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Author
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Topic: Photo of the week 426 (December 22, 2012)
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heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 12-22-2012 02:26 AM
   
 Tense faces at the CapCom console in Mission Control during the Apollo 8 mission, 44 years ago today. Left to right are Mike Collins, Ken Mattingly, Jack Schmitt, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Ed Hengeveld |
Henry Heatherbank
Member Posts: 244
From: Adelaide, South Australia
Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 12-22-2012 02:56 AM
Wow, what a fantastic photo. Each of them would get to the Moon in the end, due in large part to the path paved by Apollo 8. And poor Mike Collins in this shot, who could have been forgiven for thinking what might have been at this moment, denied a seat on Apollo 8 because of his summer 1968 spinal bone spur surgery. But then to be teamed up with the guys on the far right about a month or so later, and into the history books... |
Besixdouze
Member Posts: 235
From: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 12-22-2012 02:59 AM
Can anybody give us the backstory as to why the guys look so dispirited? They appear to have more of an 'after the event' look to me but I'd love to know what was happening at the time or what had just happened.Thanks for any input. |
tetrox
Member Posts: 142
From: London England
Registered: Jan 2008
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posted 12-22-2012 03:03 AM
An incredibly emotive photograph with tension etched.1968 had been a difficult year for the U.S. and world in general. To me Apollo 8 encapsulated the incredible boldness of the manned space program at the time, and was a much needed boost (no pun intended) to peoples spirits especially at Christmas. Would you know at which part of the mission this was taken? A great choice for the year end. |
heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 12-22-2012 03:23 AM
The photo doesn't have a caption, but my guess is that it was taken on December 24, around the time of the famous Christmas Eve broadcast. I have a similar photo with Mattingly as CapCom, so it must have been when he relieved Collins, or Collins relieved Mattingly. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 12-22-2012 08:00 AM
The mission transcripts seem to show that the Green Team (CapCom Collins) was replaced by the Maroon Team (CapCom Mattingly) on a shift-change. They were discussing the nausea problems experienced by the crew near the end of the Green Team shift on Flight Day 2. Maybe that is when the photo was taken. |
East-Frisian
Member Posts: 586
From: Germany
Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 12-22-2012 08:22 AM
That's a photo I like. |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 12-22-2012 10:29 AM
44 years ago... I was 3 years old. Tempus Fugit! |
bwhite1976
Member Posts: 281
From: Belleville, IL
Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 12-22-2012 09:08 PM
I was wondering what your picture would be this week. Wonderful choice. |
mikepf
Member Posts: 441
From: San Jose, California, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 12-22-2012 11:50 PM
Ed, great photo as usual. I don't often comment, but always do check out and enjoy your picture postings. It's almost like opening a Christmas gift from you every week. Thank you very much for sharing them with us. I hope you have a great Christmas! |
heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 12-23-2012 12:31 AM
Thanks for your comments Mikie. The same to you and all members of collectSPACE! |
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 12-23-2012 10:36 AM
This was the mission that caught my imagination and has given me my interest ever since. |
icarkie
Member Posts: 618
From: BURTON ON TRENT /England
Registered: Nov 2002
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posted 12-24-2012 01:54 PM
I was 6 years old and the reading from the bible that was shown on the TV news here in the UK is my first memory of the Apollo programme. I'm glad I was around to remember history being made that day... Merry Christmas Ed, Rob (P) and all members on this site... |
mach3valkyrie
Member Posts: 719
From: Albany, Oregon
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 12-24-2012 10:07 PM
I was 11 years old and remember watching the grainy TV transmission from Apollo 8 as it orbited the Moon 44 years ago tonight. What a Christmas Eve that was!
Season's Greetings to all! |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1306
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 12-25-2012 02:46 PM
I don't know if this is accurate but my first thought was they are all looking at the mission timer waiting for Apollo 8 to reappear from the far side of the moon. Did the SPS enging fire or didn't it?Great photo Ed, and a Merry Christmas to cS's everywhere. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 12-25-2012 03:42 PM
That was my first guess also. But the Apollo 8 transcripts show that Gerald Carr was CapCom for the LOI burn on Day 3, and Ken Mattingly was CapCom for the TEI burn on Day 4. |
sts205cdr
Member Posts: 649
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 12-28-2012 09:50 PM
This photo speaks volumes in body language. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 01-01-2013 10:44 AM
Here is an Apollo 8 video clip from footagevault that looks like it was taken at about the same time as the first photo.The console monitors show either a translunar coast or transearth coast view of the good Earth. There is a GET clock ticking away on the console, but I can't read it. |
Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 01-01-2013 11:14 AM
Great video.Just looking at the monitor on console, Apollo 8 seems about half way to the Moon. Video also shows light moments between the astronauts in Mission Control. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 01-01-2013 12:06 PM
The video is dated Dec. 21 which was launch day. Not sure if that video date is accurate. How far out did they get on the first day?That might be the video clip cameraman in the photo. |
heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 01-01-2013 02:50 PM
The film clip is evidence that the photo was taken during the second telecast on the way to the moon on December 23. Good find! |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 01-01-2013 06:56 PM
Sounds right. I found this later clip which is an over-the-shoulder shot of CapCom Mike Collins. You can clearly see that the mission timer reads 055 25 56 which was Flight Day 3. What does "78" refer to?055 25 50 CDR: Do you still have us , Mike? The lens is off now.055 25 53 CC: Roger. We have it, and if you could maneuver it toward the terminator slightly, you would again center our picture. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 03-06-2013 04:21 PM
Looks like photo S68-56007 was taken about the same time as the photo of the week. I think the mission clock at top left reads 055 23 47 GET.055 23 43 CC: Roger. Thank you, and it is centered very well. We get a very slight improvement with this, but in general, it is very good considering the distance. How about the moon, Frank? Is it visible through one of your other windows? Could you get it visible with a small maneuver?055 24 05 CDR: Negative. I think we will have to save the moon for another time. |
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