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Author
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Topic: Race car driver Gary Gabelich and Apollo 11
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moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 02-06-2011 07:34 AM
   
Have recently come across an article from 3rd November 1970 in the Milwaukee Sentinel in which Gary Gabelich claims to have spent seven days in the capsule that took the Apollo 11 crew to the Moon. In addition to his label as as the world's fastest human on wheels, Gabelich also enjoys the distinction of being in effect a "guinea pig" for the Apollo space program. He actually was the first "orbit" in the capsule which would -- on July 20, 1969 -- make the first historic landing on the Moon.The intrepid Californian who steered the Blue Flame, built and developed in Milwaukee, to a world record speed, was an engineer for 9 1/2 years with the firm that designed and built the Apollo moon spacecraft. "I spent seven days in the capsule that actually landed on the moon," Gabelich explained. "I tested various foods and underwent a number of endurance tests. You might say that I was a guinea pig for the astronauts." Does anyone know any more about this? |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-06-2011 07:43 AM
My take on the article is that as a North American employee, he was involved with human factors testing and probably participated in studies within a Apollo CM (mockup or otherwise) - not necessarily S/C 107. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-06-2011 08:09 AM
The Associated Press interviewed Gabelich five days after Apollo 11 made the first moon landing. Referring to him as a "test astronaut" and describing him as having gone through the astronaut selection interview process with NASA, Gabelich shares his perspective on which was more coveted: a moon flight or setting a land speed record. "Anyway, if I had the choice of setting a land speed record or going on a space flight to the moon, I'd rather have the speed record. I'd rather be a hero here for life than a hero for one day or a week." Of course in hindsight one might ask, who do more people remember as a hero today: Gary Gabelich or Neil Armstrong? | |
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