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Author
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Topic: Line of small holes on Apollo service module
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rlobinske
Member Posts: 148
From: Crawfordville, FL
Registered: Oct 2014
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posted 04-03-2016 07:33 AM
  
Taking detail photos of CSM-119 at the Kennedy Space Center's Apollo/Saturn V Center, I noticed this line of holes along each side of the service module parallel to the scimitar antenna. Any idea of what they are? I'm thinking that they may be for pressure equalization during climb to orbit.  
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David C
Member Posts: 1014
From: Lausanne
Registered: Apr 2012
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posted 04-03-2016 03:25 PM
I offer the following for what it's worth. On CSM-105 in the Smithsonian those holes are filled in. CSM-119 in general is missing a lot of fasteners. That line is roughly where I would expect an SM sector bulkhead to be connected to the cyclindrical outer shell panels.High resolution in flight photography of that portion of an SM is hard to come by. However, on Skylab 4 (or 3 depending how you count them) some images were taken whilst docked. On those, they do not appear to be empty holes to me. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-03-2016 03:36 PM
Yep... fastener holes to attach the panel to the underlying structure.Couple of internal images of a quad panel resting inverted (excuse the dirt on the propellant tanks - cleaned up now). Look along the perimeter and you'll see the flange holes for the fasteners.  
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GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2474
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 04-03-2016 07:41 PM
Can't get the big stuff in the house either, Scott? I can get you the name of a contractor for some bigger doors.  Great info, I had never notice the open holes before. Something to look for next time we are there. |
stsmithva
Member Posts: 1933
From: Fairfax, VA, USA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 04-03-2016 08:10 PM
Assuming that the hot water heater would make a serviceable if snug fuselage, and the two stepladders duct-taped together would make a fine launch umbilical tower, and that off-camera he's got a case of something containing ethyl alcohol, I think that it's possible to achieve at least LEO with the contents of Scott's garage. |
Jurg Bolli
Member Posts: 977
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 04-03-2016 08:55 PM
This LEO idea is great! Scott should go ahead and make a serious attempt. |
rlobinske
Member Posts: 148
From: Crawfordville, FL
Registered: Oct 2014
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posted 04-05-2016 11:28 AM
The line of holes are not associated with the RCS quads, but run separate, as seen in this photo of Apollo 15. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-05-2016 12:10 PM
The quad panel was only offered as a typical example of how the external panels are affixed to the underlying SM sub-structure. |
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