Author
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Topic: Apollo 13 post-recovery blimp procedure
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Andy Anderson Member Posts: 87 From: Perth, Australia Registered: Dec 2009
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posted 01-12-2020 01:29 AM
Some time ago I acquired some slides from a former crew member of the USS Iwo Jima taken during the ship's involvement with the Apollo 13 mission and a few images show a recovery procedure involving a "blimp" and a C-130 Hercules.I was wondering what was recovered and what procedure the C-130 crew employed to get whatever was lifted by the blimp onboard the C-130 after it was captured.
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nasamad Member Posts: 2141 From: Essex, UK Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 01-12-2020 02:11 AM
The system shown looks like the Fulton Recovery System, although there is another name that when abbreviated makes the acronym STARS (_ _ aerial recovery system?). I believe it was used during the Apollo missions to collect press material after recovery, such as photographic films and film footage, to allow them to be processed and distributed faster.A winch line was used to pull the package into the aircraft, it was also tested with humans to be used as a way to recover downed pilots or covert agents I think. Hope this gives you a start. |
Andy Anderson Member Posts: 87 From: Perth, Australia Registered: Dec 2009
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posted 01-12-2020 02:25 AM
Thanks very much Adam — exactly what I was looking for.I vaguely remembered reading something about it a while ago but could not recall the name of the system to search again. |
Jeff Member Posts: 483 From: Fayetteville, NC, USA Registered: May 2009
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posted 01-12-2020 03:46 AM
The acronym STARS stands for Surface to Air Recovery System. |
nasamad Member Posts: 2141 From: Essex, UK Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 01-12-2020 03:49 AM
Your very welcome Andy.Cheers Jeff, probably could have worked it out if my brain was in gear. |
JBoe Member Posts: 971 From: Churchton, MD Registered: Oct 2012
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posted 01-12-2020 08:44 AM
I know you all have already answered the question, but was a similar aerostat system used for communication purposes at different frequencies during the Apollo program or other programs? |
SpaceAholic Member Posts: 4494 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-12-2020 09:19 AM
Also used to recover the Batman (Dark Knight). |
Headshot Member Posts: 891 From: Vancouver, WA, USA Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 01-12-2020 10:37 AM
...and James Bond (remember "When Arrows Meet" at the end of Thunderball?). |