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Author
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Topic: Apollo CM Photo Mystery
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413 is in
Member Posts: 632
From: Alexandria, VA USA
Registered: May 2006
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posted 10-29-2006 02:41 PM
   
 Any ideas on the story behind this photo? I purchased this some time ago on eBay from a guy who sells original news photographs out of Berlin, Germany. ------------------
b i l l |
4allmankind
Member Posts: 1048
From: Dallas
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 10-29-2006 04:56 PM
Great photo Bill. I took some time to look at photos of the capsules pre-69 on the field guide to American Spacecraft website, but just cant seem to find a "match" on the outside markings. I will look for some more photos but hopefully in the meantime someone else more experienced can help you. Jay |
mikej
Member Posts: 481
From: Germantown, WI USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 10-29-2006 06:15 PM
Based on the earth landing system, it definitely looks like a Block II CM.Based primarily on the burn pattern by the roll thrusters, as well as the coloration on the yaw thrusters, the scuffing on the hatch, and the darker panel under the rendezvous window, I would guess that it's Apollo 8.   The burn patterns definitely don't match Apollo 9 (the only other pre-mid-1969 Block II CM of which I've taken pictures). |
mikej
Member Posts: 481
From: Germantown, WI USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 10-29-2006 06:28 PM
And a bit of Googling yielded the following from Stars and Stripes: http://www.stripes.com/photoday/100706photoday.html: quote:
Kassel, Germany, August 12, 1969: A truck carrying the Apollo 8 command module is parked at a U.S. military service station during a tour of base exchanges in Europe. The capsule was flown by astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell and William Anders on the first manned trip around the moon eight months earlier.
The CM in this picture has similar scuffing on the hatch, as well as the darker panel under the rendezvous window. |
heng44
Member Posts: 3413
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 10-30-2006 05:35 AM
This makes sense: the Apollo-8 CM was displayed in The Netherlands when the Apollo-11 astronauts visited Amsterdam in October 1969. So it apparently was nextdoor in Germany just before that.Ed |
mark plas
Member Posts: 385
From: the Netherlands
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 10-30-2006 09:18 AM
Thats what i was thinking too Ed do you have a picture of that??
Mark
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heng44
Member Posts: 3413
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 10-30-2006 09:22 AM
Maybe a newspaper picture. I didn't see the exhibition personally. But I have a friend who was there in the RAI in Amsterdam and even was able to sit in the Apollo-8 CM for a short period...Ed |
mark plas
Member Posts: 385
From: the Netherlands
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 10-30-2006 10:09 AM
In my book De mens in de ruimte is a picture of the Apollo 11 astronauts in front of the Apollo 8 capsule in Amsterdam |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 10-30-2006 12:28 PM
Reminds me of a story my mom told me. She had seen the Apollo 8(?) capsule displayed probably like this was. She said my grandmother touched it and said "it's still hot!". Of course it was in the sun, but it makes for a good story. 
Tom
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FFrench
Member Posts: 3165
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 10-31-2006 12:55 PM
Good grief... the days that spacecraft were displayed outside. What would happen if it unexpectedly rained? Doesn't bear thinking about... Curators everywhere will grit their teeth looking at photos like this! |
mark plas
Member Posts: 385
From: the Netherlands
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 10-31-2006 01:48 PM
Just found this piece of film about the apollo 11 crew in Amsterdam
http://cgi.omroep.nl/cgi-bin/streams?/ibg/ruimtevaart03-bb.wmv |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3165
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 10-31-2006 01:52 PM
Interesting - thanks! So on that occasion, Apollo 8 was at least indoors - but suspended over a pool of water... yikes! Again, my teeth are on edge... |
Dwight
Member Posts: 577
From: Germany
Registered: Dec 2003
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posted 10-31-2006 02:15 PM
Just FYI the inscription reads"German-American People's Festival 8.8.69, Original flown Apollo Capsule" Dwight |
413 is in
Member Posts: 632
From: Alexandria, VA USA
Registered: May 2006
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posted 11-05-2006 11:59 AM
Thanks to ALL for helping to solve this mystery!------------------
b i l l |
mzieg
Member Posts: 72
From: Seneca, PA USA
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-05-2006 05:53 PM
It's definitely the Apollo 8 CM - I saw it with my own eyes when I was living in Berlin in 1969. It was quite a crowd pleaser, especially being the same summer as the Apollo 11 moon landing. |
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