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Author
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Topic: Gemini Ballute and artist Robert Rauschenberg
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Wlaine
Member Posts: 33
From: San Diego, CA. USA
Registered: Oct 2015
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posted 05-10-2018 07:12 PM
   
Below is a famous silkscreen by artist Robert Rauschenberg (American, 1925-1997) which he titled "Retroactive 1." He made several versions of this silkscreen including Retroactive II, Axle, and Buffalo II. He used real images in his silkscreening process. I am interested in what appears to be a test subject with the Gemini escape systems Ballute. See below. On the internet, I can find a reference to the NASA space program but no other information. Perhaps our collectSPACE community can assist me in obtaining more information about this photo. When this photo was taken and where would be great information as I always thought that this was either my father (CWO Charles O. Laine) or one of his four colleagues that did the live testing at the 6511th Test Parachute Facility in El Centro, California in the early 1960s. Please advise. Thanks!  
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Wlaine
Member Posts: 33
From: San Diego, CA. USA
Registered: Oct 2015
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posted 05-20-2018 11:55 AM
Perhaps the image used in the Robert Rauschenberg silkscreen was of one of the many dummy test drops before the live jumps took place in El Centro, California. After examining this image closely, the Ballute used in this image looks like it might have been an earlier version. My father and his colleagues tested the Gemini escape system many different ways both with dummies and live jumps. I have not seen this version in my research. Please advise. Thanks! CWO Charles O. Laine preparing a dummy drop:  |
Wlaine
Member Posts: 33
From: San Diego, CA. USA
Registered: Oct 2015
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posted 05-21-2018 01:29 PM
The two photos below where taken by Ralph Morse and are in LIFE Magazine's September 27, 1963 edition. The artist Robert Rauschenberg used the ballute photo in his silkscreen. In each photo the subjects appear to be wearing earlier versions of the full pressure suit, not a G-2C suit. The fabric used in this Ballute also looks very different from what my father and his colleagues tested in El Centro, California. Perhaps an earlier version as well. The second photo is a technician from the Navy's Air Crew Equipment Lab testing the tools. I am wondering if the Ballute jump was a staged photo in the lab as well. Not sure. Any information related would be greatly appreciated.  
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