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  Photo of the week 141 (July 14)

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Author Topic:   Photo of the week 141 (July 14)
heng44
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Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001

posted 07-14-2007 04:21 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for heng44   Click Here to Email heng44     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

Astronauts Fred Haise (Apollo-8 backup LMP) and Bill Anders (Apollo-8 prime LMP) prepare to photograph and film the Apollo-7 launch on October 11, 1968. This was probably to practice using the cameras that would be used to document the Apollo-8 mission. This photo was supplied by J.L. Pickering.

Ed Hengeveld

hlbjr
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Posts: 475
From: Delray Beach Florida USA
Registered: Mar 2006

posted 07-14-2007 10:40 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for hlbjr   Click Here to Email hlbjr     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Another excellent photo. I'd really like to know exactly where these guys were standing given the launch was from Pad 34. I'd also be curious to interview Anders back then to get an idea of his thoughts about riding a Saturn 5 to the moon in just 2 short months!

Harvey Brown

Edited by hlbjr

Rob Joyner
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From: GA, USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 07-14-2007 05:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rob Joyner   Click Here to Email Rob Joyner     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Fred: "Bill! This new phaser is great! Look what it did to that trashcan I zapped over there!"

Bill: "Well, good for you, Freddo!...Dang it! How do you turn this tricorder thing on anyway?!"

(Doesn't Anders look like actor Jeff Goldblum here?!)

Tom
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From: New York
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posted 07-14-2007 08:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Tom   Click Here to Email Tom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by hlbjr:
I'd really like to know exactly where these guys were standing given the launch was from Pad 34.
This photo may give you a better perspective of where spectators viewed Saturn 1B launches from Pad 34...
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/alsj/a410/ap7-KSC-68PC-0179.jpg

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

posted 07-14-2007 08:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SpaceCat     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That's a good question, Harvey.
Does anyone remember or know where the official viewing and press areas were for a launch from 34?
I'd guess it was along the east NASA Causeway even though viewers would be looking almost parallel to the causeway rather than perpendicular toward 39, 40 & 41.
Tom Hanks' FTETTM shows the closeout crews retreating to the corner of ICBM Road and Phillips Parkway- probably not realistic and still too close.

SpaceCat
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From: Florida, US
Registered: May 2006

posted 07-14-2007 08:50 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SpaceCat     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
We posted at the same time, Tom. Since there's no water in front of them, looks like it's along Titan Road-- SW from the pad as you can see the tower on 37 to the left.

MCroft04
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From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 07-14-2007 09:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for MCroft04   Click Here to Email MCroft04     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Were those aviator sunglasses that good or were they just "that cool"?

capoetc
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From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005

posted 07-14-2007 10:31 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for capoetc   Click Here to Email capoetc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by MCroft04:
Were those aviator sunglasses that good or were they just "that cool"?

They were ... government issue!

Actually, they are pretty good, and legally they are the only glasses you are supposed to wear if flying a government airplane since the lenses have been tested to make sure they will not allow for blind spots, etc. You se guys all the time wearing privately-issued glasses/sunglasses, but they are forbidden officially.

Of course, watching launches and taking pictures are things you can legally do in other glasses, but why buy them if the government issues those free?

------------------
John Capobianco
Camden DE

Ken Havekotte
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From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001

posted 07-14-2007 11:24 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ken Havekotte   Click Here to Email Ken Havekotte     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Press Site #2 was the main media station for covering and viewing the launch of Apollo 7 in 1968. The site, located southeast--not too far from Hangars F & E--of the Cape industrial area on a road actually called "Old Press Site Road," is 15,000 feet from Pad 34. Most of the VIP and other viewing site areas were also located within the compounds or outskirts of the Cape industrial area.

hlbjr
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From: Delray Beach Florida USA
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posted 07-15-2007 08:00 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for hlbjr   Click Here to Email hlbjr     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
15,000 feet?! I'd love just once to be only 15,000' from a launch. I understand that Saturn 1B did a pretty fair job of rattling the ground. Is this true?

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

posted 07-15-2007 10:01 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for tfrielin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by hlbjr:
15,000 feet?! I'd love just once to be only 15,000' from a launch. I understand that Saturn 1B did a pretty fair job of rattling the ground. Is this true?

Yes, the Saturn 1B did an impressive job of rattling the ground and observers. I was lucky enough to see the last Saturn 1B that launched thirty two years ago today--ASTP. Also Skylab 2 and 3.

I was in front of the VAB, approx three miles distance and the Saturn 1B produced a very satisfying throaty roar. Much less than the Saturn V, mind you, which produced an overwhelming low frequency roar that literally pounded you--it felt like someone pounding on your chest. Then the sound changed into what has been accurately described as "staccato popping" which was incrediblby awesome.

For Skylab 2 in July 1973, it was overcast and the low clouds amplified the roar which made it almost like a Saturn V launch, but not quite and not as long lasting as the smaller Saturn accelerated much faster than the Saturn V.

I would love to relive those launches.

In all, I saw the Skylab Workshop, second and third manned Skylab launches, and ASTP, all in front of the VAB viewing site).

------------------
tfrielin

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

posted 07-15-2007 05:44 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ken Havekotte   Click Here to Email Ken Havekotte     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
For hlbjr--Yes, 15,000 feet from a launch pad firing is close, but Press Site #1 was situated only 6,000 feet from the old Thor and current Delta II complex at Pad 17. Of course, the Delta rockets are smaller and less powerful than a Saturn 1B. In covering/observing up close probably more than 500 missile and rocket space shots for more than 35 years, naturally, the Saturn V moon rocket was the most majestic of all. Next in line would be a shuttle launch from Press Site 39, and sometimes with a Pad 39B liftoff from the main VIP site at Banana Creek. After that, I would go with the Titan 3 rocket family from Press Site #3. But after the Challenger tragedy, PS-3 was no longer available for news media. Viewing a Saturn 1B was impressive from my observations from both the press and VIP sites as I've witnessed Apollo 7, all the Skylabs, and Apollo-Soyuz. But, in my opinion, most Saturn 1Bs didn't match up to a Saturn V (of course) along with most shuttles and some Titans. Much of a viewing condition varies on your location (how far are you), wind direction, and more. Probably the closest, overall, any press photographer and/or reporter got to a launch would be from PS-1 to Pad 18 that is only 5,000 feet distance, less than a mile! It was the former launch site of the Vanguard, Thor Able, and Blue Scout vehicles.

OV-105
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From: Ridgecrest, CA
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 07-15-2007 08:11 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for OV-105   Click Here to Email OV-105     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Now I want to see the pictures that Haise and Anders took and see how they did.

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

posted 07-15-2007 08:57 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ben   Click Here to Email Ben     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Press site 1 is 1.56 miles (exactly) to 17B and 1.50 to A, which is about 7900 and 8200 feet. It is about the same to pad 18 (1.56 to the platform in fact). Nevertheless it (Delta 2 off 17) is probably the most impressive ELV experience now, though short lived because of their speed.

Ken, can you outline where these old press sites are a little more? I've always wondered why there is a press site 1 but nothing else today. I always thought "where is 2 and 3? And is the cx-39 press site numbered?"

In my era, Titans were viewed from the causeway at "site C" which is at the east end, which was 4.2 miles from pad 40. It wasn't the shuttle but it was very impressive still.

The same site is used for Delta 4 medium now (started with GOES N last year); previously it was static test road. Site C is 2.7 miles from pad 37.

I can't picture where that Apollo 7 photo is from because there is no empty field anymore like that. It's all trees and brush now.

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

posted 07-16-2007 02:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ken Havekotte   Click Here to Email Ken Havekotte     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Ben--My distances from the press sites to various pads came from an old Air Force info-card entitled "Distance From Press Sites to Pads" that was distributed to newsmen. Most were estimates, however, a retired public relations Air Force colonel told me they were accurate numbers during that time.
Anyway, I'll email you off list in answer to your other questions.

All times are CT (US)

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