View allAll Photos Tagged manonthemoon
Before NASA and the Space Race, there were space artists who dazzled and inspired a generation of youngsters who would later put a man on the moon. One of the most celebrated of these artists was Chesley Bonestell.
Possibly/probably the original (2/64) depiction of this landing scene by Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation (GAEC) artist Craig Kavafes. Note the circular hatch/possible forward docking port & lack of any means down to the surface, which may have still been a rope at this time…not really sure. Regardless, I think there still should’ve been a porch. So, maybe on oversight…on somebody’s part. We’ll never know.
An iconic image...in my world that is.
Apollo 11: “THE ORIGINAL” movie
At:
twitter.com/HumanoidHistory/status/1074777020314324992/ph...
Credit: Humanoid History/Twitter/Columbia Pictures
Georges Méliès’ 1902 film, Le Voyage dans la Lune (A Trip to the Moon), is one of the first science-fiction films ever made. The story is about the president of an astronomy club, Professor Barbenfouillis, who, along with five other astronomers, builds a bullet-like capsule to go to the moon. There they discover a civilization called the Selenites, who the astronomers find, are easily killed by throwing them to the ground, where they explode. The Selenites eventually capture the Earthlings and take them to their king. Barbenfouillis kills the king, and the group escapes back to their capsule, which ultimately makes it back to Earth.
As an artist, I wondered how I could capture the experience of the Ukrainian people to Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked attack on their country. As I thought about it, Méliès’ iconic image of a bullet-shaped spaceship hitting the man on the moon in his eye came to mind one night as I brushed my teeth.
I’ve been making posters about the sorry state of American political discourse for over a decade in the guise of the Chamomile Tea Party. Directly after Putin’s invasion, Donald Trump displayed his love for the Russian autocrat, saying, “The problem isn’t that Putin is smart. Of course, he’s smart. But the real problem is our leaders are dumb.” Fox News’ Tucker Carlson has been so pro-Putin during the war, the Russian Department of Information and Telecommunications Support issued a memo to Russian media commentators to feature Carlson’s comments in their reporting. Trump’s and Carlson’s comments are meant for domestic political gain at best and treason at worst. Early in the conflict, I designed a poster that focused on Trump’s infatuation. But as the war has gone into its third week, and as more innocent people are being targeted and killed by the Russian army, I wanted to comment on the war itself. And Méliès’ iconic image became my entry point.
Some scholars see a pointed anti-imperialist sentiment to Méliès’ film: one people invade another, killing them without regard to their culture and with no interest in living in peace with them or learning their ways. Film scholar Matthew Solomon says of the film:
The last two scenes . . . really make this clear. The medal ceremony with all of the posturing by the explorers, who have been so inept and violent; the captured Selenite on a leash that is beaten with a stick until it dances for the cheering crowd; and the statue of the conqueror Barbenfouillis with his foot firmly planted on the head of an unhappy vanquished moon: all that points to a highly ironic take on exploration and, with it, imperialism.
The New York Times opinion columnist, Ross Douthat, has made a provocative connection between Putin’s land grab and the geopolitical world of the late 19th century. Some have called the Russian President’s actions anachronistic, typical of the imperialist consolidation between the end of the 1800s and the middle of the 1900s. Douthat goes one step further, suggesting Putin represents “our transition to a kind of retro-future, in which crucial elements of the Victorian age are superimposed on our era’s very different social, cultural, and technological landscape.” The difference is that globalization is much greater now, and any disruption has a more significant impact. In addition, it was much easier for 19th-century empire builders to claim “public legitimacy for imperialism, conquest, and autocratic rule.” Today, these leaders confront challenges to their conduct by couching their intentions as democratically elected leaders who simply deny they’re invading their neighbors. Putin has prohibited the media from using “war” or “invasion” to describe Russia’s military actions. Those who do so are subject to arrest.
There is a direct line between Méliès’ film, Putin’s intentions, and Douthat’s critique. I kept that in mind as I constructed my illustration. I took his iconic moon image and placed Putin’s face in it. Here on Earth—in Ukraine—the foreground is the reality they/we face now. The artillery on the left stands in for Ukrainians’ reply to Putin’s aggression, and the wounded Putin is the result. The war is not going as Russia’s military planned.
What has become the de facto Ukrainian reaction to his attack, Go fuck yourself, became the perfect text for this image. Despite the tattered Ukrainian flag, Ukrainians’ determination to save their country and Volodymyr Zelensky’s social media ridicule of Putin’s army have served as rallying cries for his people and many of us who watch with unprecedented media access to the atrocities.
But Douthat is warning us we are in unchartered territory. The American right’s embrace of Putin, a disquieting shift from the Cold War, is further proof we are standing on a very different and shaky foundation. The threat of a nuclear war might limit this crisis. But in the hands of a cornered, irrational, and retro-thinking expansionist, nothing is guaranteed. Like Professor Barbenfouillis and his colleagues, we are finding ourselves in a new world where traditional rules of engagement may not apply even when we think they do.
Feel free to pass this poster on. It's free to download here (click on the down arrow just to the lower right of the image).
See the rest of the posters from the Chamomile Tea Party! Digital high res downloads are free here (click the down arrow on the lower right side of the image). Other options are available. And join our Facebook group.
Follow the history of our country's political intransigence from 2010-2020 through a seven-part exhibit of these posters on Google Arts & Culture.
“Exploring lava tunnel as possible natural shelter for lunar base modules”
And/or, from a now MIA NASA issuance, publication, etc:
“Artist’s impression of a surface exploration crew investigating a typical, small lava tunnel, to determine if it could serve as a natural shelter for the habitation modules of a Lunar Base.”
At:
www.universetoday.com/137550/stable-lava-tube-provide-pot...
Along with a high-resolution version of the image:
www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/s88_3364...
Credit: UNIVERSE TODAY website
Also at:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:S88_33646.jpg
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Must’ve really liked it, posted at least twice in 2018:
twitter.com/HumanoidHistory/status/961576558405345280
twitter.com/HumanoidHistory/status/1069750208765014016
Credit: Humanoid History/Twitter
The 'Rawlings effect' on the artist, John R. Lowery, is wonderfully evident:
- Representative of the times, the universally employed ‘fingers through camcorder strap' method of camera grip.
- The "J STOVALL" name tab on the PLSS of the Astronaut in the foreground. What I assume to be a good-natured poke at/acknowledgment of fellow 'space' artist John Michael Stovall.
- The fracture pattern of the perched boulder at the throat of the tunnel looks a little peculiar to me. Possibly some sort of cryptic messaging? Symbolic somehow?
- And finally, the triangular mission patch on the right shoulder. "LEEP"? Lunar Energy Exploration Project? Lunar Extraction for Extraterrestrial Prospecting? Although I’m pretty sure both of those came much later. It may be something tongue-in-cheek.
Beautiful, creative, evocative & detailed artwork that also entertains, aka the “Rawlings effect”.
Surprise:
The image is not to be found at the current official NASA imagery website. Nor any other official sites, as far as I can tell. It used to be.
Finally, and most importantly:
Could the following possibly be the right John Lowery? The write-up would seem to support such. That would be great if it were:
If so & just in case, if/when the online evidence goes ‘poof’:
“A lighthearted artist, musician and family man, John Lowery draws inspiration from the natural beauty surrounding his land in Burton, Texas. His diverse career includes artistic work for NASA, where he illustrated future missions to Mars, the moon and the International Space Station. Later jobs led him to create pieces for the advertising world. His work has been seen the world over. “I am very proud of that work, and yet I was still painting the subjects and in a style dictated to me by paying customers,” John remarked. “Now I am painting what I want to paint. In my style.” Today, when he doesn’t have a brush in his hand, you can find John aboard his John Deere tractor or spending time with his wife, Laurie, and their daughter, Hope. John is a firm believer that all work and no play leads to an incredibly boring life. He also believes that a humble attitude can go a long way. That’s partly where the studio got its name. Not only does it come from one of John’s earlier paintings, The Humble Donkey, but it touches on his belief in putting himself and his artwork out there — humbly — in hopes that others like what they see. Like most Texas neighbors, we enjoy a good conversation. If you have questions, comments or just want to say hello, we'd love to hear from you. Want to speak to John directly? We can do that, too! Email john@humbledonkeystudio.com, or give him a ring at 832.200.8230.”
At:
www.pinterest.com/pin/483644447465320324/
Credit: Humble Donkey Studio (John Lowery?)/Pinterest
Last, but not least, a cropped version of this graces the cover of JPL Publication 89-29/“Science Exploration Opportunities for Manned Missions to the Moon, Mars, Phobos, and an Asteroid”.
“Astronaut would use tool to collect moon samples.”
“What procedures should our astronauts use on the moon to collet samples for return to earth? What precautions must be taken not to contaminate the lunar surface?
And, even more important, what precautions must be observed to prevent the return of pathogenic organisms to the earth? These were some of the question pondered last summer in a NASA conference on lunar exploration and science.
The biosciences group, led by Melvin Calvin of the University of California, a Nobel Prize winner, studied this critical problem and evolved a set of procedures to reassure the scientific community about the proper handling of lunar-surface samples.
The committee indicated that the specific objectives of the organic-chemical exploration of the moon involve the search for molecules of possible biological or even prebiological origin.
Detailed knowledge of their amount, distribution and structure – if present – is of extreme importance to the origin and history of the moon, and to the relationship of the moon to the earth and to the universe. Specifically, such knowledge is essential for determining whether life on the moon exists, ever did exist or could develop.
The committee, in planning a search for possible organic chemicals, recognizes that there are several sources of potential trouble. It is apparent that when the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) sits down on the moon’s surface, it will vent exhaust gases and make other discharges; it is impossible to prevent waste gases from escaping the LEM into the lunar vacuum around it.
For example, the spacecraft atmosphere will be vented when the astronauts leave the LEM for their exploring mission.”
The two-fisted sampler mechanism looks like a 19th-century device - for a 21st-century endeavor - along with a hermetically sealed butt can. I love it.
John Gorsuch: Is there any ‘space/rocket’ themed illustration this talented and versatile artist DID NOT paint???
As expected, despite his prolific & widely distributed works, I’ve found nothing pertaining to him.
If not for fellow contributor Ed Dempsey,
www.flickr.com/photos/104034978@N03/albums
I wouldn’t even have a first name.
THANK YOU ED!
February 5th, 2023
Chicago, IL
All photos © Joshua Mellin per the guidelines listed under "Owner settings" to the right.
A delightful, clever, humorous, imaginative, and wonderful 1959 work, by artist Roy Kerswill. Much like those by Pat Rawlings 30+ years later.
Multiple enjoyable & amusing visuals going on here:
- The Buckminster Fuller-inspired geodesic dome design of the lunar colony.
- The earth-like appearance of the ‘skyscrapers’ within, with ornamental/functional(?) vegetation.
- The unintentionally ‘old school’ lunar lander.
- Suspension power lines, along with two sets of suspended traffic lights.
- What appears to be banks of computers/computer consoles visible through the transparent walls of the building in the lower right, possibly the control center for the colony. Even possibly a/the supervisor, looking out, feet shoulder-width apart, hands on hips, surveying his "domain"...so maybe he's responsible for the environmental control system, or something equally important.
- The paved(?) lunar road leading to and into the dome (with inbound/outbound lanes), via an airlock building/structure.
- The smaller building attached to the airlock provides access to the elevator. In fact, the exterior of the airlock on that side has “ELEVATOR PARKING ONLY” written on it.
- The “vintage” appearance of the vehicles, which are functional both inside & out. Most obvious in the rounded cab of the “pickup truck” (with items sticking out of the bed), going down the inclined roadway inside.
And last, but NOT least:
The fellow sitting outside - taking a few moments - to write a letter - to his mother - “DEAR MOM” being visible on the clipboard in his mitten-clad hand. Then there’s the writing & patch/emblem on his right shoulder: “BASSETT(?)” or “BASSETY(?)”/”A.D. 373(?)”. Possibly a subtle inside joke? A family crest? Too bad we’ll never know.
A huge WIN:
www.jhnewsandguide.com/valley/feature/a-big-painting-is-a...
Credit: Jackson Hole News & Guide website
Finally, fitting for him to have depicted the following - Aldebaran - apparently the brainchild of Martin Aircraft Company Engineer Dandridge Cole. Awesome:
Credit: Reddit/user “NinetiethPercentile”
“SPACESHIPS FOR 12 MAN EXPEDITION ON MOON. “Umbrella” on suit protects wearer from solar radiation.”
“After Apollo – Exploring the Moon
After the Apollo spacecraft lands its three-man crew on the moon and brings them back safely, what’s the next step in lunar exploration?
A 12-man expedition to make a 500-mile research trip across the surface of the moon is proposed by Allyn B. Hazard, an engineer at Aerojet’s subsidiary, Space-General Corporation.
It could be done in this decade, he says.
The spacemen would travel to the moon in four rockets – three round-trip passenger vehicles, the other a one-way cargo ship with 30,000 pounds of supplies to support the men and their scientific studies.
Each of the astronauts would be a highly trained scientist or technologist in some particular field; some would be experts in several areas. On the moon, only four of them would make the trans-lunar journey, while the others remained at the rockets’ landing site to conduct research.
The four explorers would wear special tub-like spacesuits in which they would have to live and work, eat and sleep, for the entire trip. They couldn’t get out of the suits because of the airlessness and super-cold of the moon.
That’s the reason for the suit’s peculiar shape – the wearer can slip his arms out of the sleeves to eat, adjust controls, make notes, or even to scratch his nose.
Umbilical connections would link each suit to a tractor-like “moon mobile” carrying the oxygen and life support system for two men. These would carry their passengers across the lunar landscape at five miles an hour. A 500 mile journey (for instance, from Crater Gruithuisen to Crater Aristarchus and back) would take 10 earth days. It would be made during the 330-hour lunar night, to avoid exposing the men to the sun’s radiation.”
~7.5" x 10". The right edge has been trimmed, neatly at least.
All of the above is from the 1962 edition of “AEROJET-GENERAL SPACELINES AND ROCKET REVIEW”. Conscientiously made possible/available by Mr. John Sisson, at his absolutely WONDERFUL “Dreams of Space - Books and Ephemera” blogspot:
dreamsofspace.blogspot.com/2013/06/after-apollo-exploring...
Specifically, the image (from the publication):
4.bp.blogspot.com/-KLRDvgofaB8/UcCnLPZbQPI/AAAAAAAAFUI/bQ...
With a fantastic breakout of crew assignments, equipment, vehicle specifics, etc:
2.bp.blogspot.com/-w7dS479A2no/UcCna3BiNMI/AAAAAAAAFU4/VY...
The amazingly detailed work is rich in details I’ve never seen before. Makes me wonder how big the original painting must have been. And if it still exists. Most importantly & most disappointingly, by whose hand…as I expect we’ll never know.
Nice touch of the foreground (non-return cargo carrier) vehicle’s oppositely canted left-side footpads, both partially resting on lunar boulders, demonstrating their brilliant hinged design. Speaking of boulders, one of the three round trip passenger carriers (in the the near background) narrowly missed, and is partially straddling one much larger. One of the hazards of landing tail-first.
Allyn Hazard. Like Clarence when seeing the image of George Bailey the first time, from “It’s a Wonderful Life”:
“It’s a good face. I like it.”:
siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_arc_393495
Credit: Smithsonian Institution Archives website
Continue to Rest In Peace Good Sir:
www.findagrave.com/memorial/87516589/allyn-b-hazard
Credit: “Find a Grave” website
“APOLLO 11 LM ON MOON -- A Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation artist’s [Craig Kavafes] concept depicting mankind’s first walk on another celestial body. Here, Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, Apollo 11 commander, is making his first step onto the surface of the moon. Armstrong has just egressed Lunar Module 5. Still inside the LM is Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot. Astronaut Michael Collins, command module pilot, remains with the Command and Service Modules in lunar orbit. In the background is the Earth, some 240,000 miles away.”
Note that the RCS plume deflectors are included in this beautiful depiction. However, an RCS Quad 3 nozzle (specifically, A3R), seems to be missing. I probably should overlook it, seeing how it otherwise is fantastic, as was the norm for Mr. Kavafes!
As a child, this is the only thing I knew this image from:
www.discogs.com/No-Artist-We-Came-In-Peace-For-All-Mankin...
Credit: Discogs website
science.ksc.nasa.gov/mirrors/images/images/pao/AS11/10075...
I still have my album. If my contemporary, do you?
In addition to the LP, countless mass media/press publications, and who knows what else, it was also used in an Apollo 11 30th anniversary commemorative coin presentation:
www.coincommunity.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=97299
Credit: Coin Community Forum website
“LONG ISLAND LUNAR LANDING--An astronaut plants an American flag on the moon near his space landing capsule in this still photo taken from a simulation made by CBS-TV at the Grumman plant on Long Island. The space landing mock-up is to be used in connection with the television network’s coverage of the moon shot this Wednesday.”
Thanks to Drew Granston’s posting of a related image (linked below), possibly from the same “photo opportunity”, bearing the following caption…
“Thomas Sylvester, of ILC Industries, of Dover, Del., manufacturers of the suits which will be worn by Apollo astronauts, climbs down a full-scale model of the Lunar Module here 7/9 during a simulated lunar landing mission. The event was being filmed by CBS Television in a simulation of astronaut Neil Armstrong’s historic first step on the lunar surface scheduled for early 7/21.”
…I think this is also Thomas Sylvester, I believe confirmed by the fidelity/realism of the A7L suit in both images…it looks like it would’ve been manufactured by ILC. The suits worn in the televised simulations looked like something available at Kmart leading up to Halloween.
Wonderful. I’m sure it’s the same LM:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJv5_y2l5as
Credit: Jason Kottke/YouTube
Shorter, but of higher quality:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDAunP8T5C0
Credit: CBS News/YouTube
Further, a wonderful combination/transition from simulation (in preparation for/during initial egress) during the Apollo 11 mission. As a bonus, the gentleman inside the LM, on the left, speaking to Walter Cronkite, is American Hero Scott MacLeod:
www.collectspace.com/news/news-081621a-scott-macleod-test...
Credit: Robert Yowell/collectSPACE website
Excellent & informative reading as always, with additional reference to Mr. MacLeod:
www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum29/HTML/001456.html
Damn. The "Greatest Generation" indeed:
www.gandt.com/blog/2021/7/10/the-high-flying-life-of-scot...
Credit: Robert Gandt
AND…dang…a lot of stuff I had no idea about, with reference to Thomas Sylvester:
www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum14/HTML/001640.html
Both above credit: collectSPACE website
Speaking of Thomas Sylvester, another American Hero. THIRTY SIX years of service:
www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/newszapde/name/thomas-sylves...
Credit: “Legacy” website
Finally, per one of the above collectSPACE discussions, Mr. Sylvester is seen donning the A7L suit at the 3:19 mark. Makes me want to watch all of this/these:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BlVRLTuCfU
Credit: US National Archives
"MEN ON THE MOON -- When America's first two-man team lands on the moon, one of their first tasks will be to obtain a sample of lunar materials as quickly as possible in event they have to make an emergency takeoff. If things go well, they will spend 25 hours on the surface, gathering up to 80 pounds of rocks, dust and other material to be put into vacuum-sealed containers. The artist's concept shows one astronaut gathering samples from a crater while his companion watches from the Lunar Module. Later, the two will roam up to 300 feet from the craft, working on a "buddy" system, to plant several measuring devices on the surface which will radio information to Earth."
Preceding description taken from an Associated Press caption of the same photo, which was apparently also used in a March 17, 1968 APN article, "The Moon: What We've Learned", written by Howard Benedict.
By 1966, I would’ve expected hand tools to have been depicted. Artistic license? Or, since it's the contingency sample that “Neil" is grabbing, the KISS principle may have been applied.
Gotta love those neat - literally - craters.
The verso bears the same numbering format, “P-XX”, of the illustrations in this latter North American Rockwell news/press publication:
cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/413105/Apollo%20Press%20Kits/North...
The parent site to the above is impressive:
www.apollopresskits.com/apollo-presskit-directory
Credit: David Meerman Scott
As an aside, I do believe Mr. Scott used this photo (far left panel) of mine in his splash page:
www.flickr.com/photos/146423059@N02/46528010321/in/album-...
"Artist concept of "Moon Mission"."
3-10-66
A somewhat understated caption for a spectacular work of art, depicting Lunar Module ascent stage liftoff.
With color more representative of the original work:
Credit: "Apollo 11 Timeline" blogspot
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....
The exact same scene, albeit with an updated LM, is featured in the following H-Missions "Apollo Spacecraft News Reference", labeled as "P-30":
www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/CSM_News_Reference_H_Missions.pdf
Credit: ALSJ website
And here...absolutely gorgeous:
wehackthemoon.com/sites/default/files/styles/hero_extra_l...
Credit: Draper Labs "HACK THE MOON" website
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
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.
“BETHPAGE, NEW YORK: This is a Manned Spacecraft Center artist’s concept of a multi-use workhorse space vehicle. Called a reusable tug, this highly versatile vehicle can be flown either manned or unmanned. It can be designed to operate around earth, or at the moon in support of interplanetary missions. The tug shown in this concept is approximately five stories high. It serves as a lunar base for scientific personnel who are conducting exploration of the moon.”
Of the myriad of space tug proposals & designs I’ve seen, outwardly, this is the most blatantly ‘simple’, and based on the press slug, possibly put forth by Grumman. It appears to be an Apollo Service Module mated to an Apollo Lunar Module descent stage.
Pretty expedient, gut the innards of the SM, make it a livable space, add windows, a mini-high-gain antenna, modify the contents of the descent stage quadrants, add another descent propulsion system engine - and BAM - orbed maiden here we come!
The Astronauts on the left appear to be investigating a Surveyor-type lander in the background, and an ALSEP-like scientific station is visible to the right.
If indeed a Grumman-originated/produced concept and it being loosely LM-‘derived’...from 1970, there's a chance it's by Craig Kavafes.
Lots of good space tug info & photos:
www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/spacetug.php
Credit: ATOMIC ROCKETS website
“A geological tool box that can be turned inside out and carried on the surface of the moon has been delivered to the NASA’s Manned Space Center by the Martin Company. The prototype unit includes the reversible container and the 16 geological hand tools which could be used on the surface of the moon to examine and obtain samples of lunar rock. The powered lunar geologist tool is battery operated and is shown being used to core rock material.”
An ‘extended version’ entrenching tool appears to be leaned up against the left side of the tool box. The test subject appears to be wearing the ILC Apollo SPD-143 Training Suit. See page 14:
www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/ILC-SpaceSuits-RevA.pdf
Credit: ALSJ website
I didn't know Black & Decker was originally sub-contracted to the Martin Company regarding what I suppose eventually became the Apollo Lunar Surface Drill (ALSD).
Informational, IF correct, and poorly worded:
www.nasa.gov/offices/ipp/home/myth_tools.html
See also (the cover). Pretty cool, although I'm having a really hard time identifying the space suit:
www.jsg.utexas.edu/news/files/newsletter2019.pdf
Credit: Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin website
Excellent:
ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19660011699/downloads/1966001...
TMI, but why not:
www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/ApolloLunarSurfaceDrill_19710014920.pdf
Credit: ALSJ website
And:
www.facebook.com/share/p/xxYnuMXrFcANijZY/?mibextid=K35XfP
Credit: Ken Thomas/Facebook
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.
Neil Armstrong & Buzz Aldrin touched down on the moon on July 20th, 1969 while Michael Collins circled above. A momentous event in human history.
This photo taken shortly after its partial eclipse had passed with my Sony a6100 with my Tamron 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens mounted on a tripod with the self-timer turned on in my backyard.
Take a look at tonight's Blue Moon! Can you see the image of Lord Ra Riaz Gohar Shahi? www.theawaitedone.com/divine-signsTheMoon
Shot by: Nouman Jafri
“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.
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”.
40 years ago today was the historic date of the Apollo 11 mission. A certain Mr Armstrong had the honour of being the first man on moon. After hopping around for a while he returned to his Lunar Module and was quite surprised when he found a sheep sitting on one of the landing pads.
It turned out that sheep had been flying to the moon for ages, but never made a big thing out of it. Mr Armstrong was a bit embarrassed about the whole thing, but the little sheep told him not to worry. He would keep the whole thing secret.
Mr Armstrong and his team at NASA were so relived that they promised every sheep that would visit NASA a free tour and ample cookie supply whenever they felt like it.
This is the reason while every time someone writes a report that the Moon Landing was a fake, the NASA people just smile… as long as people thought that, they would never hit on the truth… and that would be a bit more embarrassing for them :-)
"Artist concept of Moon Mission."
3-10-66
A wonderful depiction.
A few pointless observations:
- The jacket-like nature of the upper torso portion of the EVA suit.
- As yet, no OPS component to the PLSS.
- A satchel-like sample collection bag?
- Mittens. Apparently, no fine dexterity manipulations planned/anticipated?
- What looks to be a walking stick/“Jacob’s staff”. Must be multipurpose, possibly with a crude penetrometer functionality(?), and maybe telescoping capability...to pick up samples? And naturally, the fundamental assistive nature of such.
- Finally - the pièce de résistance - what looks to be neatly coiled rope at the astronaut's side.
By 1966, I would've expected the input for artist concepts to reflect what was actually on the "drawing board", not just left to the artist's imagination & creativity...as was sometimes the case in early works.
The rationale for the depicted EVA gear must be in some obscure NASA/JPL documentation from the time. To me, a staff/walking stick & rope alludes to the unknowns regarding the physical properties of the lunar surface. Indeed, this was prior to the Surveyor missions. You never know when you might need to pull up one another after falling into a buried crevasse or out of a "quick-sand" consistency crater floor...right?
Separately, I'm also quite impressed by the reflection in the visor...nice detail, with the appropriate distortion (other than that bluish swooping up thing on the left) & realistic sun glint. Being prior to the conduct of a single Apollo EVA, with only Gemini EVA images & footage to go by, this is a damned good job I think.
As is the norm, no signature. Gary Meyer maybe?
I see some similarity...the Lunar Self Recording Penetrometer (LSRP):
airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/penetrometer-lunar-...
Credit: NASM website
“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
Found photo from my personal collection.
Dateline July 20, 1969. Armstrong walks on the Moon and this is how the moment was captured back on the home planet. There was no Betamax, VHS, or DVR. A Polaroid camera and a television screen were the main ingredients needed to capture the glory that was Apollo. This is how I will always remember that day.
For those who are interested, here’s another piece of Apollo 11 history.
Neil Alden Armstrong (August 5, 1930 - August 25, 2012)
Happy Jashan-e-Shahi 2015 to all Goharians! Every rank and ascension has to do with this blessed day, the 15th of Ramadan. It celebrates the universality of the Awaited One Lord Ra Riaz Gohar Shahi. It is a day for members of all humanity to reap special benevolence from the Awaited One. Congratulations to all!
Learn more: www.goharshahi.us/news/view/jashan-e-shahi-20151/
ALSJ paraphrased:
Buzz photographed his footprint on a pristine surface for subsequent study by soil mechanics experts. In order to do so, he took the camera off the RCU bracket and took this and a series of boot print pictures holding the camera in his hands. Additionally, Buzz was in the field-of-view of the 16mm movie camera mounted in his LM window.
I've never seen a National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) photographic print from an Apollo mission, and only a few for unmanned missions. Still striking & historic, although the photo has not been handled commensurately with its historic & visually iconic significance.
"After Aldrin is aboard, Armstrong will hoist sample-filled "rock boxes" into cabin. That pack on Armstrong's back is his life-support backpack."
Although not signed, nor have I ever seen it before, I’m certain this is a Russell Arasmith work, which appears to have been part of a mission press kit, information packet, presentation, etc.
The other works in this series and the content at the following site pretty much confirms the identification:
“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
"WATER ON THE MOON . . . . .
Lunar ice could be melted by solar heat and broken up into hydrogen and oxygen for rocket propellants, chemical processes and life supporting atmosphere."
Obviously, some physical/real world discrepancies evident here, but delightful nonetheless. The drips do at least sort of look like icicles, like maybe they've frozen mid-drip. It is something like in excess of -200° Fahrenheit in the shade.
Yet another excellent piece by the talented John Gorsuch.
Hmmm:
www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/lunar-water-lamp/?amp
Credit: Digital Trends 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.
Here's "take 2" of the luncar eclipse. It's a closer representation of the moon, not as much processing as my first take.
Although if you ask me, I like the "Cudi" version better.
“A mobile laboratory on a lunar excursion is depicted in this artist’s drawing. The wheeled vehicle is being studied as a way of transporting men and equipment several miles from the lunar excursion module, shown at left, or other proposed lunar shelters. The NASA-Marshall Space Flight Center is directing the work being done on many lunar surface vehicles.”
Note the MOLAB landing module/descent stage immediately to the right of the vehicle. Also, the original title, possibly "MOLAB EXCURSION" was marked out. The LEM/astronaut scene is taken from that originally created by Craig Kavafes for Grumman.
A nearly identical variant, of which the artist is conclusively identified to be Rosemary A. Dobbins. Therefore reasonable to assume my posted photo is as well. So I’m going with it. A huge & unexpected WIN. At:
commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lander_Rover_Apollo_Mis...
Specifically:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Lander_Rover_...
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
www.pinterest.com/pin/98727416805204212/
Credit: Pinterest/Enrico Brunoni
www.jmargolin.com/svr/refs/ref15_lunar_driving_history.pdf
Credit: Jed Margolin's website
BTW, Rosemary Dobbins’ daughter: YOU’RE WELCOME.
“APOLLO 11 ON MOON - - Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot, is photographed during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity (EVA) on the Moon. He has just deployed the Early Apollo Scientific Experiments Package (EASEP). Good view of deployed equipment. In the foreground is the Passive Seismic Experiments Package (PSEP); beyond it is the Laser Ranging Retro-Reflector (LR-3); in the center background is the U. S. flag; in the left background is the black and white lunar surface television camera; in the right center foreground is the 35mm stereo close-up camera; in the far right background is the Lunar Module. Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, commander, took this picture with a 70mm lunar surface camera.”
What look like scratches in the sky are photographic emulsion imperfections.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3KEhWTnWvE
Credit: YouTube/Ahmad F Elyan
Slight differences, primarily the omission of reference to the Apollo Lunar Surface Closeup Camera (ALSCC), in the NASA online version:
“Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot, is photographed during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity (EVA) on the moon. He has just deployed the Early Apollo Scientific Experiments Package (EASEP). This is a good view of the deployed equipment. In the foreground is the Passive Seismic Experiment Package (PSEP); beyond it is the Laser Ranging Retro-Reflector (LR-3); in the center background is the United States flag; in the left background is the black and white lunar surface television camera; in the far right background is the Lunar Module (LM). Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, commander, took this picture with a 70mm lunar surface camera. While astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin descended in the Lunar Module (LM) "Eagle" to explore the Sea of Tranquility region of the moon, astronaut Michael Collins, command module pilot, remained with the Command and Service Modules (CSM) "Columbia" in lunar orbit.”
At:
spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/apollo/apollo11/html/...
And, of course, per the ALSJ:
“Neil took this picture at about 111:06:34. Buzz has now deployed both the east and west solar panels on the seismometer. He is looking toward the LM, perhaps to get a reference for his alignment. A labelled drawing of the PSEP
www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/a11PSEP_NASM.jpg
includes dimensions provided by Allan Needell of the National Air and Space Museum.”
At:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BisS5JxeUW0
Current exhibition in the Gasometer in Oberhausen (Germany);
Out of this World – Wonders of the Solar System
Project of the European Capital of Culture Ruhr.2010
Beautiful, and for me, memorable artwork by talented NASA artist, Grant Lathe.
I find it interesting that a very similar variant is by William McCaulley.
"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.