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Author
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Topic: First repair work in space?
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Naraht
Member Posts: 232
From: Oxford, UK
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 07-21-2006 04:25 AM
   
This is a rather odd topic, but I'm having an argument on a Star Trek board (!) about what counts as the first vital repair made in space by an American crew. So I wondered what those of you on Collectspace would say.My argument is that Skylab was certainly the first major repair made in space, and that the Apollo 14 software patch for the abort switch might count if you look at it the right way. My opponent in debate believes that Apollo 13 counts as the first repair in space, due to the work on the CO2 scrubbers, saying "I'd still give honorary mention to Apollo 13 for being the first (Americans) to do stuff other than push buttons or give misbehaving equipment a good kick..." What do you guys think? |
Mike Dixon
Member Posts: 1397
From: Kew, Victoria, Australia
Registered: May 2003
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posted 07-21-2006 05:50 AM
Skylab 1 ....EVAs present their own set of difficulties, especially with that flight.
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TRS
Member Posts: 721
From: Wellington, New Zealand
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 07-21-2006 05:53 AM
How about the Apollo 11 LEM repair using a pen to substitute for a broken toggle switch...? |
Naraht
Member Posts: 232
From: Oxford, UK
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 07-21-2006 07:48 AM
quote:
Originally posted by TRS:
How about the Apollo 11 LEM repair using a pen to substitute for a broken toggle switch...?
I've never actually heard of that one! |
nasamad
Member Posts: 2121
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 07-21-2006 10:08 AM
Iv'e always been impressed with the fender repair on the Apollo 17 LRV.Adam |
Michael Davis
Member Posts: 528
From: Houston, Texas
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 07-21-2006 10:49 AM
Well the most extensive repairs were the Skylab 2 crew (Conrad, Weitz, Kerwin). But these were practiced on the ground prior to the attempt and specialized tools were quickly manufactured prior to launch to support the effort.Apollo 13 would seem have been the most critical emergency repairs that would have affected the mission outcome (crew death). The makeshift fabrication of a carbon dioxide scrubber to save a crew would seem to take prority over the loss of Skylab with Conrad and crew returning safely if the reapirs did not work. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2474
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 07-21-2006 11:02 AM
Didn’t Ed White on Gemini IV have to do repairs on the hatch closing mechanism at the end of his EVA in order to get the hatch closed. |
collocation
Member Posts: 383
From: McLean, VA, USA
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted 07-21-2006 02:04 PM
Actually, if I am not mistaken McDivitt fixed the hatch, he learned how to take the hinge apart and put it back together at the contractor that was making the Gemini, this is desribed in Dave Scott's Two Side of the Moon book |
John K. Rochester
Member Posts: 1292
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 07-21-2006 02:17 PM
From "Spaceline"However, a manned presence in space very quickly became justified as the Skylab 2 (Yes as you remember, the first manned Skylab was designated as such) crew began what had never been attempted before. They began the on-orbit repair of a damaged, malfunctioning spacecraft. it also states that Gemini 4 had a malfunctioning hatch that "took longer to open and close" but no mention of a repair per se. [This message has been edited by John K. Rochester (edited July 21, 2006).] |
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