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Author
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Topic: Photo of the week 541 (March 7, 2015)
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heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 03-06-2015 01:21 PM
   
 Fifty years ago, suit technician Al Rochford was helping Gemini 3 pilot John Young don his spacesuit for a dress rehearsal aboard the spacecraft on Launch Pad 19 at Cape Kennedy. There were only two weeks to go before launch. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 2915
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 03-06-2015 01:41 PM
Ed, a great shot of John Young as the GT-3 pilot getting ready for the first manned Gemini flight fifty years ago.
But in this photo of Young, nearly all suited up, it didn't take place at Pad 19, but rather at nearby Pad 16 — the next launch pad complex just south of 19. Young and Grissom had suited up there in the Ready Room of a medical trailer, which was about a quarter of a mile from Pad 19. It was only a 3-minute van ride to Pad 19 via the "Barton FREEway!" |
heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 03-06-2015 01:57 PM
I know Ken, but I said the dress rehearsal took place at Pad 19, not the suiting up.  |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 03-06-2015 02:24 PM
John Young is in a photo that actually shows that road sign in the background. The sign reads "BARTON FREEway" with upper and lower case letters as shown. |
mach3valkyrie
Member Posts: 719
From: Albany, Oregon
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 03-06-2015 04:39 PM
Wow! A young John Young (only 34 at the time). What a great future lay ahead of him.These Gemini shots are fantastic. Keep 'em coming. Thanks, Ed. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 2915
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 03-06-2015 06:47 PM
Sorry about that Ed as I don't know why, after re-reading the photo-caption, I was thinking the way I did. I just turned 60 last month and looks like my age is starting to affect my memory loss (other things mainly) along with not reading correctly, now it seems. |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1211
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 03-06-2015 08:21 PM
I can not believe how young he is in that shot!! No pun intended! This was so long ago. I am feeling old again. |
sts205cdr
Member Posts: 649
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 03-06-2015 08:53 PM
"Say, Al, do you think a corned beef sandwich would fit in that pocket? Just curious." |
Jurg Bolli
Member Posts: 977
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 03-06-2015 11:01 PM
Very interesting, I have never seen this before. |
heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 03-07-2015 11:49 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Ken Havekotte:
I just turned 60 last month...
No problem, Ken. You are only two years ahead of me, so you're not that old. quote:
Originally posted by mach3valkyrie:
These Gemini shots are fantastic. Keep 'em coming.
There is so much fantastic Gemini stuff that has never seen the light of day. Keep your eyes on the 'Space History Photo of the Week' for the coming year. |
mach3valkyrie
Member Posts: 719
From: Albany, Oregon
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 03-07-2015 03:57 PM
Looking forward to it. Thanks. |
lspooz
Member Posts: 384
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Aug 2012
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posted 03-08-2015 08:55 AM
quote:
Originally posted by sts205cdr:
"Say, Al, do you think a corned beef sandwich would fit in that pocket? Just curious."
Great! |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 03-08-2015 01:39 PM
So many shots like this show a double shoulder belt harness of some type. But my understanding of these is they need to fasten to a solid object to restrain the person wearing them. If that's correct, what are these belts attached to? |
space1
Member Posts: 853
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 03-08-2015 02:51 PM
If I understand your question, the shoulder belts attach to the parachute straps of the ejection seat. While in the seat, an inertia reel attached to the straps within the seat backboard keeps the astronaut restrained. A lever on the seat armrest can set this inertia reel to lock. |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 03-09-2015 06:41 AM
Thank you! |
Joel Katzowitz
Member Posts: 808
From: Marietta GA USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 03-09-2015 09:09 AM
So that brings up another question. I have a section of documented "harness strap" that was flown on the GT-3 mission. The strap is beige. I've never been able to find a photo that shows the beige strap. Certainly it's not part of the strap configuration on the space suit itself so I've always assumed it was part of the spacecraft's restraint system.Can anyone offer some insight? Thanks. |
space1
Member Posts: 853
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 03-09-2015 12:40 PM
I can't think of any beige colored strap in Gemini. How wide is it? Is it a webbing material (like the suit straps)? |
Joel Katzowitz
Member Posts: 808
From: Marietta GA USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 03-10-2015 08:50 AM
Thanks John. I sent John a photo of the strap and he thinks, and I agree, that it looks more like a cloth belt (military?) than a nylon strap. The provenance is solid, so I guess it's possible that Young brought it along on his own. |
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