Posts: 434
From: Tucson, AZ USA
Registered: Sep 2004

posted 05-23-2006 03:54 PM            

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After our upcoming Jim McDivitt signing, we are going to do a video Q&A session for inclusion on our website.

We're fielding interesting questions. Got any?

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From: Essex, UK
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From: Chester, Cheshire, UK
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From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 05-23-2006 05:21 PM            

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It was always argued that Neil Armstrong had to leave "Eagle" first because the LM hatch opened inwards towards Aldrin, effectively blocked the LMP's exit until the commander had got out. Therefore, every commander got out first, followed by the LMP. The only exception to this was Apollo 9. The LMP, Rusty Schweickart did the EVA rather than the commander.

My question to Jim McDivitt is where did he go to let Rusty get past the hatch to get out? Was he in the tunnel?

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From: New York
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Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005

posted 05-23-2006 08:14 PM               

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Question #1: Is there a book from the hand of Jim McDivitt in the works?

Question #2: Was McDivitt happy with the portrayal of his Apollo 9 mission in the From the Earth to the Moon HBO series? Was the portrayal accurate...or does he feel it was flawed?

Question #3: What was the most rewarding part of his career...or the accomplishment(s) he is most proud of: Pre-NASA test flying? Gemini IV? Apollo 9? Post NASA? Something else?

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 05-23-2006 08:23 PM               

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Was the red "D" in your name on the Apollo 9 patch present from the start or was it added at some point?

For reference, here is an image of a vintage patch sans the red "D":

Or is/was the above a production mistake?

Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 05-23-2006 09:19 PM               

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I would love to hear of any stories that he would like to share about his days flying at Edwards AFB. He flew chase on some of the X-15 flights, and I imagine that he may have some tales that he could share with us.

I admit being ignorant about his specific role in NASA management. But if he could share any insight that he might know about the crew selection process that would be of interest.

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From: Essex, UK
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From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 05-24-2006 06:26 PM            

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A second (and, I think, better) question:

When the problem arose with the SPS engine in lunar orbit on Apollo 16, one of the justifications for going ahead with the landing was a series of tests conducted on your Apollo 9 mission. In your opinion, did NASA break its own rules by going ahead with the landing, or were you personally satisfied that safe system-redundency had been demonstrated? Putting it another way, was proceeding with the landing a case of "Go Fever"?

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From: Germany
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From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
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From: GA, USA
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From: Wellington, New Zealand
Registered: Mar 2003

posted 05-25-2006 09:33 AM               

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Did you experience a "perfect moment" in you career as an astronaut? By this I mean a moment which as 'burned' itself into your memory as touching you in a way that you can take yourself back to it and expereince the feelings you had at that moment?

Thanks for being open to this Q&A - it is a wonderful opportunity for us all to ask something of the people who have inspired us.

Posts: 231
From: Surrey, England
Registered: Aug 2005

posted 05-26-2006 06:24 AM               

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One of the original four NASA objectives for the Apollo programme was:

"To develop man's capability to work in a lunar environment"

Do you think this objective was met fully or will be be starting again as and when we reach the moon again?

Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005

posted 05-26-2006 07:36 AM               

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Here's another:

What does Gen. McDivitt feel was the cause for the early end of the Apollo program? Having met Kennedy's goal... and not having a high profile goal beyond that? Waning public interest? Lack of Congressional support? Changing administrations? The failure of the Russian program to send a man to the moon? Something else?

Posts: 230
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 05-26-2006 03:08 PM               

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Gen. McDivitt had received the same EVA training as Ed White for Gemini 4. For Apollo 9, he and Schweickart had trained for an emergency LM/CSM EVA transfer in the event that the docking mechanism failed.

If Schweickart had not recovered enough to do the EVA at all, had you considered performing the EVA yourself? Perhaps just hanging out on the porch as Rusty did for his actual EVA... And a second question: In an interview with Donald Pealer, he asked "Were you ever approached for command of a lunar mission?" You response was "Yes. I could have commanded Apollo 13 if I had wanted it."

Slayton only relates his (and Shepard's) idea of assigning you as LM pilot with Shepard as LM commander for Apollo 13. Did Slayton simply not mention, or forget offering you the CDR assignment? Or was that offered by the managers above him after he "submitted" Shepard as CDR and you as LMP?

Posts: 1778
From: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Registered: May 2004

posted 05-26-2006 04:07 PM               

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General McDivitt, What did you think when your C.O. at Edwards AFB organised a night-time formation flight during which he instigated a (failed) loop? I know one of the pilots (ex RAF) from that flight and he wondered what direction you took after your C.O. gave the order to break?

By the way, the ex RAF pilot still thinks that night formation flying is crazy!

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From: Ontario,Canada
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From: New York
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Posts: 434
From: Tucson, AZ USA
Registered: Sep 2004

posted 05-31-2006 06:51 PM            

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Well, Jim McDivitt was here for two days signing. He's leaving Arizona tomorrow to go back to Michigan for the summer, just in the nick of time (102 degrees tomorrow)

We got some good video, and he answered most of (y)our questions. We'll edit it and get at least some of it posted.

Jim was imprerssed with the huge amount of stuff to sign, and by your thought-provoking questions. Stay tuned.

Posts: 1096
From: Lincolnshire IL USA
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 06-05-2006 06:31 PM               

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Received my McDivitt items in the mail Ñ nicely signed and well-packed.

Thanks Gen. McDivitt, Kim, Sally and Novaspace. The signing was for charities (like Frank Borman's).

Posts: 609
From: Morris County, NJ, USA
Registered: Jan 2006

Posts: 186
From: Atco, New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2002

posted 06-07-2006 05:09 PM               

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Received mine today also. This was my first time participating in a private signing. My experience with it has been flawless. Kim you are one first class act and my hat goes off to you.

Also, Jim signed twice on the photo because he didn't think the first signature showed up well on the background so he signed across the chest (Gemini 4 crew photo of them standing behind the model of the capsule). Kudos for Jim.

Posts: 2121
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Jul 2001

Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005

posted 06-09-2006 01:02 PM               

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My items also arrived... great job as usual.

I also noticed that the signing report is now up on the Novaspace site, with some of the questions in this topic answered by McDivitt. No video yet, but I assume that will be coming soon.

Good to see that McDivitt appears to be good health and great spirits.

Posts: 434
From: Tucson, AZ USA
Registered: Sep 2004

posted 06-09-2006 01:41 PM            

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Thanks for the kind words everyone. One thing though, we're getting tons of phone calls and emails from other folks wondering where THEIR stuff is. This takes valuable time away from geting your things out.

It's only been a week. We can't mail out everything the same day. We're getting about 50 items out a day, so it may be weeks before we get some of the more complex items out.

No one seems to disparage auction houses much, although people are still waiting on consignments, checks or winnings months later.

I'm still editing hours of video. Jim had so many stories we won't be able to post one-quarter of them, but we'll do a CD for cheap, and get most of it on there. Folkswho ordered a photo COA will have it all on their CD.

Be patient. We've got four people working every day to return your goods. Thanks!

Posts: 2121
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Jul 2001

Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005

posted 06-09-2006 05:27 PM               

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I, for one, would love to be able to order a CD with as much of the McDivitt footage as will fit on it. There is so little material available for McDivitt (no books, for example) that cover his career that anything like this is a welcome addition to my collection.

He has often been overshadowed by his fellow moon-traveling astronauts, but from what I've seen, he has a great perspective on the overall program, being both an astronaut and a manager for the Apollo program. Plus, he appears to have a well defined sense of humor that is easily overlooked. Maybe not Pete Conrad-esque, but definitely a sharp cookie with a lot to say, if people will listen.

I'm a little saddened to hear a McDivitt book is not in the works, but was happy to find his oral history at the NASA site.

Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
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Posts: 434
From: Tucson, AZ USA
Registered: Sep 2004

Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 06-20-2006 05:04 PM               

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I received my package intact two weeks ago. I got to open it last night for my birthday present. It was real nice. It completed an Apollo 9 crew litho I started two years ago.

I have had sort of slow period collecting lately. It seems my stuff has been getting lost in the mail lately, so this was a big emotional boost. I finally had something fresh to throw on my website.

The packaging was brilliant. The placement of the signature was perfect, too. You can't say enough good things about the quality of the service that Kim provides. Thanks.

I also got the CD of the interview; I haven't had time to watch it yet.

Posts: 1255
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 06-20-2006 05:11 PM               

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My McDivitt material arrived today from Kim and Sally Poor at Novaspace.

General McDivitt signed everything perfectly, which I attribute to Kim and Sally's good directions and experience. The items were packed so well that they could have been dropped by the FedEx aircraft over my house on final approach and arrived undamaged that much faster.

The CD of McDivitt is wonderful. It is worth the money to pick that CD up. So Kim, Sally and all the staff, thanks for the great job.

Posts: 2121
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Jul 2001

Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 06-27-2006 08:11 AM               

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My item arrived back yesterday. As usual it took 10 minutes to unwrap the cast-iron packaging, which has to be the best in the field (auction houses take note).

I had wondered where the General could place his signature on my litho of the moon signed by 21 Apollo astronauts, but the Novaspace guiding hand and the General's care to sign smaller than usual ensured an A1+ outcome. I have added many to this piece with Novapsace's help.

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From:
Registered: Aug 2004