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Author
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Topic: Apollo 16: Charlie Duke's LEVA 'TOOL!' decal
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Skytrotter
Member Posts: 31
From: Indianapolis, IN USA
Registered: Sep 2013
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posted 05-08-2015 05:19 PM
   
Last year, I did some work at the South Carolina State Museum. On display in the lobby of their new planetarium they had on display Charlie Duke's flown LEVA (Lunar Extravehicular Visor Assembly). I noticed a strange sticker on top of the LEVA that said "TOOL!" Today, I examined a photo of Duke on the edge of Plum crater and I see a dark spot that I assume is the same sticker. I have no idea what the meaning of this sticker. Was it some kind of inside joke or something more? Any ideas?  
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LM-12
Member Posts: 3324
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 05-08-2015 09:27 PM
After helping John Young don his LEVA during the EVA-1 preparations, Charlie Duke seems to refer to his own LEVA as a tool in the Apollo 16 Lunar Surface Journal at 118:39:46 GET.The tool carrier harness on the PLSS had quick-release straps that were attached to the left and right sides of the LEVA helmets with velcro. Perhaps the sticker has something to do with that. |
Skytrotter
Member Posts: 31
From: Indianapolis, IN USA
Registered: Sep 2013
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posted 05-11-2015 05:08 PM
I have found another photo of Duke showing the sticker on the LEVA more clearly. This is a crop from AS16-116-18718.I have not seen any other stickers like this after examining photos of other LMP LEVAs.  |
Captain Apollo
Member Posts: 260
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 05-18-2015 12:57 AM
I emailed General Duke about this. His reply was "It was an inside joke. Long forgotten." |
Captain Apollo
Member Posts: 260
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 05-20-2015 11:44 AM
I wonder if it was a reminder about the tool harness? Had it been a problem in training perhaps? Intriguingly Duke even says tool (not tool harness) at 118:39:46 below in the LEVA donning sequence (I think it is the LEVA he has picked up at that point.) Taken from the Lunar Surface Journal. 118:39:35 Young: Okay. (Pause)118:39:39 Duke: (To himself) Get it down in back. It is (and it's) Velcroed (in place). 118:39:42 Young: Okay. 118:39:46 Duke: Okay, the old long arms, here, will get mine out. (Pause) This tool (harness?). 118:39:50 Young: All righty. (Pause) Almost got it, Charlie. 118:40:04 Duke: Okay. Sorry. You're a little top-heavy with this PLSS, aren't you? 118:40:11 Young: Not really. I feel a little bit... (Long Pause) There, you got it. 118:40:34 Duke: (Not finished) Hang on. (Pause) 118:40:38 Young: Okay, can I turn around? 118:40:40 Duke: Okay. [Evidently, John had turned to face his circuit breaker panel so that Charlie could secure his LEVA in the back.] 118:40:42 Young: (Garbled) turned around. (Pause) 118:40:46 Duke: Oh. Man, is that (LM LCG) water cold! Whoo, whoo! 118:40:48 Young: Feels good doesn't it? 118:40:49 Duke: Mm-hmm! Okay, can you get my tool harness straps? |
Captain Apollo
Member Posts: 260
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 05-20-2015 11:52 AM
And just as intriguingly on the Apollo 16 EVA prep card, "Install PLSS Tool Harness" is officially crossed out. |
carmelo
Member Posts: 1051
From: Messina, Sicilia, Italia
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 05-20-2015 05:19 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Captain Apollo:
His reply was "It was an inside joke. Long forgotten."
Strange that have not said more. Which inside jokes?
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Space Cadet Carl
Member Posts: 225
From: Lake Orion, Michigan
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 05-21-2015 01:11 PM
Great discussion. I previously thought only Lovell had managed to customize his LEVA. This thread makes me wish Conrad and Bean would have successfully pulled off all of the silly posed photos they planned for Apollo 12 like wearing "propeller beenie caps" over their LEVA's and the Hasselblad timer shots that never happened. |
Captain Apollo
Member Posts: 260
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 05-21-2015 01:51 PM
quote:
Originally posted by carmelo:
Which inside jokes?
Don't know. Perhaps resulting from Duke or Young repeatedly forgetting to attach the tool carrier strap in their training? The exclamation point is interesting - not Tool but Tool! |
Skytrotter
Member Posts: 31
From: Indianapolis, IN USA
Registered: Sep 2013
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posted 06-07-2015 11:01 AM
Thanks for everyone's opinions on what that sticker means. Some interesting ideas.It would be nice to know exactly what the inside joke was. Either Charlie Duke has forgotten or he just doesn't want to share. |
mark plas
Member Posts: 385
From: the Netherlands
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 09-30-2015 04:01 PM
Duke's LEVA is now on a terrible replica, and it looks like someone removed the Tool sticker if you compare these two pics: 1 | 2. |
JasonB
Member Posts: 1091
From:
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 10-02-2015 10:21 AM
Calling someone a tool can have some rather dirty meanings. I'm not saying this is the case but it could be that this was a joke no one is in a hurry to share.On another note, how in the world does anyone allow a sticker to be removed from the LEVA like that? It seems ridiculous that was allowed to happen. Also where is the sticker now? |
Panther494
Member Posts: 425
From: London UK
Registered: Jan 2013
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posted 10-02-2015 05:43 PM
Check out eBay in a few weeks.  Seriously though, that is terrible, how could this have happened? Yes it's only a sticker but it's tampering with history and heritage. Makes me wonder what else has been lost, removed, broken or stolen! |
Skytrotter
Member Posts: 31
From: Indianapolis, IN USA
Registered: Sep 2013
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posted 07-20-2016 09:41 AM
Not to worry. As of last week the TOOL! sticker is still on the LEVA at the South Carolina State Museum.So it was never removed. I would still like to know the true meaning behind this sticker. |
Charlie16
Member Posts: 496
From: Italy
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 07-20-2016 02:07 PM
Email received from Charlie Duke now: It was a joke from the back up crew: Haise and Mitchell, but don't remember the joke. |
Skytrotter
Member Posts: 31
From: Indianapolis, IN USA
Registered: Sep 2013
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posted 07-20-2016 02:44 PM
I wonder if Haise remembers the joke? |
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