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  Mercury launch escape system (LES) color

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Author Topic:   Mercury launch escape system (LES) color
btguest
Member

Posts: 31
From: Waldorf, MD
Registered: Oct 2008

posted 09-15-2021 10:31 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for btguest   Click Here to Email btguest     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I don't think that this question has been asked before (and I never thought I'd post such an esoteric question on this board), but does anyone know the actual color of the launch escape systems on the Mercury spacecraft?

Looking at numerous photos, there appears to be some variability (maybe color correction by photographers, amount of light when the photo was taken, etc.). Some LESs seem to fall square in the "red" category, while others are what I would call orange (or maybe more precisely call "International Orange," akin to the Golden Gate Bridge).

I suspect the answer will be that it depends based on which mission, but I defer to all of the experts here on collectSpace! Thanks for the help!

space1
Member

Posts: 899
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002

posted 09-15-2021 01:24 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for space1   Click Here to Email space1     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The drawings say International Orange, although most photos seem to show a more reddish look. But as you said, lighting and printing variations, as well as variations in film color sensitivity, can affect the color in the photos we see.

randy
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Posts: 2480
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 09-15-2021 04:46 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for randy   Click Here to Email randy     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
For what it's worth, the tower on my Mercury spacecraft model is reddish orange (?) for want of a better description.

rlobinske
Member

Posts: 174
From: Crawfordville, FL
Registered: Oct 2014

posted 09-16-2021 09:50 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for rlobinske     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A well-discussed question without firm answers. I would not be surprised if there had been real color variations between missions as well as lighting and film variables creating different effects. Make your best estimate based on mission specific photos.

NavyPilot
Member

Posts: 60
From:
Registered: Nov 2015

posted 09-16-2021 10:16 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for NavyPilot     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Given some experience in the acquisition community, I'd assume the drawing callout. MIL-specs for paint content including International Orange are pretty doggone specific and contractors follow design drawings closely, not any less for external coating systems. I think it's a fair conclusion that natural lighting and photographic effects take care of the rest of the variations that we sense.

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