View allAll Photos Tagged lunarlanding
Spectacular ca. 1962(?) COLOR artist's concept of Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) ascent stage liftoff from the lunar surface. A fantastic & imaginative perspective!
Reasonable to assume it’s of Grumman origination? If so, possibly by the hand of Craig Kavafes?
I had no idea there was a lithograph of this:
www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/apollo-lunar-excursion-mod...
Credit: WorthPoint website
“Transforming the LLRV into the LLTV involved a long series of changes. This artist’s conception shows the LLTV with the addition of another window, positioned to replicate the LM’s layout and the pilot’s limited view. Although a roof was installed in the LLTV, the proposed window in front of the pilot was never added.
(Bell Aerosystems C25321)”
Above per "NASA Monographs in Aerospace History no. 35" (NASA SP-2004-4535/Unconventional, Contrary, and Ugly: The Lunar Landing Research Vehicle), page 135, at:
www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/LLRV_Monograph.pdf
Credit: ALSJ website
Submitted for your approval/my edification:
Note the striking similarity in the vast, flat expanse of pavement stretching out toward the horizon, with control tower/associated buildings in the distance, and the near identical attitude/orientation & exhaust plume of the LLRV/LLTV, in both this work and that of the more 'prevalent' and iconic (in my world) depiction by Carl Zoschke. Even the similarity of the printed block letter signatures; despite being all capitals in the Zoschke version (other than the "L" in “CARl”, oddly) and all lower case in “brown”.
Hmm...
'Paul Brown' <---> Carl Zoschke??? I’m serious.
I suppose “Mr. Brown” may have emulated the style of the senior?, master?, mentor? However, wouldn’t he want to establish or promote his style, within whatever/if any parameters established by Bell Aerosystems management/art department?
“Sketches of possible Apollo configurations for the earth-orbital, circumlunar and lunar landing missions. In all cases, the spacecraft will be rather compact, in order to minimize its weight, and to facilitate the reentry into the earth’s atmosphere.”
Brief, but concise. I like it.
The ‘sealed’ tunnel (occupied by one of the crewmen), appears to be an airlock. Possibly as a result of being the Direct Ascent mode? So, extrapolating, egress was via the capsule’s apex? But, If the plan was for a two-crew member EVA (for safety), was egress one out at a time, keeping the main cabin pressurized at all times? And descent to surface? Via what...the good old original rope ladder? If so, was that the conveyance regardless of landing method/orientation, i.e., tail-first or belly/skid pads?
Surely there must be some sort of definitive documentation out there that contains the answers to these burning questions. Like, gee, I dunno, possibly even a NASA site? Nah...what am I thinking. 😕
There IS the NTRS website, but wait, IF there, it’s likely in the ‘Members Only” section. And I don’t have the creds nor permission to access it, nor have I submitted a “Mother may I” for such. 😠 Drats.
Well then, I suppose it’s time to check out that Indonesian document hosting site again.
Not that it matters; however, I applied/submitted for access to the hallowed inner sanctum repository of NTRS treasures. I met none of the prerequisite requirements, so I’m sure it was an exercise in futility. I’m hoping to post their “form letter” rejection. That is, if their auto-generated response system (if such exists) is capable of extending such basic courtesy.
“A front view of the Apollo 14 Lunar Module (LM), which reflects a circular flare caused by the brilliant sun, as seen by the two moon-exploring crew men of the Apollo 14 lunar landing mission during their first extravehicular activity (EVA). The unusual ball of light was said by the astronauts to have a jewel-like appearance. At the extreme left the lower slope of Cone Crater can be seen. Astronauts Alan B. Shepard Jr., commander; and Edgar D. Mitchell, lunar module pilot; descended in the LM, while astronaut Stuart A. Roosa, command module pilot; remained with the Command and Service Modules (CSM) in lunar orbit.”
Paraphrased from ALSJ commentary:
“Up-Sun from Al's 12 o'clock pan taken near the LM at the start of EVA-1. To the far left, we can see the upward slope of the ridge of Cone Crater. The opened MESA is clearly visible to the left of the ladder, with the LRRR visible in the west footpad (with the ladder). Shepard would later carry it out to the ALSEP deployment site.”
All at:
www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a14/images14.html
And a superb different perspective, also at the ALSJ:
An unknown artist’s depiction of a Lunar Module inflight above the moon. Symbolically representing the shared spirit of exploration and discovery, Christopher Columbus’s flagship, the Santa María, is also depicted.
This is really a pretty good representation of everything depicted. There’s even an Astronaut (LMP) visible in the window.
7.25” x 9.25”, on a reasonably thick paper.
This is NOT the LEM you're looking for, move along.
Damn, if I would've known Mr. Beaumont already posted this, I never would have uploaded 'mine'!
De-fave mine - go see his at the link below - and then fave that! While there, check out his plethora of excellent stuff:
www.flickr.com/photos/mrdanbeaumont/30206778011/in/album-...
Credit: Dan Beaumont Space Museum
The ONLY 'value added' I provide to this is that it's the work of the eminently talented Craig Kavafes, Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation (GAEC) artist extraordinaire.
“APOLLO LM VIEWED FROM CSM --- The Apollo Lunar Module (LM), in a lunar landing configuration, is photographed in lunar orbit from the Command and Service Modules (CSM). Inside the LM were astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, commander, and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot. Astronaut Michael Collins, command module pilot, remained with the CSM in lunar orbit while Armstrong and Aldrin descended in the LM to explore the lunar surface.”
14" x 11" art print in my collection. I'm not sure if this is Lockheed's proposal for the 1962 LEM competition or not. Looks more like pre LOR direct landing, but Lockheed wasn't a bidder for the 1961 Apollo spacecraft competition.
In 1964 my late father, Beaudry Glen Pautz, accepted a job as Press Officer for the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria, South Africa. It was the start of the Cold War "space race", the CSIR collaborated with the Americans and Beau received a lot of space programme material and press kits from NASA. I still have most of those historic documents in my collection. Here's a selection of them.
I captured this particular image in low light, using a phone camera, so please excuse the quality!
Also see this great piece on Time Magazine's special issue entitled "To the Moon and Back" published two weeks after the Apollo 11 landing. Back in 1969 I created a great scrapbook of the landing that I still treasure to this day.
#apollo #nasa #presskit #nasapresskit #apollopresskit #space #spaceprogram #spaceprogramme #moon #lunarlandings #1969 #news #press #document #projectplan #missionplan #lunarlanding #pretoria #transvaal #southafrica #csir #moonmission #spacerace #coldwar #factsheets #2016
A butt-ugly LEM descends to and lands on the lunar surface in this particular 1964 variant of this recurring scene. Possibly by the supremely talented Gary Meyer.
Even separately, ascent stage and descent stage are fugly, let alone together.
I of course don't know the details of this amazing spacecraft's evolution, but it would seem that a concern regarding potential terrain hazards influenced this design. The widened stance of the landing gear and substantially increased ground clearance would seem to support my uninformed 'hypothesis'. Still no ladder either. And while I’m at it...that creepy, beaked(?), apparition-like set of eyes, headlights, or whatever that thing is in the sky, persists in this version. If it's supposed to be the orbiting CSM, I don't see it.
Mercifully, this particular concept is omitted from this line-up:
cradleofaviationpr.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/artifac...
Credit: Cradle of Aviation Museum website
Don't get me wrong, if I had the opportunity & money, I'd hoover up the/a model of it in a heartbeat. ;-)
“Nuclear-powered spaceships will open the solar system to efficient exploration and exploitation, said Max W. Hunter, Douglas Aircraft company’s assistant chief engineer - space systems. High-thrust nuclear propulsion, such as proposed for [a] single-stage spaceship shown in this artist’s drawing of a lunar mission is essential to space leadership and would result in relatively cheap space travel.”
Illustration by Douglas Aircraft artist Ron Simpson.
A striking perspective rendering of LEM ascent stage liftoff, ca. 1964-66, possibly for Marquardt Corporation, by David Hawbecker. Marquardt was the manufacturer of the Reaction Control System (RCS) engines for both the LEM & Command/Service Module.
I love it, but that's a really creepy, menacing, possibly possessed or demented Mission Commander at the window. The LMP is probably dead.
At:
www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/original-1960s-concept-art...
Credit: WorthPoint website
Sorry, with my extremely limited – terrible actually – photo/image manipulating software, unwillingness to get a WorthPoint account (possibly allowing access to a higher resolution version), and rudimentary skills, this is as good as it gets.
“The 10-foot-tall, 250-pound Surveyor spacecraft is about to make a soft landing on the moon. The right panel part of its “bonnet” will be turned toward the sun to draw energy for recharging its batteries. The left panel is a high-gain antenna for receiving commands from Earth and transmitting television pictures of the lunar surface. The periscope-like devices are TV cameras. The nozzles of the four braking rockets extend down between Surveyor’s spindly landing legs, and radar antennas for guidance to the moon extend out on either side.”
Hmm, I didn’t think any flown Surveyor spacecraft had dual cameras. According to Mr. Lindsay, Surveyor 1 did:
www.honeysucklecreek.net/other_stations/tidbinbilla/Surve...
Credit: Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station website
I don’t think so. I think that went away with the drill, screwdriver, laser, file, can opener & other gizmos that were initially considered. The spacecraft looked like a giant Swiss Army knife…with everything opened/extended.
Bold, striking & dynamic. Thank You and Rest in Peace Mr. Wilson:
www.celestis.com/participants-testimonials/raymond-sheets...
Credit: Celestis Inc. website
Circa 1961-63(?) General Dynamics, Convair (Astronautics) depiction of a lunar(?) lander on the moon and the continued evolution(?) of the lunar lander/earth glider combination.
Upon return to earth, the re-entry glider at the top separates and descends to earth.
The wonderful artwork is by Convair/General Dynamics resident artist/illustrator of the time, John Sentovic.
It is the moon, right? If so, the earth has an oddly Jovian appearance, with the widespread banding visible.
Now, about that ladder. Although I love this, it looks as preposterous as SpaceX’s elevator-equipped HLS.
Artist's rendering of the Lunar Module's descent and landing, possibly published January 18, 1967.
As was often the case during LEM development, this is a latter version of an earlier (1963) concept artwork, updated/modified to reflect the latest external design changes.
Per the above dated issuance:
"Apollo Moon Mission Sequence 5 -- With one
astronaut remaining in the CSM in orbit around the moon, the other two crewmen descend to the lunar surface in the Lunar Module."
Finally, the verso bears the same numbering format, “P-XX”, of the illustrations in this latter North American Rockwell news/press publication, with a near equivalent of this image labeled as P-27:
cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/413105/Apollo%20Press%20Kits/North...
The parent site to the above is also most impressive:
www.apollopresskits.com/apollo-presskit-directory
Credit: David Meerman Scott
As an aside, I do believe Mr. Scott used this photo (specifically, the far left panel) of mine in his splash page:
www.flickr.com/photos/146423059@N02/46528010321/in/album-...
A beautiful artist’s depiction of one of the continually revised/updated early Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) configurations. I’ve never seen this particular version of the LEM in this otherwise oft-rendered swooping powered descent & landing scene. Note the presence of the arrows, so the casual and/or stupid observer can visualize/connect the dots as to what’s going on here. So, this may very well be the first of this ‘series’.
At the risk of being repetitive, based on the year (1963), the scene and the source (NAA), this surely must be by the hand of Gary Meyer.
Who sadly, as of February 2021, is now also gone. GODDAMNIT:
kotaku.com/rip-legendary-artist-gary-meyer-1846376817
Credit: KOTAKU website
www.nma.art/instructors/gary-meyer/#gallery-2
Credit: NEW MASTERS ACADEMY website
www.thegnomonworkshop.com/instructors/gary-meyer
Credit: The Gnomon Workshop website
Every work in the following linked movie is by Mr. Meyer. His depiction of events – that had yet to be created, let alone seen – is quite prophetic:
Credit: Jeff Quitney/Vimeo
What an incredible body of work. Sadly, I expect this website’s days to now be numbered:
garymeyerillustration.net/GARY_MEYER_ILLUSTRATION.html
Credit: GARY MEYER ILLUSTRATION website
“The apollo spacecraft will first be flown in earth-orbit, where the many spacecraft components and systems will be tested and evaluated in a space environment. The earth-orbital flights will also be used for space crew training and for the development of operational techniques. In conjunction with these qualification flights, the spacecraft can be used, in earth-orbit, as a laboratory for scientific measurements or technological developments in space.”
Contained within the following document (as Figure 1), along with the others of this "family/series".
An interesting, unexpected & pleasant surprise:
www.nap.edu/read/20270/chapter/3
Credit: "THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS" website
“Recent advances made in rocketry indicate man may get to the moon sooner than even the well informed imagined.
This very prospect, however, increases the concern about the presence of meteoric dust and particles in space.
These constitute a deadly rain when they fall on a body – like the moon – which possesses no protective atmosphere. Arriving at a speed 100 times as fast as a high-powered rifle bullet, even a small particle is lethal.
The hazard is real, as satellites telemetering information back to earth have shown.
Soviet data acquired from the sputniks indicate meteoric material is falling to the earth at the rate of 10,000,000 tons a day!
This is an incredible figure. Is it possible the sensing instruments were in error or the sputniks moved through meteoric showers having especially large concentrations of particles?
If the figures are correct, it means meteoric debris is falling on the earth at the rate of 100 pounds a square mile each day. In a year this would amount to 18 tons an acre. Surely there would be ample evidence of such rain, if it existed.
In shallow seas, for example, the particles would settle and remain undisturbed for centuries. However, samples taken from the bottom of the seas do not indicate the density of fall.
Thus we are forced to conclude that an unusually large error was contained in sputnik information.
What about studies in this country?
An evaluation of the high-altitude Aerobee rockets fired from the White Sands Proving Grounds indicates the daily meteoric showers range from a high of 25,000 tons to a low of 5,000 tons a day. However…”
…the rest of the article is unfortunately unreadable.
The accompanying caption above per Dr. I. M. Levitt, then Director of the Franklin Institute.
Although the jagged lunar peaks & landing vehicles confirm this to be an early depiction, that spacesuit is pretty high-speed and a far cry from most concepts of the time. To me, it looks a lot like what motocross riders wear today. And no PLSS, at least not visible from this perspective. Note also what appears to be a sort of United Nations/United Federation of Planets(?)-looking helmet emblem...or that of Cadillac.
Artwork by M. Anderson. Disappointingly, absolutely nothing on him/her.
“Seedy - looking and bearded, Michael J. Vaccaro and Haydon Y. Grubbs Thursday emerged grinning from the confines of the tiny “moon rover” after 18 cramped days.
A moment before a Honeywell engineer had clicked on the intercom and told them, “Congratulations, it’s been a very successful test. You can egress now.”
“Roger, that’s the best news I’ve heard in 18 days,” shot back Grubbs.
Both of the NASA scientist - engineers were flabbergasted to find their boss, Dr. Wernher von Braun, and their wives waiting to greet them as they stepped out.”
Dr. von Braun, partially obscured by Mr. Vaccaro’s head (on the right), can be seen in the background.
Who knew? Did you? I didn’t!
Speaking of Lyn Grubbs - what a full wonderful life:
www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nwfdailynews/name/lyn-grubbs...
Credit: Legacy website
The following are pertinent extracts from an interim technical report entitled “MAN SYSTEM CRITERIA FOR EXTRATERRESTRIAL ROVING VEHICLES, Phase IB—The LUNEX II Simulation”:
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Mssrs. Haydon Y. Grubbs and Michael J. Vaccaro of the Systems Engineering Branch, Propulsion and Vehicle Engineering Laboratory, Marshall Space Flight Center, NASA, served as subjects during the experiment described herein. The pressure suits used during the experiments were provided by the Crew Systems Division, Manned Spacecraft Center, NASA. The cooperation and close support of these two centers was extremely helpful in the planning and conduct of the study…
ABSTRACT
An 18-day lunar surface mission was simulated under laboratory conditions with two NASA engineers as test subjects. The purpose of the simulation was to validate a minimum-volume cabin design for a lunar roving vehicle. The cabin contained a free volume of 3.26 cubic meters (i15. 3 cubic feet) in the main living space and 36 cubic meters (48 cubic feet) in the airlock. The cabin had a maximum floor-to-ceiling height of 166.0 centimeters (65.4 inches). The cabin was evaluated with subjects performing representative scientific and mission-oriented tasks in accordance with crew mission timelines developed in connection with this study. A 16-hour on and 8-hour off work-rest schedule was used. Subjects were given a 3000-calorie per day diet provided in four meals per day.
The subjects were evaluated by performance and physiological measures. Driving, monitoring, navigation, sample measurement and audio balancing tasks were performed. Selected geophysical tasks requiring simple but realistic measures contributed to simulation realism. Subjects' maximum oxygen capacity and the associated heart and respiratory rates were obtained before and immediately after the simulation by measuring oxygen consumption during graded treadmill runs. By this means, each subject was physiologically calibrated and pre- and post-simulation physical fitness evaluated. Throughout the simulation heart and respiratory rates were also taken continuously via a biotelemetry system.
Water balance and urine analyses were performed. Selected simulated emergencies were performed to evaluate the interaction of the subjects in pressurized state-of-the-art Apollo suits with the vehicle interior volumes and workspace layout. Subjects performed daily extravehicular activities while wearing inflated pressure suits. Representative physiological stresses were obtained during extravehicular activities by performing walks up to 4.15 kilometers per hour (2.6 miles per hour) on a treadmill while wearing inflated pressure suits. All simulated tasks were performed at 1 atmosphere pressure. The performance data was analyzed by simple statistics, daily means and standard deviations being calculated by computer for each principal task. Graphical analysis was used to evaluate trends or irregularities in the task data.
No adverse trends or marked irregularities were noted in the performance data of either subject throughout the 18-day simulation. Both subjects maintained satisfactory performance levels and physical condition throughout the simulation with no adverse effects attributable to the extended period of living and working in the vehicle simulator being observed.”
At:
ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19660028019/downloads/1966002...
Additional photos/information:
www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum27/HTML/004950.html
Credit: collectSPACE website
Lots of COOL stuff:
caseantiques.com/item/lot-633-large-nasa-related-archive-...
Credit: Case Antiques website
Wonderful ca. 1966/67 Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation (GAEC) artist’s concept depicting the first Astronaut (Armstrong) on the moon, deploying/’erecting’ the Erectable S-Band Antenna. The antenna’s discarded stowage container & cover can be seen on the lunar surface, to the right of “Armstrong”. The stowage assembly was attached, vertically, at the far left-hand side of Quadrant I of the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) descent stage. From this perspective, it’s just to the other side/behind the porch/ladder. The cable from the leg of the S-band antenna can be traced back to it.
The antenna was not used during Apollo 11. Superlative reading regarding it, at the informative ALSJ:
workingonthemoon.com/WOTM-Erectable-S-Band.html
What I’ve always found to be interesting about this iconic (to me) work is that it seems to deliberately depict the substantially compressed primary struts of the LEM landing gear, to such an extent that the descent engine nozzle extension appears to have contacted the surface. In fact, the uneven point of contact also seems to show crumpling of it.
As always, the brilliant website of Mike Jetzer, “HEROIC RELICS”, addresses/depicts both of my observations:
heroicrelics.org/info/lm/landing-gear-strut-honeycomb.html
And, specifically, page 10 of the document:
heroicrelics.org/info/lm/mech-design-lmde.html
Finally, this being a GAEC-produced LEM/LM artwork would normally/automatically identify the artist to be Craig Kavafes. However, to me, this doesn’t look like it was by his hand. But, it must be, right?
11” x 14”.
“APOLLO”
A wonderful ca. 1963 NASA artist’s concept of the Apollo spacecraft configuration (atop a Saturn C-5/Advanced Saturn), and the evolution of Apollo missions.
I really think the markings just above the “LUNAR EXCURSION MODULE” callout to be the signature of the artist. Unfortunately, the inherently insufficient resolution of the image prohibits resolving it.
“Artist Drawing by North American Aviation, Inc., --- When the LEM reaches the 10 mile altitude of its approach orbit it will be traveling 4,000 MPH. The landing engine will be ignited again (8,800 pounds of thrust) allowing its descent. The engine will have the capability of being throttled down to as low as 1,100 pounds of thrust until the LEM reaches a hovering position, 300 feet above the lunar surface. After selection of landing points the LEM will descend slowly to the lunar surface at speeds less than mph.”
I’m almost certain it’s the artwork of the phenomenal Gary Meyer, as most likely the entire “63-Apollo-XXX” family of photos is.
Commencing at the 5:59 elapsed time mark, clever closeups of each of the sequential LEM images are featured:
Credit: Jeff Quitney/Vimeo
Mr. Meyer's credentials, achievements and honors are very impressive:
garymeyerillustration.net/BIOGRAPHY.html
garymeyerillustration.net/ILLUSTRATIONS/Pages/early_work....
Who knew?
And rarely seen latter variant...by Renato Moncini:
hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/arti...
Credit: Popular Mechanics online website
Sadly:
"The late Gary Meyer was involved with painting, illustration, graphic arts, and sculpture since the 1960s. His past clients included all the major motion picture studios and major aircraft companies. Meyer has worked on movies such as Star Wars, Jaws, Star Trek- The Movie, and The Thing. He maintained a 30-year relationship with Universal Studios as a design consultant on many projects such as the Jurassic Park Ride, Seafari, and the Back to the Future Ride.
He also created album cover paintings for Chicago, the Jacksons, the Beach Boys, the Persuasions, and others.
After leaving the entertainment business behind, Meyer spent decades teaching. He was an instructor at Art Center College of Design for 23 years, serving as a Professor and Master of the College.
Gary was the recipient of the first Faculty Award, as well as seventeen Great Teacher Awards. Gary’s legacy will live through his contributions to the art world and the knowledge he bestowed onto his students."
Above at:
www.nma.art/instructors/gary-meyer/#gallery-2
Credit: NEW MASTERS ACADEMY website
Also:
"Gary Meyer, an artist who has worked on so many projects, from Star Wars to theme park rides to video games to album covers, has died at the age of 86.
Meyer, who began working as an artist in the 1960s for the US Air Force, is one of the most recognisable and beloved concept artists to have worked in the 20th century. Some of his most notable contributions include helping shape both the opening scenes and trench run finale of the original Star Wars, helping design the creature from The Thing, and illustrating a bunch of Hollywood movie posters (Das Boot, Jaws 3, Superman).
He also worked on album covers for groups like The Jacksons, did a bunch of iconic aviation art (for things like books and aerospace companies), helped out on theme park design on rides such as Jurassic Park and Back to the Future and also provided art for video games like Operation Thunderbolt, Superhornet and Air Strike Patrol.
After leaving the entertainment business behind, Meyer later went on to spend decades teaching, something he was still actively doing only a few weeks ago.
Our thoughts go out to Meyer’s family and friends."
Above posted February 28, 2021, at:
kotaku.com/rip-legendary-artist-gary-meyer-1846376817
Credit: Luke Plunkett/KOTAKU website
A glimpse into the man:
mobile.twitter.com/dsantat/status/1361846954393620481
Credit: Dan “DANley Tucci” Santat/Twitter
“LEFT: Harold Johnson reduces his weight from 240 to 40 pounds by means of the Pogo Simulator strapped to his back. The device, which he invented, enables astronauts to find out what it is like to walk on the moon, or any place else with less gravity than Earth, by providing a controlled amount of lift.
RIGHT: Johnson, a NASA engineer, demonstrates how an astronaut on the moon can bound up an eight foot ladder on his spacecraft in one leap. Astronauts on the lunar surface will weigh only one-sixth what they do on Earth, and will have to learn to walk, jump and fall all over again. Johnson’s invention gives them practice in this.”
Both photographs credit: Del Borer
Mr. Johnson, not only innovative, possibly brilliant, but also dapper. I mean…check out those stylish socks & likely patent leather shoes. He even sports the hardhat with panache! Mr. Johnson was Head, FCSD Advance Planning Engineering Division, at least as of ca. 1965. Bottom line: the real deal.
The following are excerpts from one of the many excellent JSC Oral History transcripts. This one, from 2002, with Stanley Faber, no slouch himself:
historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov/JSCHistoryPortal/history/o...
Granted, the oral history collection is based on the recollections of human beings and thus may be embellished here or there, even sometimes wrong; however, the admirable effort humanizes the incredible collective effort & accomplishments that constitute human spaceflight. The NASA folks at least got this right:
“I was in what we’ll call a fairly high-powered office. To show you the staff in that office, the Assistant Branch Chief was Chuck [Charles W.] Mathews. He was a big wheel in the space program. The Section Chiefs were Chris [Christopher C.] Kraft [Jr.], who was the [Johnson Space] Center Director, Sig [Sigurd A.] Sjoberg, who was the Assistant Center Director, and Harold [I.] Johnson, who also came down here.”
“Trader was the fourth member of our team. When we came down here, Harold Johnson and Art Trader did build that first gun that Ed White used to fly. [They] corrected a lot of things that we had on ours. For instance, the one I built, you pushed it that way and you went that way. The one that they used in flight, the thrusters were that way, so at least you went in the direction you pointed at. [Laughs] But it did demonstrate the human could very easily control all those attitudes. And that was, as I say, long before we had ever thought of the Project Mercury.”
“I guess we always were trying to stay ahead of the game. And I can remember this well, Harold came up with the idea—Harold Johnson was a tinkerer and an idea man.
commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wobbleboard_NASA_man_19...
Credit: Wikimedia Commons website
He came up with this idea, and we went up to the directorate to get money, and the director said, “No, but come back in three months and tell me how you’re doing.””
“Johnson and I co-authored a chapter. There was a book written after Mercury on Manned Space Flight Engineering, and Harold and I wrote a chapter on training. We did have, after the Apollo Program, a NASA technical note on the simulation systems that were used, that a whole of bunch of us are listed as authors on. We all contributed this, that, and the other to it. I can’t speak of today, but I’m [not] there. But we didn’t really do a great deal of documentation of what we were doing when we were doing it.”
“Rusnak: In the Gemini Program, did you have to work on EVA [extravehicular activity] simulation, particularly for, like, Ed White?
Faber: No, we did not. Now, I’ll go back to back to Harold Johnson and Helmut Kuehnel. When we came down here, we prepared a paper on what we thought was required to train astronauts. One of the items we had in our list of things was a water tank. We got thrown out of [the Headquarters Building]. [Laughs] They couldn’t see any function of that at all… We had been trying to figure out how to simulate zero gravity. We had study contractors and so forth, look at it, and the general consensus that we had come to was that underwater was the best simulation of zero gravity in a pressure suit. We hadn’t figure out how to do it without the pressure suit, the pressure suit restricting the motions and so forth. That’s why the water tank. But we did not get to build that thing when we first came down. Somehow or other, the people at Marshall came up with the idea, and I don’t know where they got it from, and they built a water tank.
The phone rang. “Build a water tank now.” [Laughs] So we had a little water tank. It was not under my jurisdiction, though. It was in Building 5, but it wasn’t under my jurisdiction. I don’t know who ran it, to be honest with you. I know Harold Johnson was one of the leads on building it.”
historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov/JSCHistoryPortal/history/o...
Credit: NASA JSC Oral History Transcript/Stanley Faber Interview by Kevin M. Rusnak
Finally, from the following:
“A FIRE TO BE LIGHTED: THE TRAINING OF AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS FROM 1959 TO THE PRESENT
A Dissertation by TYLER DAVID PETERSON”:
“Just a few months after Gemini received approval from NASA Headquarters, and right after John Glenn became the first American to orbit, Harold Johnson of the FCOD was already thinking about how to simulate these next generation missions. He circulated a March 1962 memo that called for the contractors at the Link Trainer Company to assemble, as they had for Mercury, a mission simulator that could give astronauts, flight controllers, and remote site teams practice in normal and emergency conditions. But just as the real Gemini spacecraft would be upgraded from Mercury, so would the simulator designed to mimic it, as Johnson expected the machine to provide the advanced visual display out the windows that Mercury astronauts had lacked. He also called for a docking trainer, which would mimic all the displays a crew would have before them and simulate a view of the Agena moving in on them for a docking. Johnson also called for training in the landing sequence. Since Gemini engineers envisioned the vehicle descending onto land under a paraglider, he believed crews would need experience with this via a boilerplate spacecraft.14 NASA made Johnson’s wish list official in 1963 by awarding contracts for the simulators he mentioned, with one addition. Link manufactured a Gemini Mission Simulator and a Translation and Docking Simulator. Dallas contractor Ling-Temco-Vought, Inc., provided the addition: a Dynamic Crew Procedures Simulator (DCPS).”
At:
oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/bitstream/handle/1969.1/161476/...
Credit: Texas A&M University Libraries/OAKTrust Digital Repository website
NASA artist's concept of the “return to earth and recovery at sea”, of a manned space capsule upon completion of a “Lunar Return Mission”. The image was part of a presentation entitled “A Rocket for Manned Lunar Exploration”, given by Milton W. Rosen and Francis C. Schwenk at the Tenth Congress of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), London, 31 August 1959.
Abstract of the paper:
"One of the significant human accomplishments of the next decade will be the manned exploration of the moon. Previously, the uncharted regions of the earth, the Arctic and Antarctic, the Amazon and Himalayas challenged the skill and fortitude of explorers. But these regions cannot long retain their status—the new frontier lies beyond the confines of our planet—on the nearest sizeable aggregation of matter in space—the moon.
Significantly, man’s exploration has been paced by his technical progress. The discovery of America was made possible by ships and sails of sufficient size and by advances, however crude, in the art of navigation. Oxygen masks made possible the conquest of Everest, and rockets—the exploration of the upper atmosphere.
The exploration of the moon is within view today. If it may be assumed that Project Mercury in the U.S.A. and similar efforts by the U.S.S.R. will establish that man can exist for limited periods of time in space, then a trip to the moon requires mainly the design, construction and proving of a large rocket vehicle.
In one concept of a manned lunar vehicle the entire mission, the trip to the moon and the return, is staged on the earth’s surface. A highly competitive technique, one favored by many engineers, is to stage the lunar mission by refueling in a low earth orbit. This would permit the use of a smaller launching vehicle but would require development of orbital rendezvous techniques. In any case, a vehicle of the larger type will be needed for lunar as well as other exploratory missions.
This paper presents a parametric study of vehicle scale for the direct flight manned lunar mission. The main parameter is the take-off thrust which is influenced by many factors; principally the propellants in the several stages and the flight trajectory. A close choice exists in the second stage where conventional and high energy propellants are compared. The size of the final stage and hence the entire vehicle is governed mainly by the method of approach to the earth’s surface, whether it is elliptic, parabolic or hyperbolic. The various methods are applied to an illustrative vehicle configuration.
Reliability will be a major factor in the success of any manned lunar flight. While no formula is proposed for improving component reliability, certain operational procedures can be used to advantage in enhancing the probability of a successful round trip to the moon."
Note the smoke billowing from the smokestacks of the recovery force’s ships, destroyer, battleship or whatever they are. It’s 1959, and commensurate with the maritime propulsion technology available at the time.
Also, the single parachute. I wonder if there was a back-up.
One of the authors of the paper, M. W. Rosen, is none other than Milton “Milt” Rosen, of Viking & Vanguard rocket ‘fame’. The real deal. Confirmation:
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_Rosen
Credit: Wikipedia website
Francis C. Schwenk, possibly/probably originally of the Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory/Lewis Research Center (btw, Cleveland Rocks) appears to have been a prolific researcher & valued asset to NACA/NASA. He even worked on the Satellite Power System concept, as late as 1980! Super smart, motivated, with longevity; traits you want in a rocket scientist. Also the real deal.
So, as part of a NASA presentation, I assume this to be an in-house NASA work, which of course substantially reduces the chance of artist identification, especially for something from 1959. Damnit.
See:
www.alternatewars.com/SpaceRace/SP-4205/Chapter_01.htm
www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4205/ch1-2.html
Yet again, as is all too often the case, a superior & far more informative read - at a non-NASA site:
www.wired.com/2014/01/rosen-schwenks-moon-rocket-1959/amp
Credit: WIRED website
An unexpected & welcomed surprise. Although not an artist’s identification, a small win nonetheless, filling in at least a few additional pieces of a historical puzzle that no one gives a rat’s ass about...anymore. Despite such, I’m still pleased:
link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-662-39914-9
Specifically:
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-662-39914-9_27
Credit: Springer Nature Switzerland AG/Springer Link website
Last, but NOT least, the following obscure website appears to have the entire presentation available to view, which includes the artist's concepts. Bravo!:
dokumen.tips/reader/f/a-rocket-for-manned-lunar
Credit: Indonesia DOKUMEN website
HOWEVER, this presentation should ALSO reside & be readily available at some NASA or otherwise ‘official’ site, for free, with no log-in, no 'mother-may-I' BS required. Something like what the NTRS once was.
BUT, it doesn’t seem to be. Pretty historic, with ‘pictures’, and it seems to ONLY be available on an Indonesian document sharing site. Although I’m grateful, you’re kidding me, REALLY???
“GATHERING LUNAR SOIL--Apollo 11 Spacecraft Commander Neil Armstrong scoops lunar soil sample into pouch held by Lunar Module Pilot Edwin Aldrin in this illustration by North American Rockwell’s Space Division. About 50 pounds of rock and soil are to be brought back to earth. Space Division, which produces the Apollo command and service modules (seen orbiting moon), is among principal investigators selected by NASA to help analyze lunar soil which will be returned to earth in command module.”
This photograph was likely part of a North American Rockwell Apollo 11 press kit, along with a booklet that featured many works by Gary Meyer. So, by extension…?
A beautiful work, best remembered by me as being featured on the cover of “The ASTRONAUT TRAIL Magazine”, Volume 2, Number 1 (July 1969), along with at least one children’s book.
Food for thought…for me at least; the art director of the magazine was Loren R. Fisher, NASA/KSC “technical information” artist, as of ca. 1963 at least. Hmm, interesting.
GM artist's concept, ca. 1964 of manned lunar exploration, as was brought to life in the company's "Futurama II" show/exhibit...ride actually, at the 1964/65 New York World's Fair.
Note the articulating, 'balloon'-wheeled "lunar crawler".
I like the lunar lander, old school, with a little edge.
Unfortunately, no signature visible. Although I’m sure it's not, the spacecraft & crawler have a McCall-like look.
See also:
www.pinterest.com/pin/532269249690387857/
Credit: Pinterest/William Koons
www.instagram.com/humanoidhistory/reel/C1h6Zwtuknw/
Credit: HUMANOID HISTORY/Instagram
Credit: 1964/1965 New York World's Fair website
In my world, this (a variation actually) is one of THE most iconic images fondly ingrained in my childhood memory. A 1966-68 artist’s concept depicting the deployment of an Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP) by two moonwalking Apollo Astronauts.
No signature present. Gary Meyer maybe?
The Astronaut in the foreground is emplacing the Supra Thermal Ion Detector. In the background, the ALSEP components from right-to-left are: Solar Wind experiment, Passive Seismometer, a “low-profile” ALSEP central station and Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator. Even the orientation/placement of the experiments in relation to the location/direction of the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) is relatively accurate.
The above, along with the earliest year cited, are confirmed by a June 1966 Bendix “ALSEP familiarization manual”, page 26 specifically. With HUGE appreciation, at:
www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/ALSEP/pdf/31111000674190.pdf
Credit: Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) website
Additionally, a plethora of other fantastic ALSEP documents. Wow, thank you LPI:
Further:
www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/ALSEP/pdf/ALSEP%20Press%20Backgrou...
The image is iconic as it was the cover of the first & only commercially available (to my knowledge) film footage of the Apollo 11 mission at that time. Produced by Columbia Pictures in color and black & white, in both Super 8 & Regular 8 formats. As I write this, it’s as if it were yesterday…again, fond memories.
I also like the subtle depiction of the effect of descent engine plume impingement on the lunar regolith. However, they need to hurry up, I don't know how much longer the LEM landing gear struts can bear the weight of that ginormous ascent stage!
Sorry...couldn't help it, it's a wonderful work.
“APOLLO 11 TRAINING -- Suited Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, wearing an Extravehicular Mobility Unit, participates in lunar surface simulation training on April 18, 1969 in building 9, Manned Spacecraft Center. Armstrong is prime crew commander of the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission. Here, he is opening a sample return container. In the right is the Modular Equipment Stowage Assembly (MESA) and the Lunar Module mockup.”
Apparently, the photograph was “pg. 10-3” of an unidentified (I assume NASA) document.
While not performing the same task, the photo depicts Armstrong at the same location - that being the MESA, also with an ALSRC present – in the historic, “only”, coveted, etc., etc. photograph of him on the lunar surface.
Interestingly, at the following, excellent - I think - document, Armstrong is identified as ‘closing’ the ALSRC:
www.lpi.usra.edu/science/kring/lunar_exploration/geologic...
Credit: LPI website
Speaking of ALSRCs. Oh my. Exhaustive discussion, to put it mildly & supremely informative:
www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum14/HTML/001362.html
Credit: collectSPACE website
“Conceptualization of a 21st. century lunar settlement with a servicing vehicle waiting on the launch pad.”
Above per “LUNAR ORBITING PROSPECTOR: Final Report (Utah State University)”, NASA-CR-184755/N89-18510. On pages 10 & 17:
ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19890009139/downloads/1989000...
A pleasant surprise, I was able to access it without the secret NTRS handshake.
But…doesn’t it contain TTP’s, methodologies, etc., that Chinese, Russian, or Sino-Soviet 😉 rivals can/will themselves implement before the ‘good guys’ ever return to do it?
Is that a funnel on top of the 'servicing vehicle'? An optical aperture of some sort? What exactly is the function of a servicing vehicle in this scenario? Note also the mash-up of vehicles, from the possible 'Purple Pigeon" multi-wheeled rover & Viking-derived lander, to the hybrid/evolved/extended stay? Lunar Module and what looks like a space tug-like lander or mining something or another to the left. And the igloo-like habitat...inflatable possibly, looks to have an ALSEP central station at the entrance. Finally, that looks like an A7-L EMU worn by the EVA-conducting Astronaut.
Long live Apollo, at least in some of our memories.
Oh, and what's that prominent light in the sky??? A supernova? Something dropping out of Warp speed? Wormhole? An orbiting floral arrangement?
x.com/humanoidhistory/status/978487889569951744?s=46&...
Credit: Humanoid History/X
paleofuture.com/blog/2009/10/3/moon-settlement-by-2007-19...
Credit: PALEOFUTURE website
Thank you YET AGAIN Ken Hodges.
www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary.aspx?n=ken-hod...
Credit: Los Angeles Times/Legacy website
"A Grumman Aerospace Corporation artist's concept of Apollo 14 crewmen, astronauts Alan B. Shepard Jr., commander, and Edgar D. Mitchell, lunar module pilot, as they set out on their first traverse. Shepard is pulling the Modularized Equipment Transporter (MET) which contains cameras, lunar sample bags, tools and other paraphernalia. Shepard has the Laser Ranging Retro-Reflector (LR-3) in his other hand. Mitchell is carrying the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP) bar-bell mode."
One of many wonderful works by Craig Kavafes.
A clever & imaginative perspective depicting rendezvous & docking maneuvers, as viewed from within the Lunar Module, I’m assuming after completion of lunar surface exploration. Although I’ve never seen this, I think it’s by Gary Meyer…I think.
I like the red “night vision preserving” cabin lighting.
“APOLLO 16 TV PICTURE/LM LIFTOFF----The flame from the Apollo 16 Lunar Module "Orion" ascent stage engine creates a kaleidoscope effect during lunar liftoff, as seen in this reproduction taken from a color television transmission made by the RCA color TV camera mounted on the Lunar Roving Vehicle. The LRV-mounted TV camera, remotely controlled from the Mission Control Center, made it possible for people on Earth to watch the LM’s spectacular launch from the Moon. The liftoff was at 175:44 ground elapsed time, 7:26 p.m. (CST), April 23, 1972. The “Orion” ascent stage, with Astronauts John W. Young and Charles M. Duke Jr. aboard, returned from the lunar surface to rejoin the Command and Service Modules orbiting the Moon. Astronaut Thomas K. Mattingly II remained with the CSM in lunar orbit while Young and Duke explored the Descartes landing site. The LM descent stage is used as a launching platform and remains behind on the Moon.”
Kaleidoscopic effect? Sure. Flame? NO.
Even as a 13-yr old at the time, I knew it wasn’t flame! The previous year’s footage from Apollo 15 determined it to be the ‘foil’ covering being blasted, ripping off & then propelled by the exhaust. For the umpteenth time - UGH.
Per the Apollo 16 Lunar Surface Journal website:
“Journal Contributor Harald Kucharek notes that the rear panels on the Ascent stage can be seen to buckle during the first few seconds of liftoff.”
Additionally, as only the ALSJ/ALJ can provide:
“In the TV image, the horizon is tilted down to the right. Fendell does not have the TV at mazimum zoom and has it positioned so that the plus-Y (north) footpad is at the bottom of the frame. Consequently, he has a lot of frame above the LM to help capture liftoff.]
Because of the time delay in getting commands to the camera, Fendell had to tell the camera to begin tracking upwards slightly before ignition. The camera begins to track about 2 seconds after ignition. The LM stays in the field-of-view for about 6 seconds but, in part because John parked only 80 meters from the LM, the camera can't be panned fast enough during these early stages to keep the LM in sight. As the LM gains altitude and, after pitchover, begins to move westward, the camera catches up.”
At:
www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a16/a16.launch.html
Finally, the photo was used as the cover image of EP-97, “Apollo 16 At Descartes”.
On July 25, 1962, NASA invited 11 firms to submit proposals for the LEM. Of the 11 invited, 9 submitted proposals. The firms that submitted proposals were Lockheed, Boeing, Northrop, Ling-Temco-Vought, Grumman, Douglas, General Dynamics Convair, Republic, and Martin Marietta. Grumman won. 1962 painting by Boeing artist Jack Olson.
“Pulling away from Earth, the United States’ Apollo astronauts coast silently through cislunar space, on their way to the historic first manned landing on the pristine surface of the moon. Assisting in the final seven minutes of the Apollo Lunar Module descent is a landing radar system designed and built by Ryan Aeronautical Company.”
Based on Mr. Watts' signature, the photo is oriented in kind.
“LEM (Lunar Excursion Module) engine to land astronauts on the moon. Built by TRW Systems.”
Being a circa 1964/65 photograph, I’m assuming this to be a test model/version of the Lunar Module Descent Engine (LMDE)/Descent Propulsion System (DPS). The first flight of an (unmanned) lunar module (LM-1), which tested both ascent & descent stage engines, occurred in January 1968.
Excellent information per Flickr user Tim Evanson:
“The Descent Propulsion System (DPS) or LMDE (Lunar Module Descent Engine) is a rocket engine developed by Space Technology Laboratories for use in the Apollo Lunar Module. This is a backup engine, on display at the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland, Ohio.
The design is credited to aerospace engineer Dr. Peter Staudhammer. The engine could throttle between 1,050 pounds-force (4.7 kN) and 10,125 pounds-force (45.04 kN). It weighed 394 pounds, is 90.5 inches long, and 59.0 inches in width.
The descent engine was the biggest challenge and the most outstanding technical development of the Apollo program. A throttleable engine was required, but very little research had been done in variable-thrust rocket engines.
Rocketdyne had proposed an engine in which thrust was controlled by the injection of inert helium gas into the propellant. While plausible, this approach was considered too advanced to be reliable.
TRW's Space Technology Laboratories (STL) proposed a much simpler design using flow control valves and a variable-area pintle injector (which operates in much the same manner as does a shower head). Furthermore, it recommended that the engine be gimbaled, to allow it to change the direction of thrust.
The first full-throttle firing of the STL descent engine was carried out in early 1964. NASA chose the STL design in January 1965.”
The accompanying image posted by Mr. Evanson is linked to below.
Good stuff:
www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/LM09_Main_Propulsion_ppMP1-22.pdf
Always superior:
heroicrelics.org/info/lm/mech-design-lmde.html
Credit: Mike Jetzer/HEROIC RELICS website
Jul 20th 1969, 45 yrs ago #Apollo11 lands on the lunar surface. To this day, mankinds greatest achievement!
www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/apollo11_40th.html#.U8v...
The three photographs here were all captured over the past week using our Canon 600D attached to our Maksutov 127mm telescope
NASA artist's concept of the crew capsule, at the onset of re-entry, nearing the completion of a “Lunar Return Mission”, aka “Lunar Landing”. The rendering was part of a presentation/paper entitled “A Rocket for Manned Lunar Exploration”, given by Milton W. Rosen and Francis C. Schwenk at the Tenth International Astronautical (Federation?) Congress in London, 31 August 1959.
The abstract:
"One of the significant human accomplishments of the next decade will be the manned exploration of the moon. Previously, the uncharted regions of the earth, the Arctic and Antarctic, the Amazon and Himalayas challenged the skill and fortitude of explorers. But these regions cannot long retain their status—the new frontier lies beyond the confines of our planet—on the nearest sizeable aggregation of matter in space—the moon.
Significantly, man’s exploration has been paced by his technical progress. The discovery of America was made possible by ships and sails of sufficient size and by advances, however crude, in the art of navigation. Oxygen masks made possible the conquest of Everest, and rockets—the exploration of the upper atmosphere.
The exploration of the moon is within view today. If it may be assumed that Project Mercury in the U.S.A. and similar efforts by the U.S.S.R. will establish that man can exist for limited periods of time in space, then a trip to the moon requires mainly the design, construction and proving of a large rocket vehicle.
In one concept of a manned lunar vehicle the entire mission, the trip to the moon and the return, is staged on the earth’s surface. A highly competitive technique, one favored by many engineers, is to stage the lunar mission by refueling in a low earth orbit. This would permit the use of a smaller launching vehicle but would require development of orbital rendezvous techniques. In any case, a vehicle of the larger type will be needed for lunar as well as other exploratory missions.
This paper presents a parametric study of vehicle scale for the direct flight manned lunar mission. The main parameter is the take-off thrust which is influenced by many factors; principally the propellants in the several stages and the flight trajectory. A close choice exists in the second stage where conventional and high energy propellants are compared. The size of the final stage and hence the entire vehicle is governed mainly by the method of approach to the earth’s surface, whether it is elliptic, parabolic or hyperbolic. The various methods are applied to an illustrative vehicle configuration.
Reliability will be a major factor in the success of any manned lunar flight. While no formula is proposed for improving component reliability, certain operational procedures can be used to advantage in enhancing the probability of a successful round trip to the moon."
Furthermore, the referenced M. W. Rosen is none other than Milton “Milt” Rosen, of Viking & Vanguard rocket ‘fame’. The real deal. Confirmation:
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_Rosen
Credit: Wikipedia website
Francis C. Schwenk, originally of the Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory/Lewis Research Center (Cleveland Rocks btw) appears to have been a prolific researcher & valued asset to NACA/NASA. He even worked on the Satellite Power System concept, as late as 1980! Super smart, motivated, with longevity; traits you want in a rocket scientist. Also the real deal.
Being part of a NASA presentation, I assume this to be in-house NASA artwork, which substantially reduces the likelihood of artist identification, especially for something from 1959. Damnit.
See:
www.alternatewars.com/SpaceRace/SP-4205/Chapter_01.htm
www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4205/ch1-2.html
Yet again, as all too often, a far superior article - at the following non-NASA site:
www.wired.com/2014/01/rosen-schwenks-moon-rocket-1959/amp
Credit: WIRED website
An unexpected & welcome surprise. Although not an artist’s identification, a small win nonetheless, filling in at least a few pieces of the historical puzzle.
Obviously, with the ‘space flight/exploration’ field wide open, there are quite a few creative & original presentations within:
link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-662-39914-9
Specifically:
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-662-39914-9_27
Credit: Springer Nature Switzerland AG/Springer Link website
Last, but not least, the following obscure website appears to have the entire presentation available to view, which includes the imagery. Bravo:
dokumen.tips/reader/f/a-rocket-for-manned-lunar
Credit: Indonesia DOKUMEN website
HOWEVER, this presentation should reside & be readily available (i.e., free) at some NASA or otherwise ‘official’ site. Like what the NTRS once was.
Instead, it’s on an Indonesian document sharing site. Although I'm grateful that it is...you’re kidding me, really?
“The soft landing…mid-way point in man’s greatest adventure! Silent, forbidding…the face of the moon, scarred by the fists of the Universe, but lovely in its promise to reveal the secrets of Creation, if only man is bold enough to court and conquer it.”
I’d be willing to put that up against the prose of ANY Harlequin romance novel:
8.5" x 11", fine pebble-grain finish.
Beautiful artist’s concept, courtesy the talented Robert Watts, as part of an Apollo 10 'Souvenir Portfolio' on the Lunar Module's Ryan Aeronautical-manufactured landing radar.
It pretty much looks like the LM model kit of the time!
file770.com/wp-content/uploads/z0205goz0rk9jn.jpg
All of this is delightful:
file770.com/once-when-we-all-were-scientists/
Credit: File 770 website/Mike Glyer
Actually, it looks like the coveted Precise Models’ LM:
www.collectspace.com/review/davidcwagner/preciselm_welded...
Credit: collectSPACE website
Timing & appearance...coincidence? I think not. This shit is rampant.
Apparently - especially on Twitter - common courtesy is optional:
twitter.com/HumanoidHistory/status/1051599252617605121/ph...
In 1964 my late father, Beaudry Glen Pautz, accepted a job as Press Officer for the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria, South Africa. It was the start of the Cold War "space race", the CSIR collaborated with the Americans and Beau received a lot of space programme material and press kits from NASA. I still have most of those historic documents in my collection. Here's a selection of them.
I captured these images in Pretoria using an old HP flatbed scanner.
Also see this great piece on Time Magazine's special issue entitled "To the Moon and Back" published two weeks after the Apollo 11 landing. Back in 1969 I created a great scrapbook of the landing that I still treasure to this day.
#apollo #nasa #presskit #nasapresskit #apollopresskit #space #spaceprogram #spaceprogramme #moon #lunarlandings #1969 #news #press #document #projectplan #missionplan #lunarlanding #pretoria #transvaal #southafrica #csir #moonmission #spacerace #coldwar #factsheets #2016
The Ranger program was a series of unmanned space missions by the United States in the 1960s whose objective was to obtain the first close-up images of the surface of the Moon. The Ranger spacecraft were designed to take images of the lunar surface, transmitting those images to Earth until the spacecraft were destroyed upon impact. A series of mishaps, however, led to the failure of the first six flights.
Ranger 7 successfully returned images in July 1964, followed by two more successful missions.
Ranger spacecraft had six cameras on board. The cameras were fundamentally the same with differences in exposure times, fields of view, lenses, and scan rates.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranger_program
Prime focus single shot, Canon 600D attached to Maksutov 127mm telescope, conditions were ideal, no breeze, very still and beautifully clear ;0)
"Armstrong is to scoop up sample of moon soil with a tool resembling a butterfly net. Sample is to be stowed in space suit pocket should he have to leave hurriedly."
Note the absence of plume deflectors, presence of a scimitar antenna and rather narrow MESA door. Also, the MESA appears to depict the television camera, with its handle sticking up, a hand tool extension handle(?), and an open ALSRC ready to be filled up. Nice attention to detail is the depiction of the snap-hook of Armstrong’s waist tether. Finally...for the most part contrary to what transpired...Aldrin photographing Armstrong, from inside the LM at that. A couple of Hasselblad shots certainly would’ve been nice…possibly doubling the number of photographs of Armstrong on the moon. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Although not signed, nor have I ever seen it before, I’m certain a Russell Arasmith work, which appears to have been part of a mission press kit, information packet, presentation, etc.
The following (and others) confirm the identification:
www.mutualart.com/Artwork/2-works--Space-Illustrations/00...
Credit: MutualArt website
www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/history/russ-arasmith-apoll...
North American Rockwell artist's rendering of the Lunar Module's descent and landing, likely issued either shortly before or shortly after the Apollo 11 mission.
As was often the case during LEM/LM development, this is a circa 1968/69 derivative of earlier artist’s concepts (possibly commencing in 1963), updated/modified to reflect the latest external design changes. Or, as in this case, changes to the local lunar environs. In this iteration, the mountainous background present in a previous version(s) has/have been removed, possibly reflecting awareness of the flatness of the Mare Tranquillitatis landing site. Therefore likely being modified either shortly prior to the mission or shortly thereafter.
Per an earlier issuance with the same LM & mountains still present:
"Apollo Moon Mission Sequence 5 -- With one
astronaut remaining in the CSM in orbit around the moon, the other two crewmen descend to the lunar surface in the Lunar Module."
Finally, in the following North American Rockwell news/press publication, a near equivalent of this image (with a latter design LM, and minus the mountains & the ‘middle’ LM) is labeled as P-27:
cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/413105/Apollo%20Press%20Kits/North...
The parent site to the above is also most impressive:
www.apollopresskits.com/apollo-presskit-directory
Credit: David Meerman Scott
Possibly by Gary Meyer?
Of superior & unblemished gloss.
"Artist concept of "Moon Mission"."
3-10-66
For whatever it's worth, this scene depicts the Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI) burn of the Command/Service Module (CSM) Service Propulsion System (SPS) engine.
What an understated caption for an amazing work of art. And, in my world - iconic. Possibly by Mr. Gary Meyer?
If so, or even if not, fascinating history/background on the artist, who was responsible for a bulk of phenomenal artwork depicting a "moon mission". And...Mr. Meyer's credentials, achievements and honors are immensely impressive:
garymeyerillustration.net/BIOGRAPHY.html
garymeyerillustration.net/ILLUSTRATIONS/Pages/early_work....
Featured in the following H-Missions "Apollo Spacecraft News Reference", labeled as "P-23":
www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/CSM_News_Reference_H_Missions.pdf
Credit: ALSJ website
“Photograph from National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Surveyor I spacecraft. Spherical mosaic of narrow-angle photographs of the Lunar scene at low sun illumination. Craters and fine detail of the surface enhanced by the low oblique lighting. Center of mosaic is southwest of spacecraft. Tilt of horizon is due to non-verticle mounting of the camera. The picture was received at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.”
Yes, “verticle”…I’ll leave it alone.
It’s a cool image & historic, but I don’t like it being cropped at the horizon. Actually, I don’t like any of the cropping they did. Why?
The mosaic (for all intents & purposes), labeled as ‘Surveyor 1-20’ by the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI), were taken/assembled in order to provide an identical view to ‘Surveyor 1-19’, but at a different illumination angle. It/they were also then combined with ‘Surveyor 1-21’ in order to provide a complete 360-degree view of the landing site.
All per/at the wonderful LPI website:
www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/mapcatalog/Surveyor/press_rele...
Specifically:
“Surveyor 1-19
Spherical mosaic of narrow-angle photographs of the lunar scene taken by Surveyor I on June 12, 1966, two days before nightfall on the moon. Each photo chip is two inches square and represents a six-degree field of view as seen by Surveyor’s TV camera. The pictures are arranged on the concave surface of a three-foot hemisphere to form the panorama. The sun is shining from the west (right). Tilt of the horizon is due to off-vertical mounting of the camera on the spaceframe. The scene portrayed is the same as that shown 24 hours later with the sun at a lower angle in picture #20.”
Image at:
www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/mapcatalog/Surveyor/press_rele...
“Surveyor 1-20
Mosaic of narrow-angle pictures of moon taken by Surveyor I’s television camera forms a panoramic view of lunar terrain stretching approximately 130 degrees across horizon. Each photo chip is two inches square and represents a six-degree field of view as seen by the camera. The pictures are mounted in overlapping fashion against the concave surface of a three-foot hemisphere. When completed, the hemispheres in pictures #20 and #21 will form a complete 360-degree view from Surveyor. The narrow-angle survey was made June 13, about 24 hours before sundown on the site pictures.”
Image at:
www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/mapcatalog/Surveyor/press_rele...
“Surveyor 1-21
Mosaic of narrow-angle pictures of moon taken by Surveyor I’s television camera forms a panoramic view of lunar terrain stretching approximately 115 degrees across the horizon. Dramatic elongated shadow of the spacecraft was created by the low sun sinking on the horizon behind Surveyor. Each photo chip is two inches square and represents a six-degree field of view as seen by the camera. The pictures are mounted on the concave surface of a three-foot hemisphere. When completed, the hemispheres in pictures #21 and #20 will form a complete 360-degree view from Surveyor. Parts of the spacecraft identifiable at left are (from top) one of the antenna booms, helium tank, nitrogen tank (cantilevered on braces) the auxiliary battery. The survey was made June 13, about 24 hours before sundown on the site pictured.”
Image at:
www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/mapcatalog/Surveyor/press_rele...
Also:
www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/surveyor-1-amer...
Credit: Smithsonian Magazine online website
Last, but NOT least:
“EUGENE M. SHOEMAKER, Chief, Astrogeology Branch, U.S. Geological Survey, commented on the scene:
"It shows the intricately cratered surface of the Oceanus Procellarum. It is a gently undulating surface pockmarked with craters, ranging from a few centimeters to several hundred meters in diameter, and littered with blocks and fragments, ranging from less than a millimeter to more than a meter across. The craters and the fragmental debris were probably formed by bombardment of the lunar surface by meteoroids and by pieces of the Moon itself, hurled through space from larger craters.
"The pitted appearance of the lunar surface [which one observer has likened to that of a World War I battlefield] is enhanced by the presence of long shadows, extending away from the spacecraft's foot and the more prominent blocks, due to the low angle of incidence of the rays of the evening Sun."
Above at/from:
T
ARMSTRONG, ALDRIN and COLLINS (Apollo 11 Crew) 1969
14 x 11.25in. 1.25 in. boarder top, 0.75 in. boarder left, 0.50 in. boarder right, 5 3/16in. boarder bottom. Stamped “No. 9 KARSH, OTTAWA” at back. “APOLLO 11 CREW (Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins )” and “By Yousuf KARSH” handwritten in pencil at back, bottom.