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Author
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Topic: Mercury, Gemini, Apollo astronaut transfer vans
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astro-nut
Member Posts: 1025
From: Washington, IL
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 06-18-2011 10:22 AM
   
Can anyone share information about the astronaut transfer vehicles used for the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs? |
Rusty B
Member Posts: 239
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 06-20-2011 09:24 PM
Looking at old photos it appears that the Project Mercury astronaut transfer van was a semi-truck with a modified trailer. |
Skylon
Member Posts: 311
From:
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 06-21-2011 06:26 AM
When was the old Apollo program van last used? I've seen pictures of it used for STS-1. I'd guess it remained in use for the other OFT missions, and maybe STS-5 and 6. |
astro-nut
Member Posts: 1025
From: Washington, IL
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 06-23-2011 05:24 PM
Yes the Mercury transfer van was a semi with a modified trailer, but does anyone know what kind of semi and modified trailer it was and what has become of it? Any information on the Gemini crew transfer van would be helpful. I know that the Apollo van was used from Apollo 7 until STS-6. STS-7 and STS-8 used an RV camper type of vehicle. The current Astrovan was used since STS-9. It would of have been neat to see all the astronaut transfers vehicle in a museum lined up in order of their use. |
Rusty B
Member Posts: 239
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 06-25-2011 11:21 PM
This YouTube video has a sequence showing the Gemini 5 astronauts boarding the Gemini astronaut transfer van upon exiting the suiting trailer at LC-16, the van heading to LC-19 and the exiting the van at LC-19. This happens between 2:37 - 3:45 on the video.Still photos of Gemini astronaut transfer vans (Gemini 8 and Gemini 11 appear to be different from earlier vans). - s65-27488: Gemini 4 exits LC-16 suiting trailer to board van
- s65-29607: Gemini 4 exits LC-16 suiting trailer to board van
- s65-27487: Gemini 4 exits van and on way to LC-19 elevator
- s65-29660: Gemini 4 exits van and on way to LC-19 elevator
- s65-28737: Gemini 5 exits van and on way to LC-19 elevator
- s65-57962: Gemini 6 exits van and on way to LC-19 elevator
- s66-24447: Gemini 8 exits different van (shape different) and on way to LC-19 elevator
- s66-50780: Gemini 11 exits different van (shape different) and on way to LC-19 elevator
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Rusty B
Member Posts: 239
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 06-28-2011 06:50 AM
It appears that the Mercury chimps used the astronaut van before the astronauts did. Chimpanzee "Ham" during preflight activity with one of his handlers prior to the Mercury-Redstone 2 test flight which was conducted on January 31, 1961. Here he is seen leaving suit trailer. |
SpaceDust
Member Posts: 122
From: Louisville, KY
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 07-27-2011 07:35 AM
It seems even after this vehicle became a museum piece the NASA logo on it changed. This photo of the transfer van I took in May of 1990 at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. When it became a part of the Apollo/Saturn V Center, was it restored back to the meatball to look like it did during the Apollo program?  |
Skylon
Member Posts: 311
From:
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 07-27-2011 09:34 AM
quote:
Originally posted by SpaceDust:
...was it restored back to the meatball to look like it did during the Apollo program?
Looks like it, as evidenced by this walkout photo from Apollo 10. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3633
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 01-15-2012 01:46 PM
Here is some British newsreel footage showing Cooper and the transfer van outside Hangar S and arriving at Pad 14.There are also some great video clips of the Gemini transfer van and the suiting-up trailer at Pad 16 on this website. |
tetrox
Member Posts: 142
From: London England
Registered: Jan 2008
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posted 01-15-2012 04:51 PM
What type of truck was used to tow the trailer shown in the clip?I have tried Google and it looks similar to a "Consolidated 123" but I would be grateful if anyone could help me identify it. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3633
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 01-15-2012 05:46 PM
There is another good view of the Mercury astronaut transfer van and truck at the 1:19 point of this Glenn newsreel clip. |
astro-nut
Member Posts: 1025
From: Washington, IL
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 10-28-2019 11:32 AM
What were the make and models of the vehicles used as Astronaut Transfer vehicles, including all from Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo? - I know Project Mercury used a Reo tractor trailer.
- Project Gemini used two different vans during the program (one of the two vans was used for Apollo 1 crew, I believe)?
- Project Apollo used the Clark-Cortez astrovan. The same vehicle was used for Skylab, ASTP and space shuttle missions STS-1 to STS-6.
Staring with STS-9 the 1983 Airstream Excella motorhome astrovan was used for all remaning shuttle flights. Any updated information would be appreciated. Looking for make, models and years of the vehicles. |
Gordon Eliot Reade
Member Posts: 129
From: Palo Alto, Calif.
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 06-04-2021 12:14 AM
I'm trying to find some information on the Apollo-era astronaut transfer van. Who built it? |
MOL
Member Posts: 163
From: Los Angeles, CA
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 06-04-2021 12:44 AM
It was a modified Clark Cortez motor home. First used for Apollo 7 in 1968 and last used on shuttle mission STS-6 in 1983. |
Gordon Eliot Reade
Member Posts: 129
From: Palo Alto, Calif.
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 06-04-2021 12:55 AM
Thank you. I had never heard of Clark Cortez Motor Homes. Seems they went belly up in the late 1970's but they still enjoy a strong fan base. |
astro-nut
Member Posts: 1025
From: Washington, IL
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 07-28-2021 02:38 PM
From doing more research it looks like the Gemini 9 astronauts (Tom Stafford and Gene Cernan) and the follow-on Gemini missions used an International van as the astronaut transfer vehicle. Still trying to figure out what type of vehicle/vans did the prior Gemini missions use. Gemini 3 to Gemini 7 used the same vehicle and Gemini 8 used a different type of vehicle. Any updated information would be greatly appreciated in this topic. |
Gordon Eliot Reade
Member Posts: 129
From: Palo Alto, Calif.
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 06-06-2022 02:00 PM
I was told that one of the reasons why NASA choose the Clark Cortez Motorhome as the Apollo Astrovan is that the Clark Cortez had front wheel drive. Thus the vehicle had no drivetrain passing to the back and no rear differential. This resulted in a relatively low and flat floor. Astronauts suited up in full lunar gear could step up into the rear door and not worry about tripping over any bumps or bulges. Period photographs would seem to confirm this. Clark Cortez motorhomes from the mid 1960 are dirt cheap, however most of them are in pretty rough shape. I'm wondering why no one, to my knowledge, has ever created a working replica of the Apollo Astrovan. It wouldn't be too difficult and it'd be a lot of fun to drive an Apollo Astrovan to a space launch. Perhaps you might even be able to have it featured on Jay Leno's Garage. I'd be tempted to undertake such a project myself but I just finished work on my Starliner Astrovan. That should be enough for the time being. |
Gordon Eliot Reade
Member Posts: 129
From: Palo Alto, Calif.
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 06-06-2022 06:35 PM
Here's a bit of trivia that I just stumbled across. Prior to the Apollo Astrovan the US Air Force was using a Clark Cortez as the crew transfer vehicle for the SR-71 Blackbird. There are no obvious markings on the Air Force version. I suppose they didn't want to draw attention. |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1723
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 06-07-2022 08:46 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Gordon Eliot Reade:
I'm wondering why no one, to my knowledge, has ever created a working replica of the Apollo Astrovan.
Obviously because most people don't think so. Most people would not understand or make the connection. Too obscure. |
RobertB
Member Posts: 258
From: Israel
Registered: Nov 2012
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posted 06-07-2022 12:05 PM
If 7,000 more people had voted for it, it might have been a Lego kit a few years ago. |
onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1344
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 06-07-2022 12:16 PM
In looking through Apollo 1/204 crew photos taken during rehearsals at Pad 34, I found several which show they clearly used the van for Gemini 11, so it was employed one last time before the new van for Apollo 7 was broken in for the first time. |
Gordon Eliot Reade
Member Posts: 129
From: Palo Alto, Calif.
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 06-07-2022 03:53 PM
quote:
Originally posted by RobertB:
...it might have been a Lego kit a few years ago.
I found this image of a Lego Apollo Astrovan. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 48492
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-07-2022 04:26 PM
AutoCult produced a die-cast model of the Apollo astronaut transfer van in 2020. |
Gordon Eliot Reade
Member Posts: 129
From: Palo Alto, Calif.
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 06-07-2022 04:57 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Behling:
Too obscure.
More so in Southern California but in Northern California as well strange and unusual cars, vans, trucks and trailers are "A Thing." Hobbyists enjoy working on them and taking them to auto shows or just driving them around on weekends hoping to be noticed and admired. If you drive a vintage Jeep or car people will approach you in parking lots and ask about it. An Apollo Astrovan replica wouldn't be readily recognized. However it'd be sure to generate curiosity. People would ask about your "ride" and that'd give you the opportunity to deliver a brief history lesson. Something like, "This is a replica of the van that transported the Apollo Astronauts to the Saturn V rocket." The guy who approached you might respond by saying, "Wow that's so cool!" Or he might say, "Why would you drive anything so weird and stupid looking?" What it all comes down to is some people like offbeat vehicles and others don't. |
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