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Author
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Topic: STS-51B: What is in Frederick Gregory's hand?
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chappy
Member Posts: 231
From: Cardiff, S. Wales, UK
Registered: Apr 2006
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posted 04-10-2012 06:12 PM
   
I've noticed on the photograph of the STS-51B crew walkout that Frederick Gregory is carrying some sort of red ball in his right hand? Does anyone know what is it and why? |
Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 04-10-2012 07:09 PM
Courtesy of SPACEFACTS.de. |
Max Q
Member Posts: 399
From: Whyalla South Australia
Registered: Mar 2007
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posted 04-10-2012 11:01 PM
Some sort of stress ball? |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 04-11-2012 05:26 PM
I am not going to say I know for sure (since I don't), but it might be a reference to the "Red Ball Express". Gregory was one of the first three black astronauts to join NASA's ranks and of that group, he was the first pilot astronaut while McNair and Bluford were mission specialists.The Red Ball Express was a name given to U.S. Army supply convoys driven in WW2 mostly by African American soldiers. Officially it is credited to a supply convoy route that was temporarily opened from the port of Antwerp, Belgium in late 1944 for three months while the railway systems were being repaired. The highway route was marked by red balls on the side of the road and the trucks were similarly marked so they would get priority to move their precious cargoes of troops and supplies. Both historians and veterans have referred to all U.S. Army European campaign supply convoys in WW2 as "Red Ball" when apparently that is not correct. Since Gregory is black and since he was the pilot on that mission (trucking the crew into orbit as it were), having him holding a red ball would make a bit of interesting sense, even if that wasn't the original intent. |
chappy
Member Posts: 231
From: Cardiff, S. Wales, UK
Registered: Apr 2006
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posted 04-11-2012 05:27 PM
Yeah, it could be a stress ball. It looks like he's a nervous guy walking out to launch pad, which its normal for first-timer... |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 04-11-2012 07:16 PM
quote:
Originally posted by chappy:
Yeah, it could be a stress ball. It looks like he's a nervous guy walking out to launch pad, which its normal for first-timer...
I've met Fred and talked to him (and his lovely wife) several times; I can't imagine Fred being nervous. |
Max Q
Member Posts: 399
From: Whyalla South Australia
Registered: Mar 2007
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posted 04-12-2012 04:40 AM
I can't imagine anyone in there right mind not being nervous. |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 04-12-2012 07:38 AM
I talked to Fred Gregory about the time leading up the his shuttle flights. He said he use to have a ritual where he would go to the base of the launch platform a day or so before liftoff (I assume before fueling started) and talk to the engines. Kind of a pep talk. He said it might sound a little odd but I told him it did not sound odd at all to me. Every little bit helps. |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 04-12-2012 08:36 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Max Q:
I can't imagine anyone in there right mind not being nervous.
Respectful of the risk; yes. But if you're nervous then you're in the wrong business. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 04-15-2012 07:18 PM
quote:
Originally posted by MCroft04:
Respectful of the risk; yes. But if you're nervous then you're in the wrong business.
And how do you know? Everyone tackles challenges in their own ways. Some people get nervous, others don't. It doesn't make a person any less of a man or less capable of doing the job. Story Musgrave for instance freely admitted he was scared to death of launches, but he accepted them as a necessity for doing what he wanted to do in orbit. He even said that to one of his crews before a launch as they were waiting in the shuttle during a hold. They asked him why he wasn't quiet and chatty. His reply was that he was "scared to death". But he still flew six missions into space. Could a pilot be nervous about his vehicle, or is he doing his version of what myth tells us is the prayer of the first space traveler ("Oh lord, please don't let me screw up")? Everyone has their own little rituals, be they astronauts, engineers or workers and they do it for various reasons. Shepard did his "kick the tires" bit (looking up at the rocket when it was fueled) with his rockets from Freedom 7 to Apollo 14 when he would look at it before launch. Gene Cernan did the same thing before Apollo 17 since he and Al did it for Apollo 14. |
canyon42
Member Posts: 238
From: Ohio
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 04-15-2012 07:30 PM
If I remember correctly, Mike Mullane freely addressed his launch apprehensions in his book. |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 04-15-2012 10:58 PM
quote:
Originally posted by MCroft04:
But if you're nervous then you're in the wrong business.
Actually, if you're not nervous, then you're in the wrong business. |
onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1310
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 04-16-2012 09:07 AM
There's an adage that goes: "There are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there are no old bold pilots." Yes, there are aviators/astronauts who may be fearless, but all accept the risk and if they are 'nervous' it would certainly not count against them. It sure would keep one on his/her toes and not lead to complacency.. |
Max Q
Member Posts: 399
From: Whyalla South Australia
Registered: Mar 2007
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posted 04-16-2012 09:59 AM
I work with liquid steel and yes I am respectful. Certain grades pose greater risks than others. One has on two occasions tried to kill me. Do we still cast it? Yes. Am I nervous? Yes. But do I get a kick out of that nervous energy? Yes, sometimes. Now, I'm not a rocket scientist but I have to tell you guys who don't feel the sensation of controlling something that is only in control because it wants to be is to scary to work with. |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 04-16-2012 10:31 AM
John Young once said in a speech (paraphrasing) "Anyone who is not a little nervous before a launch does not understand the situation they're in."John's take on the subject is good enough for me! |
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