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Author
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Topic: Photo of the week 1004 (January 27, 2024)
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heng44
Member Posts: 3717
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 01-27-2024 03:21 AM
   
 The Apollo 1 crew is introduced to the press at the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston in March 1966. From right are: Bob Gilruth, MSC Director; Gus Grissom, prime command pilot; Ed White, prime senior pilot; Roger Chaffee, prime pilot; Jim McDivitt, backup command pilot; Rusty Schweickart, backup pilot; and Joe Shea, manager of the Apollo Spacecraft Program Office. Backup senior pilot Dave Scott had just completed his Gemini 8 flight and did not attend. |
Philip
Member Posts: 6246
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 01-27-2024 05:41 AM
Great color photo! What's the metal contraption at the far left? |
heng44
Member Posts: 3717
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 01-27-2024 06:33 AM
A mockup of the LM ascent engine. |
Axman
Member Posts: 345
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 01-27-2024 07:37 AM
I'm always a little confused about the designations used around the AS-204 mission.It has been my understanding for some time that the mission was originally AS-204, and was only called Apollo 1 post tragedy, with AS-204 then becoming Apollo 5 because the same Saturn 1b was involved in both. My question is then, were the above introduced at the press conference at the time as "Apollo 1" or is that an anachronistic shorthand to introduce the photo, and if so, can you remember under what designation were they actually introduced as? |
heng44
Member Posts: 3717
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 01-27-2024 08:09 AM
When the crew was named the flight was designated AS-204. However, the astronauts preferred Apollo 1, because radio call signs would be simpler. Apparently the Apollo 1 patch was approved by Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight George Mueller around June of 1966. It was first worn by the crew on their spacesuits in October 1966.In early 1967 the discussion about the designation was revived. USAF Major General Samuel C. Phillips, Director of the Apollo Program, was in favor of using the designation AS-204, because “a certain amount of paperwork confusion would result from making a mission designation nomenclature change at this point in time”. Finally, on January 20, 1967, MSC Deputy Director George M. Low wrote that Mueller had apparently approved the patch in June 1966, “Since then it has been decided that the mission most likely will not be called Apollo 1. The approval of the patch is therefore temporarily withdrawn and it may have to be changed after a firm designation for the mission has been obtained. This is expected to occur next week at the earliest. No further releases showing this patch should be made”. Of course the fire changed all that. |
NavyPilot
Member Posts: 100
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2015
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posted 01-27-2024 08:13 AM
As an aside, the newspapers were using "Apollo 1" in their 28 Jan 1967 issues reporting the fire and program impacts. But newspapers jargon and NASA-speak aren't the same thing. |
Tom
Member Posts: 1729
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 01-27-2024 10:25 AM
From my personal collection: Apollo 1 patch description in September 1966 was "204": |
ejectr
Member Posts: 1993
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 01-30-2024 09:42 AM
My cousin was a suit tech for the crew for David Clark Company, who made the suit. He kept a log, which I now have and it is labeled "AS 204". |
Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 806
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 02-02-2024 11:35 PM
Great pic - thank you!
In the caption I think you meant to say "Rusty Schweickart, backup prime pilot...". |
heng44
Member Posts: 3717
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 02-03-2024 12:10 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Paul78zephyr:
Great pic - thank you!
In the caption I think you meant to say "Rusty Schweickart, backup prime pilot...".
Of course! Thanks for pointing that out, I corrected it.
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