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Author
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Topic: Photo of the week 467 (October 5, 2013)
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heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 10-05-2013 12:36 AM
   
 This aerial view shows the rollout of the Saturn 5 for Apollo 11 to Launch Pad 39A on May 20, 1969. In the distance on Pad 39B is the LUT from which Apollo 10 was launched two days earlier. The first half of 1969 was a very busy time at KSC. |
randy
Member Posts: 2176
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 10-05-2013 12:53 AM
Great photo! Thanks for the memory. |
mach3valkyrie
Member Posts: 719
From: Albany, Oregon
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 10-05-2013 01:11 AM
1969 — The only time in history when four Saturn V rockets were launched during the calendar year. What a great era that was.It's interesting to note that there were originally plans for a pad 39C. In a few rollout shots for Apollo 10 and the later Saturn IB's, the start of the tracks that would have gone to C are visible. Neat! Thanks for a super photo. |
ejectr
Member Posts: 1751
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 10-05-2013 06:28 AM
You take a look at that monster and it is hard to believe all that remains is the little gum drop at the tip and a few dinged up F1 engines. |
Grounded!
Member Posts: 367
From: Bennington, Vermont, USA
Registered: Feb 2011
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posted 10-05-2013 08:29 AM
A monster indeed, and one that would soon become a fire-breathing dragon! I really like this photo. The vehicles, and the person standing at the base of the rocket give us a true sense of scale.Thanks for the picture Ed. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 10-05-2013 09:04 AM
quote:
Originally posted by mach3valkyrie:
It's interesting to note that there were originally plans for a pad 39C.
Actually, Pad 39A is 39C. When the third pad was never completed, they renumbered (relettered?) the pads. |
Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 10-05-2013 12:32 PM
Great photo, Ed... thanks for posting. Missed having a photo of two Saturn V's together by just two days.Do you know if there are any of Apollo 9 and 10? If I recall correctly, Apollo 9 was launched before Apollo 10 was rolled out.
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wickball
Member Posts: 107
From: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 10-05-2013 04:24 PM
I would love to have a poster size version of this pic to hang in my living room. Any advice from anyone? |
Headshot
Member Posts: 864
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 10-05-2013 05:51 PM
Great picture!I sometimes forget just how elegant the Apollo/Saturn V looks. |
mach3valkyrie
Member Posts: 719
From: Albany, Oregon
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 10-05-2013 07:25 PM
quote:
Originally posted by heng44:
The first half of 1969 was a very busy time at KSC.
It certainly was.Going back a bit into 1968, Apollo 8 launched on December 21. Then on January 3, 1969, Apollo 9 rolled out to pad 39A with launch on March 3. Apollo 10 rolls out to pad 39B on March 11 and lifts off on May 18. Apollo 11 goes to pad 39A on May 20, with launch on July 16. On September 8, Apollo 12 rolls out with launch on November 14. Not done yet. Finally, on December 15, Apollo 13 rolls out to pad 39A. 1969 really was the year of Apollo. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 2915
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 10-05-2013 07:36 PM
Great pic, Ed, and for Tom of New York, Yes indeed, AS-504 (or better known as Apollo 9) was launched from Pad 39A on March 3, 1969, before AS-505/Apollo 10 was rolled out to first-time use of Pad 39B on March 11, 1969.In addition, Apollo 10 was the first-time use of Pad 39B, later the same complex that all the manned Skylabs and Apollo-Soyuz flew from. The first shuttle launch from Pad B was Mission 51-L aboard Challenger, the 25th shuttle mission to date, on that tragic cold day in late Jan. 1986. But yes, indeed, 1969 was a very exciting year for this wide-eyed avid space enthusiast, just becoming a shy teenager in that Golden Year of Apollo! It was such a thrilling time for me in growing up with rockets, astronauts, and space travel...all within my own backyard so-to-speak. But going to the moon for the first time in human history, which I had been so fortunate enough to be "here" in witnessing those mammoth rocket machines flying to Earth's nearest "planet" with men aboard, I was a kid in heaven! Right after that first lunar landing of Armstrong and Aldrin in July 1969, I recall stepping out one evening into the front yard of my Merritt Island home, and just gazing at the moon above like never before. "We did it", I said to myself, but never really knew until years later how Apollo would change my life completely in ways never dreamed of before.
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moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 10-06-2013 12:32 AM
Reminds me of things you don't want said on roll-out - "Hey guys! Just found this. Is it a spare or should it have been fitted somewhere?" |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 10-06-2013 09:17 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Hart Sastrowardoyo:
When the third pad was never completed, they renumbered (relettered?) the pads.
What was the need for a third pad? |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 10-06-2013 10:44 AM
They thought they would have a higher flight rate. This even shows a proposed 39D, and hints a possible 39E. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 10-07-2013 05:17 AM
Thanks for the link and explanation. I wonder if the additional pads weren't also planned for any other lunar missions (space station or even Mars) as von Braun thought would happen?.The cover of LIFE is neat and raises a lot of "what if" scenarios. |
astro-nut
Member Posts: 946
From: Washington, IL
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 11-02-2013 07:34 AM
Excellent photo!! Thank you for sharing!! |
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