Posts: 410 From: Houston, TX, USA Registered: Jan 2012
posted 03-14-2016 07:27 AM
quote:Originally posted by golddog: ...with the photos of Apollo 7, none of the crew appear to be wearing the yellow protective rubber outer shoes to protect the soles of the space suit boots.
I can't imagine the astronauts, or anyone else, entering a spacecraft while wearing dirty boots. If they aren't wearing protective boots, is there a chance the boots shown in the photo were cleaned in the white room prior to ingress? If so, how? They could also have been cleaned in the van during the drive out to the pad. Either way, it seems like a huge waste of time.
EDIT - After looking at the Apollo 7 suit-up photos, it appears all three are wearing some kind of protective covering over their boots. I can't tell if it's white or clear plastic, but the boots look too wrinkly to me to be anything other than some sort of covering.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 03-14-2016 11:09 PM
In photo 68-H-933, you can see that the soles of Walt Cunningham's boots are black. Maybe he is wearing boot protectors. I don't think the soles of the PGA boots were black.
DG27 Member
Posts: 270 From: USA Registered: Nov 2010
posted 03-17-2016 01:50 AM
Yes, those are boot protectors. The soles of the PGA boots are an off white color.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 11-24-2017 12:08 AM
Here is some walkout footage of the Apollo 8 crew during training.
The film begins with the crew leaving the transfer van at the MSOB, which you rarely see. The first walkout looks like the backup crew. The second walkout looks like the prime crew. Both crews are wearing the two boot protectors.
heng44 Member
Posts: 3756 From: Netherlands Registered: Nov 2001
posted 11-25-2017 08:37 AM
Nice find. The footage is from October 23, 1968. First we see the prime crew returning to the MSOB after emergency egress training at the pad. Then we seen the backup crew leaving for the same emergency egress training.
Then a (presumably) pretty lady walking towards the door, which is odd because the MSOB exit lacks the ramp that was installed in September 1968 (see earlier in this thread).
And finally we see the prime crew leaving the MSOB for the emergency egress training at the pad, which should have been the first scene.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 11-25-2017 09:35 AM
I like raw footage like this, which is often silent and out of sequence. The backup crew walkout was the Photo of the Week 626.
The lady might be walking into the north wing of the MSOB.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 08-20-2018 12:07 PM
Some NASA captions for Apollo 11 walkout photos at the pad on launch day:
69-HC-768: Apollo 11 Astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin Aldrin are shown in this photograph approaching the elevator of the Gantry at Complex 39, which will take them 320 feet to the White Room where they will board the Apollo spacecraft.
69-HC-798: Apollo 11 Flight Commander Astronaut Neil Armstrong leads fellow Astronauts Michael Collins and Edwin Aldrin from the transfer van at Launch Complex 39 Pad A nearly three hours before they were launched to the Moon.
69-HC-799: Apollo 11 Lunar Module Pilot Astronaut Edwin Aldrin walks from the transfer van at Launch Complex 39 Pad A prior to being launched on a lunar landing mission.
69-HC-800: Apollo 11 Astronauts Michael Collins and Edwin Aldrin are shown in this photograph walking from the transfer van at Launch Complex 39 Pad A at the start of their Manned Lunar Landing Mission.
Regarding the 798 caption: Armstrong was the first to board the transfer van at the MSOB, so wouldn't he be the last to exit the van at the pad?
In photo 768, isn't that Aldrin in the elevator, then Collins in the middle, and Armstrong closest to the camera?
heng44 Member
Posts: 3756 From: Netherlands Registered: Nov 2001
posted 08-22-2018 07:39 AM
Both statements are correct. Aldrin entered the elevator first, followed by Collins and then Armstrong.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 08-23-2018 12:18 AM
Thank you, Ed. Have you ever seen any 16mm footage of the Apollo 11 astronauts exiting the transfer van at the pad on launch day?
heng44 Member
Posts: 3756 From: Netherlands Registered: Nov 2001
posted 08-23-2018 09:18 AM
I would have to check the Spacecraft Films DVD. Here are some photos from launch day.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 08-23-2018 10:14 AM
Yes, those are the photos I was referring to. The bottom right photo was taken just before the bottom left photo.
I found some equivalent photo numbers:
69-HC-768 (108-KSC-69PC-400)
69-HC-798 (108-KSC-69PC-423)
69-HC-799 (108-KSC-69PC-424)
69-HC-800 (108-KSC-69PC-425)
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 10-01-2018 09:10 PM
The Apollo 7 crew walkout for emergency egress training on Sept. 9, 1968 can be seen in this video. Had not seen this before.
There is also film footage taken in the White Room showing the Apollo 8 prime and backup crews during an emergency egress test. The prime crew is seen wearing blue covers on their pressure helmets. I think that footage was taken in November.
heng44 Member
Posts: 3756 From: Netherlands Registered: Nov 2001
posted 10-28-2018 11:27 AM
quote:Originally posted by LM-12: I think that footage was taken in November.
No, that was on October 23, 1968.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 10-28-2018 11:33 AM
Then they must have put those blue covers on sometime after the crew walkout, most probably in the transfer van.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 10-28-2018 05:18 PM
Both the Apollo 8 prime and backup crews wore their yellow boot protectors inside the command module during the egress tests. Maybe that is why they all wore the white covers over the yellow boot protectors that day.
quote:Originally posted by heng44: They even have extra protection over their yellow plastic ones.
It looks like there were white boot protectors for the lunar overshoes also. Jim Lovell seems to be wearing them in photo S69-33720:
Backup Apollo 11 Commander James A. Lovell reads a newspaper while awaiting to enter the altitude chamber.
Notice the blue strings tied like shoelaces. Probably there to prevent the white boot covers from falling off, like Lovell's almost did in the Apollo 8 crew walkout photo (posted 08-25-2015).
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 06-09-2019 12:21 PM
Photo S71-16635 has this caption:
The three Apollo 14 astronauts arrive at the White Room atop Pad A, Launch Complex 39, during the Apollo 14 prelaunch countdown. Apollo 14, with Alan B. Shepard Jr., commander; Stuart A. Roosa, command module pilot; and Edgar D. Mitchell, lunar module pilot, aboard was launched at 4:03:02 p.m. (EST), Jan. 31, 1971, on a lunar landing mission. Note identifying bands on the sleeve and leg of Shepard. Standing in the center foreground is astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, chief of the MSC Astronaut Office.
Is that really the White Room entrance, or is that at a lower location on the LUT?
Tom Member
Posts: 1752 From: New York Registered: Nov 2000
posted 06-09-2019 03:34 PM
I don't believe that's the white room entrance either. If it was, Shepard would be entering first as he was first to enter the spacecraft. Either way, great photo!
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 06-09-2019 03:55 PM
Also, the swingarm was red, not grey.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 06-09-2019 08:12 PM
I may have found the location of the large EGRESS DOOR seen in the Apollo 14 photo. I think it is located on Side 2 of the Mobile Launcher platform.
The door can be seen in photo 69-HC-622 below the man standing on the ML platform at the base of the LUT.
oly Member
Posts: 1481 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 06-09-2019 08:33 PM
I agree with your idea. This looks to be the entrance to the Mobile Launch Platform, used to gain access to the elevator up the LUT.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 06-09-2019 08:43 PM
How about that. I always thought the astronauts just walked across the platform deck to get to the LUT elevator. I didn't know they actually went inside the platform.
oly Member
Posts: 1481 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 06-10-2019 02:57 AM
The elevator that the crew can be seen entering has a single cab and expanding mesh type manually operated doors. It is accessed from "ground level" after walking from the crew transfer van.
The MLP/LUT has two high speed elevators that travel from MLP level A, up the LUT. The emergency egress notes identify that the procedure for emergency egress via the High speed elevators down to level A, where a chute goes down to the rubber room bunker. Engineering drawings also show a door to the emergency chute located on the deck of the MLP, however, I am unsure if this is the same chute, or a chute from the deck to level A.
This image shows the Apollo 15 stack, riding the crawler, approaching the pad hardpoints. Note the fixed structures and the openings that align with the MLP hatchways.
This image shows Apollo 11 installed on the hardpoints. Note that the fixed structures align with the hatchways of the MLP. You can also make out the elevator with the expandable mesh door.
This colour Apollo 8 image shows more detail, however the elevator is behind the truck trailer.
In all these images, the emergency egress chute can be seen, which runs from MLP level A down to the rubber room.
Here is a colour photo of the emergency egress chute hatch inside the MLP. It differs from the hatch on the deck of the MLP.
Some additional details. Note that the MLP elevator rooms were pressurised and had air locks.
heng44 Member
Posts: 3756 From: Netherlands Registered: Nov 2001
posted 06-10-2019 05:49 AM
I believe this is the route the crews followed to get from the ground level to the white room. When they left the elevator at the white room level, the Saturn was to their left but they made three right turns to reach swing arm #9.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 06-10-2019 07:42 AM
This footage from Spacecraft Films of the Apollo 11 pad walkthrough shows the astronauts entering the Egress Door seen in the Apollo 14 photo.
The footage also shows Armstrong, Collins and Aldrin leaving the fixed structure elevator and walking across the Mobile Launcher platform deck. This footage looks like it was shot just before this week's POTW (#763) was taken.
Coincidentally, the film footage was taken 50 years ago today.
oly Member
Posts: 1481 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 06-10-2019 09:30 AM
Thanks for sharing the film, it has some amazing images. I have not seen a shot that shows such a great view from the top oft the LUT before.
Thanks also to Ed for sharing the photos detailing the path.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 06-10-2019 01:28 PM
I don't recall ever seeing any photos of other suited astronauts at the Egress Door location seen in the Apollo 14 photo.
oly Member
Posts: 1481 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 06-10-2019 08:22 PM
Yes the egress door photo is a unusual image that has some interesting details that are not commonly shared. This image opened an interesting path that led me to find other images that detail the area inside the MLP.
All of the suited astronauts walked this path to reach the command module. The room inside the fixed structure elevator restricts photography, and the restricted personnel on launch day reduces the number of photo ops available around a fully fueled and armed rocket.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 06-11-2019 01:48 AM
Camera 007 at the pad was pointed at the Egress Door area seen in the Apollo 14 photo. The Apollo 12 astronauts can be seen entering the Egress Door at 19:20 into this mission video. The PAO commentary is interesting.
Jim Behling Member
Posts: 1938 From: Cape Canaveral, FL Registered: Mar 2010
posted 06-11-2019 08:25 AM
quote:Originally posted by LM-12: ...entering the Egress Door
There is a metal plaque on the wall at 1:23. I wonder where the plaque is now?
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 06-12-2019 10:10 AM
I found some Camera 034 and Camera 007 footage of the Apollo 11 astronauts arriving at the pad (at 20:40) and entering the Egress Door on launch day. Aldrin glances up at the camera.
oly Member
Posts: 1481 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 06-12-2019 08:25 PM
Good find, one that I have not seen before.
It is interesting watching the support crew assisting. I wonder how long the portable oxygen supply lasts and if they had planned out when the units were changed or did they just carry one spare unit per crew member?
There are some interesting points in this including Wally Schirra describing what the Chromel patch on the back of Armstrong's suit are for.
oly Member
Posts: 1481 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 06-13-2019 07:32 AM
quote:Originally posted by oly: Here is a colour photo of the emergency egress chute hatch inside the MLP.
I believe that this emergency egress chute entrance is located to the immediate right as you exit the high speed elevator at level A of the MLP.
The high speed elevators were located along the corridor behind the hatchway identified in the above image placarded as "Egress Door" in the S71-16635 image above.
The emergency egress chute passed out of the MLP at level B. All access ways to the high speed elevators had double doors that formed airlocks, designed to maintain a positive pressure within the ingress/egress area, a design I believe was incorporated to prevent gas/fumes from contaminating the Emergency Egress Path during an emergency.
I have not seen details of the exit chute/slide connection to the MLP, however it must have an airtight seal or some design.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 06-13-2019 11:50 AM
This short clip must be the astronauts at Level A crossing from the fixed structure elevator to the egress door.
oly Member
Posts: 1481 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 06-14-2019 04:48 AM
quote:Originally posted by LM-12: I found some Camera 034 and Camera 007 footage.
Any idea what the story is with the item passed behind the astronauts at the 21:31 timestamp? Was this a gag gift?
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 06-14-2019 09:22 PM
At 33:10 is some Camera 034 and Camera 007 footage of the Apollo 16 astronauts arriving at the Egress Door location. A suit tech waves at the camera.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 06-15-2019 11:36 AM
CG Publishing has this photo of the Apollo 11 astronauts at the Egress Door:
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 06-17-2019 10:51 PM
Seen in this video is more extensive coverage of Apollo 11 pre-launch activities. Lots of great black and white footage from VAB and Pad cameras, including the Egress Door location. And, of course, there is excellent PAO commentary from Jack King.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 06-18-2019 10:50 AM
What does the "C-7" term refer to? The MSOB perhaps?
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 06-19-2019 04:59 AM
Here is another photo taken at the Egress Door. It is the Apollo 15 crew, according to the photo caption.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3977 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 06-23-2019 02:55 AM
Apparently, there was no Camera 007 pointed at the Egress Door location on ML-1 after it had been modified for the Skylab and ASTP launches.
If that is correct, then there probably were no pad camera views of the Skylab and ASTP astronauts entering the Egress Door.
posted 03-14-2016 07:27 AM
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