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Author
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Topic: Hangar 5 during Project Mercury
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capcom9
Member Posts: 48
From: Wesley Hills, New York
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 12-18-2008 07:09 AM
   
Does anyone know what purpose Hanger 5 at the Cape served during Project Mercury? I recently saw a shot of Gordo being suited up, and am trying to determine if the photo was taken during launch prep or during an earlier drill. The photo was described as being taken in Hanger 5. |
Steven Kaplan
Member Posts: 142
From: New Jersey
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 12-18-2008 10:04 AM
Perhaps you are thinking of Hanger S, which was the site of many Mercury operations, including capsule checkout, and also served as the office/dormitory/ medical center for the Mercury astronauts. I think the hanger still is in use at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. |
capcom9
Member Posts: 48
From: Wesley Hills, New York
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 12-18-2008 11:30 AM
Thanks, Steve. I don't know why I didn't think of that. Thanks for setting me straight. I suppose that the astronauts would be outfitted for flight inside this building, as there was no white room at the pad. Of note is Gordo's wearing his own Bulova Astonaut wrist watch for the flight. Bulova later vyed to become the certified wrist watch for NASA manned missions, but didn't pass the tests... It was Omega's Speedmaster on all Gemini and Apollo flights, as well as the SPS. |
heng44
Member Posts: 3413
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 12-18-2008 12:12 PM
The photo you linked to is 63-MA9-14. It was taken in February 1963 and shows Cooper and Dr. Dave Norris relaxing during weight and balance test at the White Room in Hangar S.Ed |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1332
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 12-18-2008 03:10 PM
Gordo is also wearing an Omega Speedmaster on his left wrist. That's what he told me.-Lou |
SpaceCat
Member Posts: 151
From: Florida, US
Registered: May 2006
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posted 12-18-2008 03:14 PM
That's a cool pic -- and at first I thought that was Guenter Wendt in one of his legenday bow ties grinning along with Coop! |
capcom9
Member Posts: 48
From: Wesley Hills, New York
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 12-18-2008 08:03 PM
Thanks, Lou. I've read that Gordo wore his Bulova Astronaut along with the Omega Speedmaster to compare the performance of both. It seems that the Omega was quick becoming a fave amongst the flight crews. Wally was the first to wear one on his Mercury flight, and Gordo decided to wear both to check out which performed better. |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1332
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 12-18-2008 10:33 PM
I had a conversation with Gordo about just this subject. It was in the AHOF in Fla. Gordo was really into it, we talked for about 10 minutes. Cooper felt the 'G' forces had a definite effect on the mechanical wind-up movement. He hit the start button right at 20 seconds and checked it at about T+ 7 minutes it was a little bit slow, the Bulova was right on. Gordo looked at both watches again about 20 minutes into the flight going by just the time of day - not the mission time. Again he found the Omega a few seconds slow. He wished he carried Carpenters Britling aloft for comparison but the idea was soon lost to a busy flight plan.-Lou |
capcom9
Member Posts: 48
From: Wesley Hills, New York
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 12-20-2008 05:23 PM
What was he using to rate the two watches? The onboard timer? Though he showed the Omega losing a few seconds, it's interesting that by Gemini V, he no longer wore the Bulova watch. |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1332
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 12-20-2008 07:27 PM
He was using the ground which in turn was using 'WWV' the time broadcast by the National Bureau Standards. Look in "The Results of the Fourth Manned Orbital Flight" (page 139).-Lou |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 12-21-2008 02:43 AM
Here is a recent photo of Hanger S taken in November of this year while on the Cape Canaveral "Then and Now" bus tour. The tour makes no mention of Hanger S, nor does it slow down at all... so I had to snap a pic in a hurry before it was gone. It appears the hanger still resembles it's outward appearance from the Mercury era... though I suspect the view inside is another story.  |
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