Episodes

Monday Dec 03, 2018
Space Rocket History #108 – Apollo: The Mode Decision – Part 3
Monday Dec 03, 2018
Monday Dec 03, 2018
“I would like to reiterate once more that it is absolutely mandatory that we arrive at a definite mode decision within the next few weeks. . . . If we do not make a clear-cut decision on the mode very soon, our chances of accomplishing the first lunar expedition in this decade will fade away rapidly.” Wernher Von Braun June 7, 1962.

Monday Dec 03, 2018
Space Rocket History #107 – Apollo: The Mode Decision – Part 2
Monday Dec 03, 2018
Monday Dec 03, 2018
Langley’s brochure for the Golovin Committee described Lunar landers of varied sizes and payload capabilities. There were illustrations and data on a very small lander that was able to carry one man for 2 to 4 hours on the moon. There was an “economy” model that could two men for a 24-hour stay. The third model was called the “plush” module, it would carry two men for a 7-day stay on the moon. Weight estimates for the three craft, without fuel, were 580, 1,010, and 1,790 kilograms, respectively…

Monday Dec 03, 2018
Space Rocket History #106 – Apollo: The Mode Decision – Part 1
Monday Dec 03, 2018
Monday Dec 03, 2018
The mode that Apollo would use to land on the moon was the most studied, analyzed, and debated decision made for the lunar landing program. There were four main choices Direct-ascent, Earth-Orbit Rendezvous, Lunar-Orbit Rendezvous, and Lunar Surface Rendezvous.

Monday Dec 03, 2018
Space Rocket History #105 – Saturn’s First Flight – SA-1 – Part 2
Monday Dec 03, 2018
Monday Dec 03, 2018
No previous maiden launch had gone flawlessly, and the Saturn C-1 was considerably more complicated than any rocket launched thus far. Launch Operations Directorate officials gave the rocket a 75% chance of getting off the ground, and a 30% chance of completing the eight-minute flight…