Space News
space history and artifacts articles

Messages
space history discussion forums

Sightings
worldwide astronaut appearances

Resources
selected space history documents

  collectSPACE: Messages
  Space History Photo of the Week
  Photo of the week 134 (May 26, 2007)

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   Photo of the week 134 (May 26, 2007)
heng44
Member

Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001

posted 05-26-2007 02:24 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for heng44   Click Here to Email heng44     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

View of Saturn-Apollo 7 on launch complex 37A at Cape Kennedy during preparations for a radio frequency interference test. This unmanned Saturn-1 test flight was launched on September 18, 1964, and placed a boilerplate Apollo spacecraft in earth orbit.

Ed Hengeveld

capoetc
Member

Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005

posted 05-26-2007 06:10 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for capoetc   Click Here to Email capoetc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Very nice pic! And, look at all those classic cars ...

SpaceCat
Member

Posts: 151
From: Florida, US
Registered: May 2006

posted 05-26-2007 10:23 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for SpaceCat     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That is a beautiful shot!

About ten years ago before 37 was rebuilt for the new Deltas, I was doing some work at 34 and drove over to 37 on a lazy Sunday afternoon just to stand outside my truck and look around for a few minutes. Even in ruins with the towers gone, it was an impressive place!

mjanovec
Member

Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005

posted 05-26-2007 03:42 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for mjanovec   Click Here to Email mjanovec     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The cars in the photo are a good reminder of just how long ago this all took place. I often look at aviation and space photography from the 50s and 60s and cannot help but think how modern some of the hardware looks. Some of these photos look like they were taken yesterday. It's only after seeing other elements in these photos (such as the cars) that one remembers that this stuff really did take place 40-50 years ago.

dtemple
Member

Posts: 729
From: Longview, Texas, USA
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 05-27-2007 11:55 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for dtemple   Click Here to Email dtemple     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Actually, the rocket must be on Pad 37B unless it was stacked at 37A then restacked at 37B for the launch. All LC37 Saturn launches were from pad B. I have seen the 37A reference in the caption for this photo in the past; I think it is worded that way on the JSC press release images website.

413 is in
Member

Posts: 628
From: Alexandria, VA USA
Registered: May 2006

posted 05-27-2007 02:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for 413 is in   Click Here to Email 413 is in     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yet another fine picture, Ed. Any chance we can get a close-up view of those classic cars?

In photos such as these from the early space program, the juxtaposition between space vehicle and motor vehicle is most effective in helping to set the proper time period while also illustrating the current "state of the art" in two separate but related industries - mass transportation and space transportation.

One of my favorite images, in this respect, is of the Apollo 13 Saturn V launch vehicle with boilerplate spacecraft on its way to High Bay #3 in the VAB in August 1969 (just a few short weeks after the Apollo 11 moon landing). The dichotomy that exists between cutting edge technology in the aerospace industry with that of the automobile industry is most strikingly evident in this image. For those who may be interested, here is the caption for this photo.

On first blush, it appears that the VW Beetle wins the prize for most popular vehicle among Apollo workers in 1969. Perhaps it had something to do with all those German rocket engineers. For fun, can you count the number of VW Beetles in this picture? I have only been able to identify 12. I have to believe that number 13 is lurking just out of frame!

FFrench
Member

Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 05-27-2007 02:58 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for FFrench     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This discussion reminded me of this shot, with a very prominent VW bug (I hope their paint job survived the launch...)

Considering the Saturn rockets and the VW bug were both designed by Nazi-era German engineers, their placement together should not be too surprising. In fact, the first prototype Beetles were called the V-1 and V-2...

heng44
Member

Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001

posted 05-27-2007 03:13 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for heng44   Click Here to Email heng44     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
David is right. This is Complex 37B.

SpaceCat
Member

Posts: 151
From: Florida, US
Registered: May 2006

posted 05-27-2007 08:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SpaceCat     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by FFrench:
This discussion reminded me of this shot, with a very prominent VW bug (I hope their paint job survived the launch...)
That's Apollo 7, of course- and I've always wondered if that's Guenter Wendt's VW?

tfrielin
Member

Posts: 162
From: Athens, GA
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 05-28-2007 09:49 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for tfrielin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
What's really amazing is there's not one, but two Fiats in the lot. The pleathora of VWs and Fiats probably says more about how much these workers were paid than anything else.

tfrielin
Member

Posts: 162
From: Athens, GA
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 05-28-2007 09:51 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for tfrielin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by dtemple:
All LC37 Saturn launches were from pad B.
Am I remembering correctly that Pad A was never used even once at LC 37?

Ben
Member

Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000

posted 05-28-2007 11:01 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ben   Click Here to Email Ben     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Correct, only 37B was ever used then too; and only eight times at that (all for Saturn):

LC-37B: six Saturn 1, two Saturn 1B

tfrielin
Member

Posts: 162
From: Athens, GA
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 05-28-2007 01:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for tfrielin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Was Pad A ever operational; i.e., was it fully outfitted, then never used? I assume LC 37's scant use was a function of the demise of NASA's Apollo Applications Program plans that would have launched dozens of Saturns had it played out.

Ken Havekotte
Member

Posts: 2915
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001

posted 05-28-2007 05:01 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ken Havekotte   Click Here to Email Ken Havekotte     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Pad A at Launch Complex 37 was never flight used. Both pads were completed in 1963 and certified for launch-flight operations of both Saturn launch vehicle versions (C-1/Block II & 1B). Having a second pad at 37, during the early/mid-1960s, provided a backup for Saturn C-2 missions and reduce launch time by one-third, since it would eliminate the month or so needed for any needed pad repairs. By early 1960, NASA had planned to launch dozens of Saturns from the single 34 and from the newly proposed "twin" 37 complex. Funds were secured, just barely, to provide a second Saturn pad facility at 37.

As it turned out, a "backup" launch pad from 37 wasn't needed as there were only 8 Saturns test-fired from 37 and 7 from the single 34 all within 1961-68. NASA had originally planned to launch dozens (actually, believe it or not, more than a hundred!) of the Saturn vehicle family all throughout the 1960s.

Harry Bennett
Member

Posts: 47
From: St. Pete, FL USA
Registered: May 2007

posted 06-01-2007 09:01 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Harry Bennett   Click Here to Email Harry Bennett     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Great photo!

For someone who works on old cars day in & out this pic made my day!

Note the '55 Chevy and the 2 Fords parked next to it are base models and the '62 or '63 T-bird in the background wasn't cheap in it's day. I even see an Edsel in the background...

413 is in
Member

Posts: 628
From: Alexandria, VA USA
Registered: May 2006

posted 06-01-2007 09:15 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for 413 is in   Click Here to Email 413 is in     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yes, indeed. Some real classics. Is that the back of a VW I see (second from right)?

iamdoug
New Member

Posts:
From:
Registered:

posted 06-01-2007 10:57 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for iamdoug   Click Here to Email iamdoug     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This Photo of the Week is great, not only because of the spacecraft but the old cars as well!

CPT Kirk
New Member

Posts:
From:
Registered:

posted 07-05-2007 03:01 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for CPT Kirk   Click Here to Email CPT Kirk     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by FFrench:
This discussion reminded me of this shot, with a very prominent VW bug
That's a cool pic because there is an air cooled rear engined Corvair parked next to the VW.
quote:
Originally posted by 413 is in:
On first blush, it appears that the VW Beetle wins the prize for most popular vehicle among Apollo workers in 1969.
I know it's not a Beetle, but there is a VW Karmon Ghia in the lot that could bring the total to 13 VW's.

413 is in
Member

Posts: 628
From: Alexandria, VA USA
Registered: May 2006

posted 07-06-2007 09:20 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for 413 is in   Click Here to Email 413 is in     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I did notice the Ghia. And in the immortal words of Muchea CapCom Deke Slayton in a light-hearted moment during the MA-7 mission "That's probably close enough for government work."

Choose2Go
Member

Posts: 73
From: Merritt Island, FL, USA
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 08-18-2007 08:19 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Choose2Go     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by SpaceCat:
About ten years ago before 37 was rebuilt for the new Deltas...
Just a note, that historical elements of LC 37 were not too disturbed by the new Delta 4 pad, as it was built alongside 37B. Check this from Google Maps and you'll see that both hard stands remain in place.

All times are CT (US)

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts

Copyright 2020 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved.


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47a





advertisement