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Author
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Topic: Gemini hatch porthole: ejection eval or MOL?
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Philip
Member Posts: 6428
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 08-29-2026 08:55 AM
   
In 1963, Gus Grissom was very closely involved with the development of the Gemini spacecraft at McDonnell Aircraft. Among lots of photo of Grissom testing the ergonomics of the ejection seat there is this photograph, making lots of spac enthusiasts doubt it is AI-generated.Might this have been a hatch for the MOL (Manned Orbiting Laboratory) project, as the illustration depicts below?  
It might even be an intravehicular transfer tunnel related to the 1963 MODS - Military Orbital Development System. Note the "tunnel" just above the astronaut's helmet. Image: Aviation Week & Space Technology  |
Headshot
Member Posts: 1497
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 08-29-2026 10:45 AM
I have seen the transfer tunnel concept before. I believe Air Force magazine ran several interesting MOL related issues in the early to mid 60s. |
Philip
Member Posts: 6428
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 08-29-2026 11:06 AM
Posted it in the Manned Spaceflight Group and within five hours the answer came in the form of a hatch-in-hatch for the MODS project intravehicular transfer tunnel. From Michael Mackowski: McDonnell considered this auxiliary hatch for several concepts in the early 1960s, including MODS and a logistics vehicle for NASA's MORL space station. The sketch below is from that report.  Also, from Martin Dawson: Found this (US Spy Satellites: 1959 onwards, David Baker, 2016, Haynes Manuals, ISBN 978-1-78521-086-0) page 158. Look above the astronauts head, looks like a small hatch to me and not a fully opening Gemini hatch which is quite large and would have need a marque to cover if a astronaut was to transfer to a MOL. Perhaps there's other drawings looking down on the hatches?  |
Axman
Member Posts: 960
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 08-29-2026 12:44 PM
Who is the "Manned Spaceflight Group"? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 56988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-29-2026 01:07 PM
It is a Facebook discussion forum. |
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