, through the cavernous temporary “breezeway” afforded by the enormity of the main structure.
Note of course the Launcher Umbilical Tower (LUT) (on its Mobile Launcher Platform (MLP)) under construction in the left background…along with the Launch Control Center (LCC) to the immediate right of the VAB, also under construction.
And finally, the framework of the squat & rarely acknowledged Utility Annex - under construction as well - is visible to the left of the VAB, partially obstructing some of the LUT MLP.
Probably the first/only time you've read anything about the Utility Annex:
www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/utility-annex-facility-upgr...
Check out the vehicles…this is mid-1964. An engineering marvel to this day.
"South 50-ft. tower"...I vaguely recall coming across some obscure documentation regarding the various towers and their locations in the MILA. For points of elevated overhead illumination? Photographic vantage points? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Interesting & pertinent read. Some of it might even be correct:
public.ksc.nasa.gov/partnerships/wp-content/uploads/sites...
"Kennedy Complex 39, view of the VAB from the East 50' camera tower."
Looks like the eighth wonder of the world.
“APOLLO 16 CDDT---A ground-level view of Pad A, Launch Complex 39, Kennedy Space Center, showing the 363-foot tall Apollo 16 (Spacecraft 113/Lunar Module 11/Saturn 511) space vehicle during a Countdown Demonstration Test. The CDDT was part of pre-flight preparations for the Apollo 16 lunar landing mission. The crew of Apollo 16, scheduled for launch on April 16, 1972, are Astronauts John W. Young, commander; Thomas K. Mattingly II, command module pilot; and Charles M. Duke Jr., lunar module pilot.”
Nestled in the heart of Massachusetts Bay, the historic Port of Boston stands as a testament to human ingenuity and architectural prowess. With roots stretching back to colonial America, this bustling hub has been at the forefront of trade and transportation for over three centuries. As you approach its sprawling docks, you’re greeted by an awe-inspiring sight: colossal cranes towering against the horizon, their intricate frameworks etched against the New England sky.
These mechanical giants are not just functional; they’re monuments to modern engineering. Brands like BROMMA hint at global connections, with each crane playing a pivotal role in an international dance of logistics and commerce. The Port’s design marries form with function—each structure is meticulously crafted to handle cargo with precision and care.
Walking along its piers, one can’t help but marvel at how history has shaped this place—from Revolutionary War shipments to today’s containerized goods—the evolution is palpable in every rivet and beam. The architecture here tells stories not just of buildings but also of people: sailors, merchants, engineers who have all left their mark on this iconic seaport.
As you stand amidst these sentinels of steel and cable, it’s clear that while ships may come and go, the legacy of Boston’s port remains steadfast—a historical landmark that continues to drive forward into new tides of innovation.
“This enlargement of a Pioneer 11 picture covers part of Jupiter’s north temperature zone, and its north polar region. It shows the breakup of the regular banded structure of Jupiter’s clouds as one goes north toward the pole. The alternating, planet-girdling orange belts and grey-white zones, the most prominent features on the planet, first appear to break down into swirling scalloped and oval structures, and farther north to disappear completely. The northernmost part of the picture shows areas within 70 of the North Pole. According to Dr. Andrew Ingersoll, California Institute of Technology, these polar regions contain what appears to be an array of unorganized hurricane like convective storms. Many of these storms are circular, and some are several hundred miles across. Since Jupiter’s polar regions cannot be seen from Earth, this picture shows many features never seen before, and far the greatest array of details ever seen on the giant planet. Pioneer 11 flew within 42,000 km (26,000 mi) of Jupiter. This view was taken in blue light from 600,000 km (373,000 mi). The Pioneer Project is managed by NASA’s Ames Research Center, Mountain View, CA. and the Pioneer spacecraft were built by TRW Systems, Redondo Beach, Ca. The Jovian polar storms may be similar to Earth’s fast-spinning tropical hurricanes in that they are of similar size, and like hurricane may well be “heat pumps”, powered by the latent heat of condensation of water vapor and ammonia vapor. Sharply defined spiral features and scallops, most of them at the boundaries of high-latitude belt and zone regions are believed to result from the wind shears between adjacent, counterflowing jet streams produced in the belts and zones. Many of the jet streams producing these spiral features have speeds relative to the planet of 150 mph each, in opposite directions. This means 300 mph winds at [three words illegible]. Scientists believe that understanding of Jupiter’s Meteorology will lead to better understanding of weather on Earth. Jupiter is a liquid planet and hence has no solid surface, nor any “oceans”, only a gradual transition going down from atmosphere gat to liquid.”
The above is exactly how it’s written on the verso.
Compare/contrast:
bjj.mmedia.is/planet_rend/jup_north.jpg
Credit: Björn Jónsson's website (lots of really cool stuff there)
Finally:
"Figure 9-15. Image D8. Range 1,079,000 km (671,000 mi.), 13 1/2 hours after periapsis."
And:
"The series of images Figures 9-15 through 9-20 shows Jupiter receding as Pioneer 11 leaves the giant planet and rises high above the ecliptic plane on its way to Saturn. Due to an anomaly which affected the rate at which the telescope swept across the planet the command sequence to obtain these pictures had to be changed day by day. Nevertheless all were obtained without any being lost, despite the fact that there was no time to verify the command sequence by computer simulations in advance."
Both above from/at:
history.nasa.gov/SP-349/ch9.htm
Specifically:
Empty assembly bay, Vertical Assembly Building, Michoud Operations (subsequently Michoud Assembly Facility), February 1965.
Prior to/in preparation of S-IC-D thrust structure emplacement? Is that it at the lower right? Is it the S-IC stage maybe? Then again, would either have roped stanchions ringing it? Possibly, as a safety measure, as that almost looks to be a narrow walkway/access platform.
VAB construction nears completion. Interesting view from not only inside, but looking from top-down, not the usual bottom-up. Note the 'little' fellows at several of the levels.
"This radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG), at center, will undergo mechanical and electrical verification testing now that it has been installed on the Cassini spacecraft in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility. A handling fixture, at far left, is still attached. Three RTGs will provide electrical power to Cassini on its 6.7-year trip to the Saturnian system and during its four-year mission at Saturn. RTGs use heat from the natural decay of plutonium to generate electric power. The generators enable spacecraft to operate far from the Sun where solar power systems are not feasible. The Cassini mission is scheduled for an Oct. 6 launch aboard a Titan IVB/Centaur expendable launch vehicle. Cassini is built and managed for NASA by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory"
archive.org/details/KSC-KSC-97PC-1067
Credit: Internet Archive website - a fantastic repository for A LOT of fantastic photos AND documents.
“STS-103 ONBOARD VIEW --- The gold of the solar arrays, illuminated from behind by the sunrise, provides stark contrast to the blackness of space in this scene, photographed at the completion of the servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Arching between the telescope and one of the solar panels is the thin line of Earth’s atmosphere.”
Dinged upper left corner does not detract.
"Hubble Servicing Mission 3A (STS-103):
December 19-27, 1999
Space Shuttle: Discovery
Crew: Commander Curtis L. Brown, Pilot Scott J. Kelly, Payload Commander Steven L. Smith, Mission Specialists C. Michael Foale, John M. Grunsfield, Claude Nicollier and Jean-Francois Clervoy
NASA decided to split the Servicing Mission 3 (SM3) into two parts, SM3A and SM3B, after the third of Hubble’s six gyroscopes failed. (At that time, Hubble needed three gyroscopes to observe a celestial target.) The second part of the mission, SM3B, took place March 1–12, 2002.
On November 13, 1999, the Hubble Space Telescope was placed into safe mode after the failure of a fourth gyroscope. In safe mode Hubble could not observe targets, but its safety was preserved. This protective mode allows ground control of the telescope, but with only two gyros working, Hubble cannot be aimed with the precision necessary for scientific observations of the sky. Controllers closed the aperture door to protect the optics and aligned the spacecraft to ensure that Hubble’s solar panels would receive adequate power from the Sun.
In the first of the two-part mission, the most pressing task was the replacement of the gyroscopes. The crew, two of whom were Hubble repair veterans, replaced all six gyroscopes — as well as one of Hubble’s three Fine Guidance Sensors, which allow fine pointing and keep Hubble stable during observations, and a transmitter.
The astronauts also installed an advanced central computer, a digital data recorder, an electronics enhancement kit, battery improvement kits, and new outer layers of thermal protection. Hubble was as good as new.
Mission Highlights:
- Replacement of all three Rate Sensing Units (RSUs), each of which contains two gyroscopes
- Installation of new computer, 20 times faster with six times more memory than its predecessor
- Replacement of original reel-to-reel data recorder with digital Solid-State Recorder (SSR) which is faster, more reliable and can store 10 times as much data
- Replacement of no. 2 of 3 Fine Guidance Sensors (FGS) with refurbished unit
- Replacement of failed no. 2 of 2 S-Band Single Access Transmitter (SSAT) used to relay data to the ground
- Installation six Voltage/Temperature Improvement Kits (VIKs) on wiring between Solar Arrays and each battery to control charging of Hubble's batteries
- Installation of Shell/Shield Replacement Fabric (SSRF) over the original Multi-Layer Insulation on Hubble’s forward shell and light shield to add thermal protection
- Installation of Handrail Covers around the handrails above the Fine Guidance Sensor bay to prevent possible contamination to the Aft Shroud area from flaking handrail paint
- Fit New Outer Blanket Layers (NOBLs) on equipment Bay 1"
Mission highlights (in narrative form):
STS-103 restored the Hubble Space Telescope to working order and upgraded some of its systems, allowing the decade-old observatory to get ready to begin its second scheduled decade of astronomical observations.
The first few days of the 8-day mission, the crew prepared for the rendezvous and capture of the Hubble Space Telescope and the three maintenance spacewalks to follow. After a 30-orbit chase Commander Brown and Kelly maneuvered the orbiter to a point directly beneath Hubble, then moved upward toward it. Mission Specialist Clervoy grappled Hubble using the orbiter’s robotic arm and placed it on the Flight Support System in the rear of Discovery’s cargo bay.
EVA No. 1: Mission Specialists Steven Smith and John Grunsfeld conducted the mission’s first spacewalk. The two made numerous repairs, including replacing the telescope’s three Rate Sensor Units — each containing two gyroscopes. They also installed six Voltage/Temperature Improvement Kits between Hubble’s solar panels and its six 10-year-old batteries. The kits, the size of cell telephones, were designed to prevent any overheating or overcharging of those batteries. A few minor objectives were left undone, such as taking close-up photos of the Voltage/Temperature Improvement Kits. The 8-hour, 15-minute spacewalk was second to the longest space walk from Endeavour on STS-49 in May 1992. A few minor problems helped account for the length of the spacewalk. The astronauts had difficulty in removing one of the old RSUs, and opening valves and removing caps on the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer. The tasks were eventually completed.
EVA No. 2: During the mission’s second spacewalk, Mission Specialists Michael Foale and Claude Nicollier installed a new advanced computer — 20 times faster than Hubble’s old one — and a new, 550-pound fine guidance sensor. This 8-hour, 10-minute spacewalk was the third longest in history. With all major activities accomplished, controllers reported that power was reaching both of the new pieces of equipment. “The brains of Hubble have been replaced,” said Mission Specialist Grunsfeld. About 30 minutes later, Hubble began thinking with those new brains.
EVA No. 3: Smith and Grunsfeld again teamed up to make the mission’s third and final space walk. Like the first two, it also lasted more than 8 hours, making it the fourth longest in history. The team installed a transmitter that sends scientific data from Hubble to the ground. It replaced one that failed in 1998. The astronauts used special tools developed for the task because transmitters, usually very reliable, were not designed to be replaced in orbit. Smith and Grunsfeld also installed a solid-state digital recorder, replacing an older mechanical reel-to-reel recorder.
Hubble was released from Discovery’s cargo bay on Christmas Day.
Mission STS-103 is the third time in the U.S. Space Program that a crew has spent Christmas in space.”
Truscott Brine Lake
Located in north Texas, this reservoir is part of the Red River Chloride Control Project, which was designed to reduce chloride contamination in the region.
Many, many, many years ago much of the area that is now north Texas, western Oklahoma, and southwestern Kansas was a large inland sea.
While the saltwater ocean is now gone, the salt remains, and natural springs pump thousands of gallons of saltwater into the area’s rivers and streams.
The challenge of the Red River Chloride Control Project is to significantly reduce the Red River's salinity to make the area’s water usable.
Many assume we remove the salt from the river water, but we don’t. The saltwater is actually diverted to Truscott Brine Lake where it evaporates.
That diversion is a fascinating process that begins more than 20 miles above the lake at a dam site and pump station.
There, an inflatable dam – basically a big rubber bladder – sits on a concrete weir that crosses the river.
During dry times, the dam is inflated to capture saltwater from the springs that flow into the river. The water then travels through a 22-mile pipeline that traverses the rugged and rocky west Texas terrain.
First it's pumped seven miles uphill to the highest elevation. From there, gravity carries the water downhill to an evaporation spray field, where the water is released from the pipeline through 40 spray nozzles. This spray process provides a higher evaporation rate than that which would occur if the water were just allowed to flow out of the pipeline and into the lake. The evaporation field is often a field of rainbows; it’s an unusual, quite alluring sight with haunting sounds.
All the saltwater that doesn’t evaporate at the spray field then makes its way into Truscott Brine Lake. The deep blue water of the lake has more salt content than the ocean. It’s even home to some saltwater fish!
#USArmy #CorpsofEngineers #TulsaDistrict #Truscott #Texas
#EngineeringMarvels
U.S. Army photos by Edward N. Johnson
The awesome majesty of a pristine Vehicle Assembly Building nearing completion...with that fresh VAB smell.
“The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) begins its separation from the Space Shuttle Endeavour following a week and a half berthed in the space vehicle’s cargo bay. Part of Earth’s horizon is visible in the lower right corner.”
Stunning image from Carol M. Highsmith's monumental Library of Congress Collection. For 38 years Carol has travelled America capturing beautiful moments in time, preserving them for future generations. By donating these images to the Library of Congress she has generously made these images available to the public domain for everyone to enjoy.
We are delighted to bring you our favorites here.
You can view the entire archive at the Library of Congress.
You can download the images we have curated and edited : www.rawpixel.com/board/421689/carol-m-highsmiths-america
More information about Carol M. Highsmith: carolhighsmithamerica.com
Truscott Brine Lake
Located in north Texas, this reservoir is part of the Red River Chloride Control Project, which was designed to reduce chloride contamination in the region.
Many, many, many years ago much of the area that is now north Texas, western Oklahoma, and southwestern Kansas was a large inland sea.
While the saltwater ocean is now gone, the salt remains, and natural springs pump thousands of gallons of saltwater into the area’s rivers and streams.
The challenge of the Red River Chloride Control Project is to significantly reduce the Red River's salinity to make the area’s water usable.
Many assume we remove the salt from the river water, but we don’t. The saltwater is actually diverted to Truscott Brine Lake where it evaporates.
That diversion is a fascinating process that begins more than 20 miles above the lake at a dam site and pump station.
There, an inflatable dam – basically a big rubber bladder – sits on a concrete weir that crosses the river.
During dry times, the dam is inflated to capture saltwater from the springs that flow into the river. The water then travels through a 22-mile pipeline that traverses the rugged and rocky west Texas terrain.
First it's pumped seven miles uphill to the highest elevation. From there, gravity carries the water downhill to an evaporation spray field, where the water is released from the pipeline through 40 spray nozzles. This spray process provides a higher evaporation rate than that which would occur if the water were just allowed to flow out of the pipeline and into the lake. The evaporation field is often a field of rainbows; it’s an unusual, quite alluring sight with haunting sounds.
All the saltwater that doesn’t evaporate at the spray field then makes its way into Truscott Brine Lake. The deep blue water of the lake has more salt content than the ocean. It’s even home to some saltwater fish!
#USArmy #CorpsofEngineers #TulsaDistrict #Truscott #Texas
#EngineeringMarvels
U.S. Army photos by Edward N. Johnson
Our ship is about to enter the lock to move from the Pacific to the Panama Canal. When one thinks of the canal one does not necessarily understand the sheer size of it, the scale of the engineering wonder that was done and the vast infrastructure necessary for it to function efficiently and safely.
Miraflores is the name of one of the three locks that form part of the Panama Canal, and the name of the small lake that separates these locks from the Pedro Miguel Locks upstream. In the Miraflores locks, vessels are lifted (or lowered) 54 feet (16.5 m) in two stages, allowing them to transit to or from the Pacific Ocean port of Balboa in Panama City. Ships cross below the Bridge of the Americas, which connects North and South America.
Golden Gate Bridge rarely looks the same twice. In this quieter moment, International Orange rises into a pale blue sky, the Marin Headlands softened by haze beyond the span. The tower stands firm over the mouth of San Francisco Bay, its Art Deco geometry crisp against drifting clouds and layered coastal hills.
Seen from the Presidio side, the composition leans into vertical strength and negative space. Suspension cables fall in measured rhythm, the roadway slicing cleanly across the frame before dissolving into distance. A small boat below reminds you just how massive this structure is—engineering scaled to landscape.
Completed in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge remains the defining silhouette of San Francisco. It anchors postcards, films, tourism campaigns, and the daily commute alike. Yet even after countless photographs, there’s always a fresh reading in the light: fog burning off, late afternoon glow, winter clarity, or mornings like this—cool, balanced, almost meditative.
International Orange against sky and sea is more than color contrast. It’s civic identity rendered in steel.
Bandra Worli Sea Link in Rains
Taken using Sony Ericsson T250i
Had this been taken on my N73 - It would be more clear...
The sea link was supposed to reach us from one end to the other in 7mins. However, considering the speed limits & Traffic during Free Entry Days - it took us over 30 mins.
An awesome journey however, missed pedestrians... missed to drive freely.. hey these crazy side bars they block the entire scenic view... its Bandra NO SEE link.. gosh
But I loved the lighting at these long pillars.. wait a minute, did you notice the sea does not have sufficient lights all over.. well, work in progress !!
Truscott Brine Lake
Located in north Texas, this reservoir is part of the Red River Chloride Control Project, which was designed to reduce chloride contamination in the region.
Many, many, many years ago much of the area that is now north Texas, western Oklahoma, and southwestern Kansas was a large inland sea.
While the saltwater ocean is now gone, the salt remains, and natural springs pump thousands of gallons of saltwater into the area’s rivers and streams.
The challenge of the Red River Chloride Control Project is to significantly reduce the Red River's salinity to make the area’s water usable.
Many assume we remove the salt from the river water, but we don’t. The saltwater is actually diverted to Truscott Brine Lake where it evaporates.
That diversion is a fascinating process that begins more than 20 miles above the lake at a dam site and pump station.
There, an inflatable dam – basically a big rubber bladder – sits on a concrete weir that crosses the river.
During dry times, the dam is inflated to capture saltwater from the springs that flow into the river. The water then travels through a 22-mile pipeline that traverses the rugged and rocky west Texas terrain.
First it's pumped seven miles uphill to the highest elevation. From there, gravity carries the water downhill to an evaporation spray field, where the water is released from the pipeline through 40 spray nozzles. This spray process provides a higher evaporation rate than that which would occur if the water were just allowed to flow out of the pipeline and into the lake. The evaporation field is often a field of rainbows; it’s an unusual, quite alluring sight with haunting sounds.
All the saltwater that doesn’t evaporate at the spray field then makes its way into Truscott Brine Lake. The deep blue water of the lake has more salt content than the ocean. It’s even home to some saltwater fish!
#USArmy #CorpsofEngineers #TulsaDistrict #Truscott #Texas
#EngineeringMarvels
U.S. Army photos by Edward N. Johnson
This bridge was erected in 1939 by The Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway which was part of the Rock Island Railroad. The crossing at the Cimarron River was always a problem and three different wooden bridges were built between 1888 and September 1938 when a flash flood collapsed one of the trestles just as RI 5036 started to lead a train across the river, the bridge collapsed and the train fell into the river. After this disaster a new design using a five span Baltimore deck truss was used to build the current bridge and Samson was opened to rail traffic in 1939. The bridge is 1268 feet long and was considered an engineering marvel of the time and definitely one of the most awesome RR bridges I have ever seen. It is located on Highway 54 13 miles NE of Liberal Kansas.
Seen from Amtrak’s California Zephyr train, Interstate 90 (I-90) winds through Glenwood Canyon in Colorado. The overlapping lanes of the highway preserve more of the mountain and riverbed than would have been the case with a conventional Interstate design. ..More about this engineering marvel here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_70_in_Colorado#Glenwood_...
Truscott Brine Lake (Satan's Pincushion Cactus)
Located in north Texas, this reservoir is part of the Red River Chloride Control Project, which was designed to reduce chloride contamination in the region.
Many, many, many years ago much of the area that is now north Texas, western Oklahoma, and southwestern Kansas was a large inland sea.
While the saltwater ocean is now gone, the salt remains, and natural springs pump thousands of gallons of saltwater into the area’s rivers and streams.
The challenge of the Red River Chloride Control Project is to significantly reduce the Red River's salinity to make the area’s water usable.
Many assume we remove the salt from the river water, but we don’t. The saltwater is actually diverted to Truscott Brine Lake where it evaporates.
That diversion is a fascinating process that begins more than 20 miles above the lake at a dam site and pump station.
There, an inflatable dam – basically a big rubber bladder – sits on a concrete weir that crosses the river.
During dry times, the dam is inflated to capture saltwater from the springs that flow into the river. The water then travels through a 22-mile pipeline that traverses the rugged and rocky west Texas terrain.
First it's pumped seven miles uphill to the highest elevation. From there, gravity carries the water downhill to an evaporation spray field, where the water is released from the pipeline through 40 spray nozzles. This spray process provides a higher evaporation rate than that which would occur if the water were just allowed to flow out of the pipeline and into the lake. The evaporation field is often a field of rainbows; it’s an unusual, quite alluring sight with haunting sounds.
All the saltwater that doesn’t evaporate at the spray field then makes its way into Truscott Brine Lake. The deep blue water of the lake has more salt content than the ocean. It’s even home to some saltwater fish!
#USArmy #CorpsofEngineers #TulsaDistrict #Truscott #Texas
#EngineeringMarvels
U.S. Army photos by Edward N. Johnson
Thanks for the comments. Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission. copyright all rights reserved.
35028 'Clan Line' on the mainline shortly after departing Haywards Heath Station, on a run from Three Bridges to Bath in December 2024.
For the full details, check out creativesplurges.com/2024/12/27/steam-trains-on-the-mainl...
Thanks for the comments.
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission.
Copyright ©VR Danduprolu: All rights reserved.
Truscott Brine Lake
Located in north Texas, this reservoir is part of the Red River Chloride Control Project, which was designed to reduce chloride contamination in the region.
Many, many, many years ago much of the area that is now north Texas, western Oklahoma, and southwestern Kansas was a large inland sea.
While the saltwater ocean is now gone, the salt remains, and natural springs pump thousands of gallons of saltwater into the area’s rivers and streams.
The challenge of the Red River Chloride Control Project is to significantly reduce the Red River's salinity to make the area’s water usable.
Many assume we remove the salt from the river water, but we don’t. The saltwater is actually diverted to Truscott Brine Lake where it evaporates.
That diversion is a fascinating process that begins more than 20 miles above the lake at a dam site and pump station.
There, an inflatable dam – basically a big rubber bladder – sits on a concrete weir that crosses the river.
During dry times, the dam is inflated to capture saltwater from the springs that flow into the river. The water then travels through a 22-mile pipeline that traverses the rugged and rocky west Texas terrain.
First it's pumped seven miles uphill to the highest elevation. From there, gravity carries the water downhill to an evaporation spray field, where the water is released from the pipeline through 40 spray nozzles. This spray process provides a higher evaporation rate than that which would occur if the water were just allowed to flow out of the pipeline and into the lake. The evaporation field is often a field of rainbows; it’s an unusual, quite alluring sight with haunting sounds.
All the saltwater that doesn’t evaporate at the spray field then makes its way into Truscott Brine Lake. The deep blue water of the lake has more salt content than the ocean. It’s even home to some saltwater fish!
#USArmy #CorpsofEngineers #TulsaDistrict #Truscott #Texas
#EngineeringMarvels
U.S. Army photos by Edward N. Johnson
Lothal was one of the most prominent cities of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization. Located in the state of Gujarat in India, it was discovered in 1954, and its existence dates from 2400 BCE. Lothal's dock—the world's earliest—made the city a vital centre of trade between Harappan cities, West Asia and Africa. The dock, its wharf, lock-gate system, and sophisticated drainage system are unusual marvels of engineering. Lothal yielded the most important Indus-era antiquities in modern India.
“The major element of the Optical Telescope Assembly (OTA) built by Hughes Danbury Optical Systems, Inc., for NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope is a 2.4-meter (94-inch) primary mirror. It is the most perfect mirror of its size ever made, and is coated with a reflective layer of pure aluminum 2 1/2-millionths of an inch thick protected by a layer of magnesium fluoride one-millionth of an inch thick.
The above is news to me. I thought it was Perkin-Elmer that was the responsible party. The following offers clarification:
www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-10-05-fi-42487-story...
Credit: Los Angeles Times online website
And...since who knows how long the above link will be accessible/viable:
“Hughes, Perkin-Elmer to Pay U.S. for Hubble Telescope Flaw
BY RALPH VARTABEDIAN
OCT. 5, 1993 12 AM PT
WASHINGTON — Hughes Aircraft and Perkin-Elmer Corp. agreed Monday to pay $25 million to head off a threatened government lawsuit charging them with liability for the defect that crippled the $2-billion Hubble space telescope, the Justice Department said Monday.
Under terms of the settlement, Perkin-Elmer, which owned the Danbury Optical System unit that produced the flawed mirror in the telescope, will pay $15 million. Los Angeles-based Hughes, which acquired the Danbury unit after the mirror was produced, will pay $10 million.
The agreement concludes a three-year investigation by the Justice Department and releases the two companies from any further liability claims. Hughes will pay its portion by forgoing fees it would otherwise have received from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, while Perkin-Elmer will pay the $15 million.
The Justice Department asserted that the two companies knew or should have known about the defect. Hughes officials said Monday that they agreed to the settlement only as a goodwill gesture because NASA, the Hubble sponsor, is a valued customer.
The dispute raised widespread concerns in the aerospace industry that the government for the first time was attempting to make aerospace contractors liable for failed equipment, even when the problems resulted from honest errors.
The Aerospace Industries Assn., a trade group, intervened on Hughes’ behalf several weeks ago when it appeared that the Justice Department would bring suit under the False Claims Act.
When Perkin-Elmer’s Danbury unit produced the mirror in the early 1980s, a microscopic optical flaw was ground into the mirror’s surface. It was not discovered until NASA launched the Hubble in April, 1990, and the telescope was unable to focus properly.
Hughes agreed to buy the Danbury unit in 1989, and the contract for the Hubble was formally transferred to Hughes in May, 1990, a month after the launch. Hughes contended that NASA knew about the flaw at that time but had failed to disclose it when agreeing to transfer the contracts and liability to Hughes, the company said.
“No one at NASA or Perkin-Elmer ever told Hughes Danbury about a potential problem with the mirror when Hughes Danbury became involved in the Hubble project,” said Hughes Chairman C. Michael Armstrong. “If they had, Hughes would not have gone through with the purchase or taken over the Hubble contract without proper indemnification.”
The defect has severely impeded the usefulness of the Hubble telescope, although it has made a number of important astronomical breakthroughs.
Later this year, NASA plans a space shuttle mission to install a special optical lens that will upgrade the telescope to its intended capability. The cost of that mission is estimated at $86 million.
Ralph Vartabedian is a former national correspondent at the Los Angeles Times. He joined the newspaper in 1981 and has covered many technical subjects, including aerospace, auto safety, nuclear weapons and high speed rail. He has won two Loeb awards and was a Pulitzer finalist, among many other career recognitions.”
This photograph and similar, was/were the “poster child” images plastered all over the place after the mirror aberration debacle was discovered. In fact, this one can be seen here:
science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/overview/hubbles-mirror-flaw