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Author
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Topic: Apollo crew walkout (to launch) imagery
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LM-12
Member Posts: 3853
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 08-21-2018 12:01 PM
  
quote:
Originally posted by LM-12:
Some NASA captions for Apollo 11 walkout photos at the pad on launch day
They were not captioned with the "HC" numbers, but I think I have seen the other three photos. It seems to me that the NASA captions mentioned earlier have mis-identified Aldrin as Armstrong, and Armstrong as Aldrin. |
heng44
Member Posts: 3701
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 08-22-2018 07:39 AM
quote:
Originally posted by LM-12:
Regarding the 798 caption: Armstrong was the first to board the transfer van at the MSOB, so wouldn't he be the last to exit the van at the pad?In photo 768, isn't that Aldrin in the elevator, then Collins in the middle, and Armstrong closest to the camera?
Both statements are correct. Aldrin entered the elevator first, followed by Collins and then Armstrong. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3853
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 08-23-2018 12:18 AM
Thank you, Ed. Have you ever seen any 16mm footage of the Apollo 11 astronauts exiting the transfer van at the pad on launch day? |
heng44
Member Posts: 3701
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 08-23-2018 09:18 AM
I would have to check the Spacecraft Films DVD. Here are some photos from launch day. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3853
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 08-23-2018 10:14 AM
Yes, those are the photos I was referring to. The bottom right photo was taken just before the bottom left photo. I found some equivalent photo numbers:
- 69-HC-768 (108-KSC-69PC-400)
- 69-HC-798 (108-KSC-69PC-423)
- 69-HC-799 (108-KSC-69PC-424)
- 69-HC-800 (108-KSC-69PC-425)
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LM-12
Member Posts: 3853
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 10-01-2018 09:10 PM
The Apollo 7 crew walkout for emergency egress training on September 9, 1968 can be seen in this video. Had not seen this before. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3853
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 10-28-2018 11:15 AM
quote:
Originally posted by heng44:
The footage is from October 23, 1968.
There is also film footage taken in the White Room showing the Apollo 8 prime and backup crews during an emergency egress test. The prime crew is seen wearing blue covers on their pressure helmets. I think that footage was taken in November. |
heng44
Member Posts: 3701
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 10-28-2018 11:27 AM
quote:
Originally posted by LM-12:
I think that footage was taken in November.
No, that was on October 23, 1968. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3853
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 10-28-2018 11:33 AM
Then they must have put those blue covers on sometime after the crew walkout, most probably in the transfer van. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3853
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 10-28-2018 05:18 PM
Both the Apollo 8 prime and backup crews wore their yellow boot protectors inside the command module during the egress tests. Maybe that is why they all wore the white covers over the yellow boot protectors that day. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3853
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 06-01-2019 10:40 AM
quote:
Originally posted by heng44:
They even have extra protection over their yellow plastic ones.
It looks like there were white boot protectors for the lunar overshoes also. Jim Lovell seems to be wearing them in photo S69-33720: Backup Apollo 11 Commander James A. Lovell reads a newspaper while awaiting to enter the altitude chamber. Notice the blue strings tied like shoelaces. Probably there to prevent the white boot covers from falling off, like Lovell's almost did in the Apollo 8 crew walkout photo posted back on 08-25-2015. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3853
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 06-09-2019 12:21 PM
Photo S71-16635 has this caption: The three Apollo 14 astronauts arrive at the White Room atop Pad A, Launch Complex 39, during the Apollo 14 prelaunch countdown. Apollo 14, with Alan B. Shepard Jr., commander; Stuart A. Roosa, command module pilot; and Edgar D. Mitchell, lunar module pilot, aboard was launched at 4:03:02 p.m. (EST), Jan. 31, 1971, on a lunar landing mission. Note identifying bands on the sleeve and leg of Shepard. Standing in the center foreground is astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, chief of the MSC Astronaut Office. Is that really the White Room entrance, or is that at a lower location on the LUT ? |
Tom
Member Posts: 1724
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 06-09-2019 03:34 PM
I don't believe that's the white room entrance either. If it was, Shepard would be entering first as he was first to enter the spacecraft. Either way, great photo!
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LM-12
Member Posts: 3853
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 06-09-2019 03:55 PM
Also, the swingarm was red, not grey.
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LM-12
Member Posts: 3853
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 06-09-2019 08:12 PM
I may have found the location of the large EGRESS DOOR seen in the Apollo 14 photo. I think it is located on Side 2 of the Mobile Launcher platform. The door can be seen in photo 69-HC-622 below the man standing on the ML platform at the base of the LUT. |
oly
Member Posts: 1462
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015
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posted 06-09-2019 08:33 PM
I agree with your idea. This looks to be the entrance to the Mobile Launch Platform, used to gain access to the elevator up the LUT. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3853
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 06-09-2019 08:43 PM
How about that. I always thought the astronauts just walked across the platform deck to get to the LUT elevator. I didn't know they actually went inside the platform. |
oly
Member Posts: 1462
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015
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posted 06-10-2019 02:57 AM
The elevator that the crew can be seen entering has a single cab and expanding mesh type manually operated doors. It is accessed from "ground level" after walking from the crew transfer van.The MLP/LUT has two high speed elevators that travel from MLP level A, up the LUT. The emergency egress notes identify that the procedure for emergency egress via the High speed elevators down to level A, where a chute goes down to the rubber room bunker. Engineering drawings also show a door to the emergency chute located on the deck of the MLP, however, I am unsure if this is the same chute, or a chute from the deck to level A. This image shows the Apollo 15 stack, riding the crawler, approaching the pad hardpoints. Note the fixed structures and the openings that align with the MLP hatchways. This image shows Apollo 11 installed on the hardpoints. Note that the fixed structures align with the hatchways of the MLP. You can also make out the elevator with the expandable mesh door. This colour Apollo 8 image shows more detail, however the elevator is behind the truck trailer. In all these images, the emergency egress chute can be seen, which runs from MLP level A down to the rubber room. I have seen a colour photo of the emergency egress chute hatch inside the MLP, however I cannot locate it at this time. It differs from the hatch on the deck of the MLP. Here is a photo of the KSC Saturn V centre high speed elevator display. Note the solid doors. Here are the blueprint details of the high speed elevators. Note the drawing on the right hand side that details the external elevator. Some additional details. Note that the MLP elevator rooms were pressurised and had air locks. |
heng44
Member Posts: 3701
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 06-10-2019 05:49 AM
I believe this is the route the crews followed to get from the ground level to the white room. When they left the elevator at the white room level, the Saturn was to their left but they made three right turns to reach swing arm #9. 
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oly
Member Posts: 1462
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015
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posted 06-10-2019 06:14 AM
Here is an overhead view of the fixed structure and MLP deck. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3853
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 06-10-2019 07:42 AM
This footage from Spacecraft Films of the Apollo 11 pad walkthrough shows the astronauts entering the Egress Door seen in the Apollo 14 photo.The footage also shows Armstrong, Collins and Aldrin leaving the fixed structure elevator and walking across the Mobile Launcher platform deck. This footage looks like it was shot just before this week's POTW (#763) was taken. Coincidentally, the film footage was taken 50 years ago today. |
oly
Member Posts: 1462
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015
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posted 06-10-2019 09:30 AM
Thanks for sharing the film, it has some amazing images. I have not seen a shot that shows such a great view from the top oft the LUT before.Thanks also to Ed for sharing the photos detailing the path. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3853
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 06-10-2019 09:59 AM
Not sure if the Apollo 14 photo is a launch day image or CDDT image. I have seen different captions. |
heng44
Member Posts: 3701
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 06-10-2019 10:10 AM
quote:
Originally posted by LM-12:
Not sure if the Apollo 14 photo is a launch day image or CDDT image. I have seen different captions.
It's CDDT.
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oly
Member Posts: 1462
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015
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posted 06-10-2019 10:48 AM
quote:
Originally posted by oly:
I have seen a colour photo of the emergency egress chute hatch inside the MLP...
I located the image I was referring to above. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3853
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 06-10-2019 01:28 PM
I don't recall ever seeing any photos of other suited astronauts at the Egress Door location seen in the Apollo 14 photo.
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oly
Member Posts: 1462
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015
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posted 06-10-2019 08:22 PM
Yes the egress door photo is a unusual image that has some interesting details that are not commonly shared. This image opened an interesting path that led me to find other images that detail the area inside the MLP. All of the suited astronauts walked this path to reach the command module. The room inside the fixed structure elevator restricts photography, and the restricted personnel on launch day reduces the number of photo ops available around a fully fueled and armed rocket. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3853
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 06-11-2019 01:48 AM
Camera 007 at the pad was pointed at the Egress Door area seen in the Apollo 14 photo. The Apollo 12 astronauts can be seen entering the Egress Door at 19:20 into this mission video from lunarmodule5. The PAO commentary is interesting. |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1855
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 06-11-2019 08:25 AM
quote:
Originally posted by LM-12:
This footage from Spacecraft Films of the Apollo 11 pad walkthrough shows the astronauts entering the Egress Door seen in the Apollo 14 photo.
There is a metal plaque on the wall at 1:23. I wonder where they are now? |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3853
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 06-11-2019 08:33 AM
Looks to me like they are just inside the Egress Door.
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Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1855
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 06-11-2019 09:12 AM
I meant where is the plaque. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3853
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 06-12-2019 10:10 AM
I found some Camera 034 and Camera 007 footage of the Apollo 11 astronauts arriving at the pad (at 20:40) and entering the Egress Door on launch day. Aldrin glances up at the camera. |
oly
Member Posts: 1462
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015
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posted 06-12-2019 08:25 PM
Good find, one that I have not seen before.It is interesting watching the support crew assisting. I wonder how long the portable oxygen supply lasts and if they had planned out when the units were changed or did they just carry one spare unit per crew member? There are some interesting points in this including Wally Schirra describing what the Chromel patch on the back of Armstrong's suit are for. |
oly
Member Posts: 1462
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015
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posted 06-13-2019 07:32 AM
quote:
Originally posted by oly:
I located the image I was referring to above.
I believe that this emergency egress chute entrance is located to the immediate right as you exit the high speed elevator at level A of the MLP.The high speed elevators were located along the corridor behind the hatchway identified in the above image placarded as "Egress Door" in the S71-16635 image above. The emergency egress chute passed out of the MLP at level B. All access ways to the high speed elevators had double doors that formed airlocks, designed to maintain a positive pressure within the ingress/egress area, a design I believe was incorporated to prevent gas/fumes from contaminating the Emergency Egress Path during an emergency. I have not seen details of the exit chute/slide connection to the MLP, however it must have an airtight seal or some design. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3853
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 06-13-2019 11:50 AM
This short clip must be the astronauts at Level A crossing from the fixed structure elevator to the egress door. |
oly
Member Posts: 1462
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015
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posted 06-14-2019 04:48 AM
quote:
Originally posted by LM-12:
I found some Camera 034 and Camera 007 footage.
Any idea what the story is with the item passed behind the astronauts at the 21:31 timestamp? Was this a gag gift? |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3853
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 06-14-2019 09:22 PM
At 33:10 is some Camera 034 and Camera 007 footage of the Apollo 16 astronauts arriving at the Egress Door location. A suit tech waves at the camera.
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LM-12
Member Posts: 3853
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 06-15-2019 11:36 AM
CG Publishing has this photo of the Apollo 11 astronauts at the Egress Door, but the image is also misidentified as a White Room photo. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3853
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 06-17-2019 10:51 PM
Seen in this video is more extensive coverage of Apollo 11 pre-launch activities. Lots of great black and white footage from VAB and Pad cameras, including the Egress Door location. And, of course, there is excellent PAO commentary from Jack King.https://images.nasa.gov/details-KSC-19690716-MH-NAS01-0001-Apollo_11_Breakfast_C7Exit_Convoy_WhiteRmHatchClosing_Launch-HM_0083 |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3853
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 06-18-2019 10:50 AM
What does the "C-7" term refer to? The MSOB perhaps? |
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