The history of early space exploration.
Episodes
Thursday Apr 04, 2019
Space Rocket History #126 – Apollo-Saturn IB: AS-201, AS-202, and AS-203
Thursday Apr 04, 2019
Thursday Apr 04, 2019
Apollo Saturn 201 employed the Saturn IB launch vehicle, which was the up-rated version of the Saturn I rocket flown in ten earlier Saturn-Apollo missions. It featured an upgrade of the first stage engines to increase thrust from 1,500,000 lb-ft of thrust to 1,600,000 lb-ft. The second stage was the S-IVB. This stage used a new liquid hydrogen-burning J-2 engine which would also be used on the S-II second stage of the Saturn V lunar launch vehicle…
Thursday Apr 04, 2019
Space Rocket History #125 – Apollo: Astronaut Selection and Training – Part 3
Thursday Apr 04, 2019
Thursday Apr 04, 2019
“Some of those guys came in figuring, “I’ll write my textbooks and my thesis and teach [university courses] and I’ll come by twice a week and be an astronaut.” Well, that didn’t work …. We were devoting our lives to this whole thing, and you couldn’t devote anything less, I don’t care what your discipline was.”
Thursday Apr 04, 2019
Space Rocket History #124 – Apollo: Astronaut Selection and Training – Part 2
Thursday Apr 04, 2019
Thursday Apr 04, 2019
With Group 4, for the first time, the selection criteria did not include a requirement for test pilot proficiency. Selectees who were not qualified pilots would be assigned to the Air Force for a year of flight training. The primary scientific requirement was a doctorate in medicine, engineering, or one of the natural sciences.
Wednesday Apr 03, 2019
Space Rocket History #123 – Apollo: Astronaut Selection and Training – Part 1
Wednesday Apr 03, 2019
Wednesday Apr 03, 2019
Selection of Group Two virtually depleted the pool of qualified candidates from the small corps of test pilots in the country, and it was the last group for which test-pilot certification would be a requirement. The new trainees reported to Houston in October 1962 to begin a two-year training course. A four-day work week was normally scheduled, the fifth day being reserved for public relations duties or for travel.
Wednesday Apr 03, 2019
Space Rocket History #122 – Apollo: Serious Problems with the Lunar Module and Grumman
Wednesday Apr 03, 2019
Wednesday Apr 03, 2019
Toward the end of January 1967, it was revealed that Lunar Module 1 would not reach the Cape in February, as expected. This meant, the moon landing might be delayed because the lander was not ready. But the mission planners could not wait for the Apollo engineers to iron out all the problems. They had to plan for a landing in 1969 and hope that the hardware would catch up with them.