Posts: 3847 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 07-31-2022 10:16 PM
In these two Apollo 8 rollout photos, a long wire can be seen emerging from a small door on the side of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and descending toward the ground. The rollout date was October 9, 1968.
The wire is seen above Jim Lovell's head in the first photo, and it is seen behind the Apollo 8 S-IC stage and Mobile Launcher in the second photo.
The wire was set up to test the design of the Apollo slide wire escape system, as described in this 20151204 NIU document on page 16:
The door was cut to allow design testing of the slide wire escape system. The door was placed at the same height as the escape station would be on the LUT and a cable strung as it was planned for the slide wire system at the pad. Tests were run to support design of the cars, braking, and other parts of the system ...
Testing started on December 24, 1968, utilizing a slide wire cable extending from 34 level, E Tower, of the VAB, through a tail tower sheave at Station 2200, and terminating at a tractor approximately -100 feet behind the tail tower.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3847 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 08-02-2022 09:22 PM
As I see it, the slide wire from the VAB as seen in the photos must have been removed to allow the Apollo 9 rollout from High Bay 3 on January 3, 1969. Otherwise, the cable would have blocked the path of Apollo 9 and the Mobile Launcher.
Perhaps the VAB slide wire testing was completed by then.
oly Member
Posts: 1462 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 08-03-2022 04:19 AM
An interesting feature from the past. It would be nice to see film or photos of the tests being conducted and to learn if any changes were made to the final design.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3847 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 08-03-2022 11:27 AM
I have never seen any imagery of the actual slide wire testing at the VAB.
After Apollo 9 reached the pad, there was a slide wire test (manned) with a cab from the LUT on January 25, 1969.
Buel Member
Posts: 887 From: UK Registered: Mar 2012
posted 08-03-2022 11:48 AM
Not exactly what the OP was referring to but an interesting video, nonetheless, from good old James Burke:
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3847 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 09-04-2022 06:38 PM
Here is a 1968 LIFE magazine photo of some slide wire testing from Mobile Launcher 3 (ML-3) at Pad 39. Is that 39B?
oly Member
Posts: 1462 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 09-05-2022 05:01 PM
That is a great image and looks to be a whole lot of fun.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3847 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 09-05-2022 05:20 PM
Not sure if that is four dummies going down the slide wire at the same time, or a multiple-exposure image of just one dummy.
I don't think a human has ever done it like that, from the LUT without a cab.
PeterO Member
Posts: 454 From: North Carolina Registered: Mar 2002
posted 09-05-2022 06:36 PM
I think it must be four dummies at the same time. If it was a multiple exposure of one dummy in four different positions, the wire would sag slightly differently for each, and would show multiple images.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3847 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 09-06-2022 09:02 PM
ML-3 (above) was in the VAB in late November 1968 to stack the Apollo 10 vehicle. Maybe that is why the VAB was used for slide wire testing in late December.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3847 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 09-06-2022 11:38 PM
quote:Originally posted by LM-12: I don't think a human has ever done it like that.
Posts: 3847 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 09-08-2022 11:33 AM
There is a rollout photo that shows both the Apollo 9 vehicle leaving High Bay 3 and the slide wire. The slide wire is hanging vertically from the small door and down the side of the VAB to the ground so the wire would not block the crawlerway.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3847 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 09-14-2022 03:12 AM
Even before the Apollo 9 rollout in January, ML-1 would have had to rollback in late December from Pad 39A to the parking area north of the VAB for refurbishment after the Apollo 8 launch. So the slide wire must have been moved out of the way before that.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3847 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 09-15-2022 04:40 PM
Here is another view of the Apollo 8 rollout. The slide wire should be in the view. I believe it is the thin white line seen in the shadow cast by the Apollo 8 vehicle and ML-1.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3847 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 09-28-2022 09:56 AM
The slide wire cannot be seen in this photo of the Apollo 10 S-IC stage arriving at the VAB. I believe the date was November 27, 1968.
correction: I think I do see the slide wire very faintly.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3847 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 11-17-2023 01:26 PM
You can clearly see the slide wire in this high-res version of photo S68-55025.
posted 07-31-2022 10:16 PM
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