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Author Topic:   Apollo slide wire testing outside VAB
LM-12
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From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010

posted 07-31-2022 10:16 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
In these two Apollo 8 rollout photos, a long wire can be seen emerging from a small door on the side of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and descending toward the ground. The rollout date was October 9, 1968.

The wire is seen above Jim Lovell's head in the first photo, and it is seen behind the Apollo 8 S-IC stage and Mobile Launcher in the second photo.

The wire was set up to test the design of the Apollo slide wire escape system, as described in this 20151204 NIU document on page 16:

The door was cut to allow design testing of the slide wire escape system. The door was placed at the same height as the escape station would be on the LUT and a cable strung as it was planned for the slide wire system at the pad. Tests were run to support design of the cars, braking, and other parts of the system ...

Testing started on December 24, 1968, utilizing a slide wire cable extending from 34 level, E Tower, of the VAB, through a tail tower sheave at Station 2200, and terminating at a tractor approximately -100 feet behind the tail tower.

LM-12
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Posts: 3847
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010

posted 08-02-2022 09:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
As I see it, the slide wire from the VAB as seen in the photos must have been removed to allow the Apollo 9 rollout from High Bay 3 on January 3, 1969. Otherwise, the cable would have blocked the path of Apollo 9 and the Mobile Launcher.

Perhaps the VAB slide wire testing was completed by then.

oly
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From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015

posted 08-03-2022 04:19 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for oly   Click Here to Email oly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
An interesting feature from the past. It would be nice to see film or photos of the tests being conducted and to learn if any changes were made to the final design.

LM-12
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From: Ontario, Canada
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posted 08-03-2022 11:27 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have never seen any imagery of the actual slide wire testing at the VAB.

After Apollo 9 reached the pad, there was a slide wire test (manned) with a cab from the LUT on January 25, 1969.

Buel
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From: UK
Registered: Mar 2012

posted 08-03-2022 11:48 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Buel   Click Here to Email Buel     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Not exactly what the OP was referring to but an interesting video, nonetheless, from good old James Burke:

LM-12
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posted 09-04-2022 06:38 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here is a 1968 LIFE magazine photo of some slide wire testing from Mobile Launcher 3 (ML-3) at Pad 39. Is that 39B?

oly
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posted 09-05-2022 05:01 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for oly   Click Here to Email oly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That is a great image and looks to be a whole lot of fun.

LM-12
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From: Ontario, Canada
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posted 09-05-2022 05:20 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Not sure if that is four dummies going down the slide wire at the same time, or a multiple-exposure image of just one dummy.

I don't think a human has ever done it like that, from the LUT without a cab.

PeterO
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Registered: Mar 2002

posted 09-05-2022 06:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for PeterO   Click Here to Email PeterO     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I think it must be four dummies at the same time. If it was a multiple exposure of one dummy in four different positions, the wire would sag slightly differently for each, and would show multiple images.

LM-12
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From: Ontario, Canada
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posted 09-06-2022 09:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
ML-3 (above) was in the VAB in late November 1968 to stack the Apollo 10 vehicle. Maybe that is why the VAB was used for slide wire testing in late December.

LM-12
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From: Ontario, Canada
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posted 09-06-2022 11:38 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by LM-12:
I don't think a human has ever done it like that.
Maybe not at Pad 39, but Ron Evans went down the slide wire at Pad 34.

LM-12
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From: Ontario, Canada
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posted 09-08-2022 11:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
There is a rollout photo that shows both the Apollo 9 vehicle leaving High Bay 3 and the slide wire. The slide wire is hanging vertically from the small door and down the side of the VAB to the ground so the wire would not block the crawlerway.

LM-12
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From: Ontario, Canada
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posted 09-14-2022 03:12 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Even before the Apollo 9 rollout in January, ML-1 would have had to rollback in late December from Pad 39A to the parking area north of the VAB for refurbishment after the Apollo 8 launch. So the slide wire must have been moved out of the way before that.

LM-12
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From: Ontario, Canada
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posted 09-15-2022 04:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here is another view of the Apollo 8 rollout. The slide wire should be in the view. I believe it is the thin white line seen in the shadow cast by the Apollo 8 vehicle and ML-1.

LM-12
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From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010

posted 09-28-2022 09:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The slide wire cannot be seen in this photo of the Apollo 10 S-IC stage arriving at the VAB. I believe the date was November 27, 1968.

correction: I think I do see the slide wire very faintly.

LM-12
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From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010

posted 11-17-2023 01:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
You can clearly see the slide wire in this high-res version of photo S68-55025.

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