|
Author
|
Topic: NAA Apollo CM vacuum chamber tests
|
Marc05A
Member Posts: 40
From: Reims, France
Registered: May 2009
|
posted 09-02-2019 08:44 AM
   
In 1966, three engineers spent 14 days inside a Block I Apollo command module simulating an entire Apollo flight, but I couldn't find anything about this test, except a reference in Ed Hengeveld's article (below) and a 1-minute video posted on Facebook a few weeks ago. The contractor for the CSM, North American Aviation (NAA) in Downey, California, had performed an altitude test on a Block I Command Module in the summer of 1966. Company engineers Erman, Abell and Moyles spent two weeks flying a simulated mission in a CM inside NAA’s vacuum chamber – called the “bell jar”. Because the 5-meter chamber was too small to hold the complete Apollo spacecraft, electrical power, oxygen and drinking water were provided by ground support equipment. Does anybody have more information or pictures regarding this NAA manned vacuum test at Downey? |
heng44
Member Posts: 3595
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
|
posted 09-03-2019 11:34 AM
March 29, 1966 - North American Aviation engineers Richard Erman, John Moyles and Norman Abell prepare to enter a Block I Command Module inside NAA's vacuum chamber - called the "bell jar" - where they will spend two weeks flying a simulated Apollo mission. March 29, 1966 - North American Aviation engineers Richard Erman, John Moyles and Norman Abell are sitting in a Block I Command Module inside NAA's vacuum chamber - called the "bell jar" - where they will spend two weeks flying a simulated Apollo mission.  The NAA crew after the test on April 12. Left to right: Moyles, Erman and Abell.  The NAA crew talks with astronauts Borman, White, Chaffee and Grissom after the test.  |
Go4Launch
Member Posts: 562
From: Seminole, Fla.
Registered: Jul 2003
|
posted 09-03-2019 03:13 PM
Nice work, Ed! |
dtemple
Member Posts: 754
From: Longview, Texas, USA
Registered: Apr 2000
|
posted 09-03-2019 09:36 PM
Was this testing performed using CSM-008 or another block 1 spacecraft? Somewhere, I have a reference for the timeline of testing done using 008, but cannot find it at this time. |
heng44
Member Posts: 3595
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
|
posted 09-04-2019 12:14 PM
CSM-008 underwent two manned tests. The first was Aug. 1-9, 1966, and the crew was Donald Garrett, Neil Anderson and Joel Rosenweig. The second test was Oct. 26 - Nov. 1, 1966, manned by Ed Givens, Joe Kerwin and Joe Gagliano. |
NavyPilot
Member Posts: 72
From:
Registered: Nov 2015
|
posted 09-05-2019 07:08 PM
Forgive my confusion, Ed, but your response seems to imply that CM-008 was not used for this contractor test. Was a boilerplate or a different Block I CM used in the Downey bell jar for this test? Thanks! |
heng44
Member Posts: 3595
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
|
posted 09-06-2019 02:34 AM
As far as I know CSM-008 was not the one used for the NAA tests. I don't have any further info on that. |
Marc05A
Member Posts: 40
From: Reims, France
Registered: May 2009
|
posted 09-10-2019 02:01 AM
Thanks a lot Ed! |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 5088
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 06-14-2022 10:16 PM
Additional info in this article (came across while researching an artifact retained from the same spacecraft). |
advertisement