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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?). |
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