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Author
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Topic: The History of Manned Space Flight (Baker)
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Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 675
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 03-01-2007 09:18 PM
  
I have owned the large hardcover edition of David Baker's 'The History of Manned Space Flight' - 1985 edition - for over 20 years. I've always been intrigued by a color photo which appears on page 270 and has the caption 'Grisson, White, and Chaffee prepare for the first manned Apollo flight, scheduled at that time for February 1967'. The photo shows three fully suited astronauts, carrying their portable suit cooling/breathing units walking amidst white suited space workers. There is no indication of exactly when or where the photo was taken. Personally I have always found the small 'fire extinguisher' sign to be quite ironic considering the tragic events that followed. My major issue with the photo and caption is that I do not believe the astronauts in the photo to be Grissom, White, and Chaffee. Although the spacesuit name tags are visible the photo does not have enough resolution to clearly read them. Based on a single face I believe the astronauts in the picture are actually the original backup crew of Schirra, Cunningham, and Eisele. It is Cunningham's face that I believe I clearly recognize at center forefront in the photo. Dr. Baker's book is renowned for its detail and accuracy, however I believe this photo is miscaptioned. Can anyone else look at their copy and let me know if you agree? Also is it possible for someone to determine if this photo is a NASA photo that can be traced and verified for content, time, and place? |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 03-01-2007 10:05 PM
Paul, you are spot on; that is Schirra walking in front of Cunningham, with (presumably) Eisele tailing well behind. You can just make out Wally's name on his suit, including the "Jr." |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 03-01-2007 10:07 PM
Paul, I agree, I think this is the (eventual) Apollo 7 crew. Looks like Schirra to me at the front, and his name tag looks to read 'W.M. Schirra Jr.' That's Cunningham behind him, too.  |
heng44
Member Posts: 3386
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 03-02-2007 12:27 AM
The photo is all the more unique because it shows the Apollo-2 crew at North American in August or September 1966. When Schirra, Eisele and Cunningham were named as Apollo-1 backups (after the cancellation of their own Apollo-2 mission), the spacecraft was already in KSC's altitude chamber. So they would not be training at North American.Here is a related photo, probably taken on the same day. |
Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 675
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 03-02-2007 09:22 AM
Thanks guys! I was sure that was not the AS-204/Apollo 1 crew. The irony of that picture has always struck me primarily because on the same page just below is the picture of the burned out Apollo 1/AS-204 CM. The 'Fire Extinguisher' sign in the background on the first pic has always seemed so ironic - even if the pic was actually of another crew taken much earlier. One last question: are the suits/helmets they are wearing the same type as was worn by Grissom, White, and Chaffee when they were killed? |
heng44
Member Posts: 3386
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 03-02-2007 02:39 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Paul78zephyr:
One last question: are the suits/helmets they are wearing the same type as was worn by Grissom, White, and Chaffee when they were killed?
Yes, Apollo-2 was to be a repeat of Apollo-1. That is why it was eventually cancelled. |
Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 675
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 04-07-2008 12:48 PM
Does anyone know what happened to Dr. Baker? I cannot seem to find anything about this man whose book has provided so much great information and, I my opinion, was exceptionally well written. I have always found it so ironic that the book, at least the second edition of it which I have, ends with shuttle operations in late 1985 just before one of the most defining episodes in the 'history of manned spaceflight'. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3118
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 04-07-2008 06:17 PM
I agree that Dr. Baker's book is an absolutely first-class reference work on space exploration, up to (in my edition) about 1981. But I hope Dr Baker is useless at long-range predictions: on the last page of text in the first edition, he predicts that nobody alive at that time (i.e. anyone who is now 27 or older) will live to see astronauts walking on Mars. I believe time will prove him wrong on that, although it's getting a bit doubtful that someone my age (53) will see it! |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 04-07-2008 09:36 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Paul78zephyr:
Does anyone know what happened to Dr. Baker?
The book states that he was a Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society, so it might be worth e-mailing them, or asking their officials who post here sometimes? |
dbaker
Member Posts: 22
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2010
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posted 06-07-2010 08:49 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Paul78zephyr:
Does anyone know what happened to Dr. Baker?
I came upon this site again after several years and browsed the content to see my name appear a few times. I had the good fortune to have the opportunity to write what became 'The History of Manned Space Flight' that some of you appear to know and it is heartening indeed to read so many testimonials. I wanted to write and express my gratitude and to say 'thanks' to all those folks who found it useful, apparently stimulating and a reference work that answered a few questions along the way. I truly appreciate all your comments. But, just when you thought it was all over... I am working on a two-volume History of Apollo so watch out for that too. And for those who like numbers and facts, some might like to look up a book I wrote some while back for Facts on File of New York, titled 'Spaceflight and Rocketry - A Chronology.' Thanks folks. Be great to hear from some of you and I would be delighted to join in e-conversation. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 06-07-2010 08:50 AM
Always good to hear from an author! Your book was published in the mid-80s, right? (I must admit I'm not familiar with it.)Keep us posted on your Apollo book (or any other space-related ones)! |
dbaker
Member Posts: 22
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2010
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posted 06-07-2010 11:23 AM
quote:
Originally posted by cspg:
Keep us posted on your Apollo book (or any other space-related ones)!
Be glad to! First edition of History of MSF was in 1981, with an 'updated' edition in 1986. Thought about breaking it down into separate Mercury, Gemini and Apollo in expanded form including a lot more detail and 'behind the scenes' anecdotes but for now Apollo Vol's 1 and 2 are my sole focus. |
Spoon
Member Posts: 143
From: Cumbria, UK
Registered: May 2006
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posted 06-08-2010 07:30 AM
Mr Baker, really nice to hear from you!As well as 'History of Manned Spaceflight' (both editions) I also have 'The Rocket' and 'Spaceflight and Rocketry - A Chronology' to which I refer very often. To me and so many other people they are invaluable. The standard setting 'Apollo: Race to the Moon' by Murray and Cox credits 'History of MSF' as their 'treasured encyclopedic source'. Say no more! The news that you are working on a new project based upon Apollo is tremendous news! Are you able to give some clue as to when they may see the light of day? As an aside, I'm also guessing one of the reasons the BBC drama 'Space Odyssey' was so good was that you were the David Baker who was involved? (Sorry if I am wide off the mark there). |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 06-08-2010 01:41 PM
I used to check that book out at the library many times when I was younger. I'd be struggling to ride my bike home up the hill with this treasure on my back in my backpack - usually with a small pile of other space books also. Maybe it's time that I just buy a copy of that one! |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3118
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 06-08-2010 05:30 PM
I didn't know that there are two editions of "The History of Manned Spaceflight." Having made a quick check, I see that my copy is the original 1981 version. (Basically, this edition covers, in such amazing detail, the "Golden Age" of space exploration.) It's good to know that Dr Baker is still writing, and I would definitely be interested in buying his history of Apollo. |
minipci
Member Posts: 365
From: London, UK
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 06-10-2010 05:24 AM
Even almost 30 years later, I can still remember struggling to ride home on my bicycle with a copy of HMSF when I bought it at my local bookshop back in '81 or '82. I can also remember wondering how much easier it would have been to read this behemoth in zero-G rather than cut off the circulation in my teenage legs when resting the book on my lap here on Earth.At the time I do remember that I thought that HMSF was a better book than The Rocket. It would be interesting to read both again, and see if my original opinion still holds, or whether I would now consider The Rocket to be a better book. Luckily I still have both, so I just need to find the time to do this now. Many thanks to David Baker. They are two fantastic books  |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 08-03-2010 01:35 AM
quote:
Originally posted by dbaker:
But, just when you thought it was all over...I am working on a two-volume History of Apollo so watch out for that too.
Would this be it? |
SVaughan
Member Posts: 42
From: Toronto, Canada
Registered: Aug 2006
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posted 08-04-2010 09:03 AM
"The History of Manned Spaceflight" was THE book for me when I was growing up. Yes, it was a beast to carry around and yes it turned my feet blue when I rested it on my legs for too long, but it was so comprehensive, so authoritative and so eminently readable. There was so much information in it that I had never read anywhere before and it saved me in so many school projects and essays (by the way... if you're creative, variations on the theme of spaceflight can be used as the subject of essays and projects in most classes from history to science to math to art... I know, because it got me through school!). |
dbaker
Member Posts: 22
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2010
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posted 09-09-2010 10:15 AM
quote:
Originally posted by cspg:
Keep us posted on your Apollo book (or any other space-related ones)!
A further note, since someone asked me to keep the group informed of any books I am writing. Out within a few months is a book about the shuttle from Haynes, a UK publisher, in a series describing how things work. |
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