Space News
space history and artifacts articles

Messages
space history discussion forums

Sightings
worldwide astronaut appearances

Resources
selected space history documents

  collectSPACE: Messages
  Mercury - Gemini - Apollo
  "McDivitt Bag" in Apollo Lunar Module (LM)

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   "McDivitt Bag" in Apollo Lunar Module (LM)
moorouge
Member

Posts: 2458
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009

posted 02-28-2014 04:54 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for moorouge   Click Here to Email moorouge     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
During preparations for powered descent initiation (PDI) on the Apollo 15 flight, James Irwin makes mention of putting something in the "McDivitt bag."

Anyone any idea what the McDivitt bag was?

space1
Member

Posts: 861
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002

posted 02-28-2014 05:03 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for space1   Click Here to Email space1     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It was a pouch that was attached to the console in front of the Commander at about waste level. It was easily opened and closed and was handy for stowing lose items. It was also sometimes called a purse.

moorouge
Member

Posts: 2458
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009

posted 02-28-2014 07:36 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for moorouge   Click Here to Email moorouge     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for that. But why a McDivitt bag?

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 43576
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 02-28-2014 10:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The bag was also called the "McDivitt purse" or just the purse. Here's a couple of relevant links, both from the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal. From the latter:
Finally, the fact that Alan [Bean] calls the Temporary Stowage Bag (TSB) the 'McDivitt Purse' suggests that the concept emerged from a suggestion by the Apollo 9 Commander. The Apollo 9 on-board recorder indicates that Rusty Schweikhart put his purge valve in his helmet bag and, consequently, that the first TSB post-dated Apollo 9. There is no mention of anything that could be the TSB during Apollo 10, probably because the LM crew never donned their PLSSs. During the lunar landing missions, the LM crews referred to what they all called, more simply, 'the purse'.

All times are CT (US)

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts

Copyright 2020 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved.


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47a





advertisement