Author
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Topic: Photo of the week 637 (January 7, 2017)
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heng44 Member Posts: 3387 From: Netherlands Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 01-07-2017 03:24 AM
Saturn V AS-504 carrying Apollo 9 is rolled out to Launch Pad 39A, only one short week after the splashdown of Apollo 8. |
Tom Member Posts: 1597 From: New York Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 01-07-2017 09:52 AM
Great photo, Ed... one I've never seen!! |
Philip Member Posts: 5952 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 01-07-2017 10:30 AM
Like that tour bus on the left! |
randy Member Posts: 2176 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 01-07-2017 11:18 AM
I wish I could've been on that tour bus! |
Jonnyed Member Posts: 396 From: Dumfries, VA, USA Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 01-07-2017 11:38 AM
The angle of this shot is probably a sunrise vice a sunset — correct? How long did it take to do a rollout? I presume you start at sunrise to give yourself time to finish it in one day? Or did it take a couple of days? |
jasonelam Member Posts: 691 From: Monticello, KY USA Registered: Mar 2007
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posted 01-07-2017 04:05 PM
The average time to transport the Saturn V from the VAB to the launch pad is about 5 hours. |
mach3valkyrie Member Posts: 719 From: Albany, Oregon Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 01-07-2017 04:24 PM
Nice shot. January 3, 1969.
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ColinBurgess Member Posts: 2031 From: Sydney, Australia Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 01-07-2017 06:21 PM
Man oh man - those were the days! (sigh) |
oly Member Posts: 905 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
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posted 01-07-2017 11:33 PM
quote: Originally posted by Jonnyed: The angle of this shot is probably a sunrise vice a sunset — correct?
I believe Apollo 9 launched from Pad A and the crawler moved with the launch tower on the eastern face as it moved from the VAB. The crawler is shown in this photo on another section of the crawlerway than the section directly in front of the camera.Looking at a map of LC-39A I believe that the photo was taken early morning with the photographer standing to the north of the VAB in the area that the crawlers were parked when not in use. This only works on the assumption that the negative has not been reversed. I think in this case it has not based on the USA text painted in the Saturn and the lack of a door on the coach. That is my best guess. It is also a cool photo. This Apollo 11 rollout photo gives an idea of the angles. |
heng44 Member Posts: 3387 From: Netherlands Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 01-08-2017 03:28 AM
I concur with what oly said. |
Ronpur Member Posts: 1211 From: Brandon, Fl Registered: May 2012
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posted 01-09-2017 08:00 AM
quote: Originally posted by Philip: Like that tour bus on the left!
You know, I think that tour bus may be empty. I wonder if it was when this photo was taken? |
sev8n Member Posts: 234 From: Dallas TX USA Registered: Jul 2012
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posted 01-09-2017 08:37 PM
quote: Originally posted by oly: This only works on the assumption that the negative has not been reversed.
The orientation of the roll pattern on the S-IC engine fairings indicates it is not reversed. |
Philip Member Posts: 5952 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 01-10-2017 07:34 AM
Indeed I had noticed the bus is empty, looks just a shell with sunlight going through... great photo! |
Joel Katzowitz Member Posts: 808 From: Marietta GA USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 01-10-2017 07:56 AM
It's difficult to tell from either photo but the crawlerway top surface appears to be dirt or sand as opposed to river rock.Was it ever used without without river rock? |
Cozmosis22 Member Posts: 968 From: Texas * Earth Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 01-10-2017 04:58 PM
Beautiful sunrise photo! They seemed to prefer early mornings for the half mile-per-hour rollouts as the winds were usually calm at that time of day there on the Space Coast.Believe that the crawler pathway to the pads at Complex 39 was about 7 feet thick of compacted gravel surfaced with asphalt. That was then covered with a layer of the Alabama river rock. Fresh rocks were shipped in and spread across the surface periodically. |
spaceheaded Member Posts: 147 From: MD Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 01-10-2017 05:40 PM
Yes, the tour bus is empty. All of its occupants are on the mobile launcher, running up and down the stairs for a close look. And of course I am dreaming. |
MCroft04 Member Posts: 1634 From: Smithfield, Me, USA Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 01-10-2017 08:54 PM
By the way, for those alliterative fans; that is round river rock! |
Jonnyed Member Posts: 396 From: Dumfries, VA, USA Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 01-11-2017 08:08 PM
Love the NASA Tour Bus poster — it's back in the day when even the bus drivers wore coat and tie!Sorry for my unfamiliarity of the Cape layout but what is the purpose of the tower that's to the right of the crawler/Saturn in the tour bus poster? Is that the actual launch pad complex itself? |
Ronpur Member Posts: 1211 From: Brandon, Fl Registered: May 2012
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posted 01-13-2017 09:49 AM
That would be the Mobile Service Structure. It will be picked up by the crawler after it drops off the rocket. Then it takes it to the pad as well. |