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Topic: Photo of the week 491 (March 22, 2014)
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heng44 Member Posts: 3387 From: Netherlands Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 03-22-2014 01:52 AM
Astronaut John Glenn climbs into the tail section of the Redstone booster, which failed to launch the MR-1 flight from Cape Canaveral on November 21, 1960. Due to a premature engine shutdown the escape tower was launched and the spacecraft's parachute was deployed, threatening to topple the rocket. Fortunately that didn't happen and the spacecraft was successfully launched as MR-1A one month later. |
onesmallstep Member Posts: 1310 From: Staten Island, New York USA Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 04-01-2014 02:18 PM
The film footage of the aborted MR-1 launch is featured prominently in the movie The Right Stuff. |
Michael Davis Member Posts: 528 From: Houston, Texas Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 04-01-2014 04:11 PM
Why would Glenn crawl into the Redstone booster? Was this for a genuine reason or just for the purposes of a photo op? I can't see why he would have done this. |
onesmallstep Member Posts: 1310 From: Staten Island, New York USA Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 04-02-2014 08:39 AM
I would imagine, like any good pilot, he would do a walk-around inspection to 'kick the tires' of any air- or spacecraft. Keep in mind, the selection of the astronaut for the first manned Mercury flight was still weeks away (in Jan. 1961), so every one of the 'Seven' had to familiarize themselves with the booster they would ride-and depend on. |
moorouge Member Posts: 2454 From: U.K. Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 04-22-2014 10:04 AM
Caption - "Hey! John! You get in the other end." |
Steve Procter Member Posts: 1031 From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 04-22-2014 01:36 PM
And he got to wear his own personalised hard hat! |