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Author
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Topic: Atlas (?) launch with Mercury 7 monument
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Watts Way
Member Posts: 12
From: St. Louis, MO, USA
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 01-22-2024 03:25 PM
  
I've come across the attached photo, and I'm wondering if anyone can shed further light on it. I believe it's some kind of Atlas vehicle lifting off with three individuals in the foreground congregated around the Mercury 7 monument at the Cape. It is among a group of Mercury program photos I have, thus I believe it's probably from that era. If the monument was completed in 1964, then this must be in 1964 or 1965, but prior to Gemini? It's kind of a cool photo, but I'm not an Atlas expert. If anyone has any suggestions or information, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.  |
MOL
Member Posts: 187
From: Los Angeles, CA
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 01-22-2024 03:37 PM
That is an Atlas Agena launch. The Agena supported both DoD and NASA Gemini missions.
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Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3668
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-22-2024 05:34 PM
Agreed. I don't know about the illustrated launch, but Atlas-Agena launched the Ranger and Lunar Orbiter missions and the first five Mariners. |
tlifan2
Member Posts: 60
From: Palm Coast, Florida
Registered: Feb 2014
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posted 01-22-2024 09:03 PM
From the angle, my guess is that it was launched from Pad 13, not Pad 14. |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1862
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 01-23-2024 12:45 PM
it is LC-12. The angle between the pad and emblem plane is too shallow for LC-13. The striping on the Agena is indicative of a Ranger launch, which were from LC-12. Can't nail down actual launch, |
Headshot
Member Posts: 1279
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 01-23-2024 03:17 PM
The monument was installed 10 Nov 1964 according to internet sources. There were only two Ranger flights that occurred after that date: Ranger 8 (17 Feb 1965) and Ranger 9 (21 March 1965). |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3668
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-23-2024 06:02 PM
Might the weather and lighting conditions provide any clues to pin it down? |
thisismills
Member Posts: 523
From: Michigan
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 01-23-2024 09:50 PM
It appears to be Ranger 9 on March 21, 1965 from this newswire photo with included description (source: eBay 355394982494): |
Headshot
Member Posts: 1279
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 01-23-2024 11:03 PM
Nice find. |
Watts Way
Member Posts: 12
From: St. Louis, MO, USA
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 01-24-2024 03:20 PM
Excellent work. Thanks to all. |
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