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  Gemini: Crew suit-up trailer near Pad 16 (Page 2)

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Author Topic:   Gemini: Crew suit-up trailer near Pad 16
garymilgrom
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From: Atlanta, GA
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posted 06-07-2012 04:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for garymilgrom   Click Here to Email garymilgrom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by LM-12:
Three future moonwalkers can be seen in NASA photo KSC-66P-122.
Would that be Neil, Dave and Alan?

golddog
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posted 06-07-2012 11:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for golddog     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yep.

LM-12
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From: Ontario, Canada
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posted 01-28-2013 03:15 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
There is this early article on the Gemini suit-up trailer in the Space News Roundup issue dated October 14, 1964:

"Gemini Astronauts Will Use Mobilehome To Suit-up, Check Out At Launch Site"

LM-12
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From: Ontario, Canada
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posted 02-22-2013 11:58 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The Gemini press kit has a timeline of launch day events including activities at the suiting-up trailer:
T-3 hours, 15 minutes
Crew leaves quarters.

T-3 hours, 5 minutes
Crew arrives at ready room on Pad 16. During the next hour, the biomedical sensors are placed, underwear and signal conditioners are donned, flight suits minus helmets and gloves are put on and blood pressure is checked. The helmets and gloves are then attached and communications and oral temperatures systems are checked.

T-2 hours, 15 minutes
Purging of suit begins.

T-2 hours, 4 minutes
Crew leaves ready room.

T-2 hours
Crew arrrives at 100-foot level.

T-1 hour, 30 minutes
Crew enters spacecraft.

spacedaughter
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From: Vancleave, MS USA
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posted 03-21-2014 11:34 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for spacedaughter     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I believe the guy in the photo is Jerry Ellzey, one of the new (like me) Gemini biomed systems engineers at that time. Gene Thomas was our leader as he had the job during Mercury.
I am Jerry Ellzey's daughter, I will ask him if this is him in the picture. It doesn't look like him to me.

LM-12
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From: Ontario, Canada
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posted 03-27-2014 08:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This still photo from a Gemini 10 newsreel shows the NASA crew transfer van and security vehicles traveling on the "BARTON FREEway" between the suiting-up trailer at Pad 16 and launch Pad 19.

A "BARTON FREEway" sign was located near the fence, and can be seen in the photo between the crew transfer van and the black security vehicle. The suiting-up trailer is off-frame to the right.

spacedaughter
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From: Vancleave, MS USA
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posted 04-10-2014 09:29 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for spacedaughter     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by spacedaughter:
I will ask him if this is him in the picture.
I asked my dad (Jerry Ellzey) if this was him and this was his response:
That is not me. I had a flat-top hair cut at that time and the astronauts look like the ones for Gemini 4, which is not a mission I worked on. Bob Sieck was in the same Biomedical Section that I was in during the same time.

LM-12
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posted 01-09-2015 07:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here is a Gemini 5 walkout photo showing the "Kennedy Space Center" sign over the door on the suiting-up trailer.

From what I have seen, the sign was only there for Gemini 5. A "Cape Canaveral" sign would have been more accurate.

The photo caption incorrectly identifies this as Gemini 9.

tlifan2
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From: Palm Coast, Florida
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posted 04-07-2020 07:20 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for tlifan2   Click Here to Email tlifan2     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here's a screen grab from Apple Maps that I made and annotated. I was hoping someone could confirm that these Gemini program locations are accurate. Thanks.

Jim Behling
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posted 04-07-2020 07:58 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jim Behling   Click Here to Email Jim Behling     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by LM-12:
A "Cape Canaveral" sign would have been more accurate.
No, it is accurate. It denotes the building's managing organization and not a location.

LM-12
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From: Ontario, Canada
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posted 04-07-2020 08:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This Gemini 10 photo of John Young and Mike Collins is reversed, but you can see and read the Barton Freeway sign at the fence in the background.

The Barton Freeway was just to the west of the suiting-up trailer at Pad 16.

oly
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posted 04-08-2020 01:49 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for oly   Click Here to Email oly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have corrected the image orientation.

LM-12
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posted 04-08-2020 09:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks. The photo shows "BARTON FREEWAY" on the sign, with "WAY" in smaller caps.

NavyPilot
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posted 04-08-2020 12:43 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for NavyPilot     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The story is here: Barton FREEway
The legend of the Barton FREEway dates back to 1964 and the Gemini program. Elmer Barton was the Launch Complex 19 facilities engineer for which he received the unofficial title of "Mayor of Pad 19."

...the astronauts had three signs made and installed them on the new FREEway... the actual installation was executed under cover of darkness reportedly by astronauts Grissom, Schirra, and Stafford.

LM-12
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From: Ontario, Canada
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posted 04-08-2020 12:52 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by tlifan2:
I was hoping someone could confirm that these Gemini program locations are accurate.
I would say that the suiting-up trailer was actually located slightly east of the position indicated by the arrow point.

tlifan2
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From: Palm Coast, Florida
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posted 04-08-2020 03:31 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for tlifan2   Click Here to Email tlifan2     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I did some more photo searching today and I agree, correct side of the road but further east. I'm now thinking the eastern end of the trailer was across from the entrance to the blockhouse.

LM-12
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posted 04-08-2020 04:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yes, I agree with that.

Explorer1
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posted 04-09-2020 07:40 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Explorer1     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
On the Mercury-Atlas 9 mission, there was a transfer trailer near Launch Pad 14. Was this also a suit up room?

Jim Behling
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posted 04-09-2020 09:40 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jim Behling   Click Here to Email Jim Behling     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hangar S was the suit up building.

Explorer1
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posted 04-09-2020 02:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Explorer1     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
What was the transfer trailer for then on MA-9?

oly
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posted 04-09-2020 03:13 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for oly   Click Here to Email oly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It is a long walk from Hanger S to the launch pad, especially wearing a spacesuit.

LM-12
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posted 04-09-2020 09:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The suited Mercury astronauts were driven to the pad in the transfer van.

tlifan2
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posted 04-11-2020 12:11 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for tlifan2   Click Here to Email tlifan2     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I did some additional research on where the Gemini suiting trailer was located at Pad 16.

The composite image attached is from Apple Maps and a video from YouTube. I found it interesting how close the suiting trailer appears when looking south from Pad 19.

NavyPilot
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posted 04-11-2020 05:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for NavyPilot     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
RE: Elmer Barton was the Launch Complex 19 facilities engineer for which he received the unofficial title of "Mayor of Pad 19."

Wikipedia states that Stafford was named the MOP19 after a record six man-ups to make two flights. This reference was added 18 Oct 2007 and to date no editor has refuted it. I'll wager that Barton and Stafford probably both know better.

LM-12
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From: Ontario, Canada
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posted 04-11-2020 11:25 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by NavyPilot:
The story is here: Barton FREEway
Image 3 in the Historical Markers gallery is an April 1965 aerial view of Pad 16 that shows the suiting-up trailer and the Barton Freeway.

CMD_OVRD
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posted 04-12-2020 08:44 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for CMD_OVRD   Click Here to Email CMD_OVRD     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by NavyPilot:
Wikipedia states that Stafford was named the MOP19 after a record six man-ups to make two flights.
Here's some film from the Gemini 9 launch day. At the 3:00 minute mark, a reporter asks Slayton about Stafford being named the mayor.

LM-12
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From: Ontario, Canada
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posted 04-13-2020 08:34 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
What might Young and Collins be looking at in the photo? My guess is something either landing or taking off at the Skid Strip.

mikej
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posted 04-20-2020 05:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for mikej   Click Here to Email mikej     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by NavyPilot:
Wikipedia states that Stafford was named the [Mayor of Pad 19] after a record six man-ups to make two flights. This reference was added 18 Oct 2007 and to date no editor has refuted it.
Cernan notes that Stafford was called the MoP19 in "The Last Man on the Moon."
"Let's go do it," snapped Tom, frustrated at being called the Mayor of Pad 19 because of all the time he spent there.

Fra Mauro
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posted 04-21-2020 03:27 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Fra Mauro   Click Here to Email Fra Mauro     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by LM-12:
What might Young and Collins be looking at in the photo?
Collins and Young might be looking at a satellite launch?

LM-12
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From: Ontario, Canada
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posted 04-23-2020 10:11 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Image 2 map shows what might be the facility number (13122A) of the suiting-up trailer at Pad 16.

LM-12
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From: Ontario, Canada
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posted 05-10-2020 03:44 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That is most probably the north end of the Barton Freeway seen in the background in this photo of the Gemini 11 crew arriving at Pad 19. An M113 rescue vehicle can also be seen parked beside the road.


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