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Author
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Topic: My personal Apollo story (Dan Schaiewitz)
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Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 814
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 01-01-2016 08:24 PM
  
On further close examination of the pic I posted and the one Danny posted something seems very different about the SLA. In my pic the bottom of the LM decent stage and folded legs can be seen near the bottom of the SLA and the access hatch seems to be fairly good distance above the SLA bottom, where as on the pic Danny posted the bottom of the SLA is about at the point were the LMs ascent and descent stages meet and the SLA hatch is just a small amount above the bottom. Was the SLA made in two pieces upper and lower? Danny can you repost your pic without the caption you added so I can see greater detail (or post a link)? On edit: Found it. Also it appears that the SLA has the fabric covering in the pic I posted but without the 'three-dimensional' flap as seen in Danny's pic. |
Daniel on the Moon
Member Posts: 354
From: Bronxville, NY
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 01-02-2016 01:02 AM
The SLA has four upper and four lower panels. The LM was secured to the SLA at the upper end of the four LM landing struts to four attachment points along the joint circumference between the upper and lower SLA panels.The LM porch length is 45" between the SLA opening and the LM forward hatch. The porch and cabin were designed for 1G entrance and exit. The Fabric shroud or "weather protective" shroud around the SLA remained over the SLA through rollout to the pad. The shroud was removed after the Mobile Service Structure's protective work enclosures were in place. |
Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 814
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 01-02-2016 10:23 AM
Thank you for that info - it is appreciated as were your efforts on the Apollo program! |
ejectr
Member Posts: 2025
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 01-02-2016 10:35 AM
Dan, did you just find this site or were you lurking and not saying anything? Man... where have you been?! |
Daniel on the Moon
Member Posts: 354
From: Bronxville, NY
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 01-02-2016 01:10 PM
Way "back when," after Apollo, I felt that I had "lived my dream." I was extremely disappointed that Apollo 18, 19 and 20 were cancelled. In my opinion, the upcoming Russian/American docking mission would not have provided the level of euphoria that I had experienced with Apollo. Add to that the fact that I found very limited interest and an inability to generate the level of excitement that I would have expected when discussing my Apollo experiences.Over the years my interest in space never waned and I tried to keep up with significant events and milestones. Recently, my wife and I decided to clean out our basement and to my surprise I found the boxes of Apollo memorabilia that I had saved. My wife suggested that we spend a few days looking through the boxes. The euphoria that I had experienced 40+ years ago was revived. My wife's genuine excitement created an adrenaline rush that fueled my euphoria. Addressing your original question, "where have you been"? Reliving Apollo through my memorabilia led me to seek out other "space enthusiasts" through internet searches and that's when I found collectSPACE! |
Kite
Member Posts: 1163
From: Northampton UK
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 01-02-2016 01:36 PM
Certainly pleased you did find collectSPACE eventually Daniel. By the way you say you was lucky but you put yourself in the position to be lucky and had the ability to make the most of it. Thats not just luck, it's an achievment. Another thought. People who are thought to be lucky are usually the ones who leave nothing to chance. |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1861
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 01-02-2016 05:05 PM
I have a good friend who was a NASA engineer for most of his career (some contract work and consulting post-NASA too). I visited him once and he pulled out his box of NASA stuff (well only 1 of them) and walked me through it. What a fun afternoon!Dan, I am so glad that you found cS; your stories and memories are most appreciated! |
mikepf
Member Posts: 448
From: San Jose, California, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 01-02-2016 09:35 PM
I'll chime in here and say that I am glad that you found us here at cS. I'd love to read more of your experiences. |
Daniel on the Moon
Member Posts: 354
From: Bronxville, NY
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 01-02-2016 10:57 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Paul78zephyr:
Thank you for that info - it is appreciated as were your efforts on the Apollo program!
Thanks for the kind words. Here's some further clarification: 
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Daniel on the Moon
Member Posts: 354
From: Bronxville, NY
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 01-04-2016 09:56 PM
I feel extremely proud to have received the "Silver Snoopy" Award from Apollo 14 astronaut Ed Mitchell (below photo). The letter included with the "Silver Snoopy" Award Pin was signed by Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise (below).At the time I received the award I recall feeling "guilty" being recognized for accomplishments that were to me tasks that I considered part of "acting out my dream." Looking back, I recognize the significance of the award and how lucky I was and how proud I now am.  
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DG27
Member Posts: 271
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2010
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posted 01-05-2016 01:27 AM
Dan, WOW. That is indeed something to be very proud of. Thank you for sharing your story for the entire cS community. We are all richer for it. We look forward to hearing more of your experiences in helping realize mankind's Greatest Adventure. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4600
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-05-2016 03:08 AM
Dan, have you ever thought about writing a book about your experiences? |
Daniel on the Moon
Member Posts: 354
From: Bronxville, NY
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 01-05-2016 10:21 AM
I have thought about it! |
NJ CO
Member Posts: 23
From: Greenwich, NJ, US
Registered: Mar 2008
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posted 01-05-2016 02:34 PM
Dan, mostly a lurker and occasional poster here, but I'd like add my thanks for sharing your history and knowledge here. You certainly don't need me to say, but you have earned every bit of recognition you have received, both during your career and here on this terrific forum. Regarding your input, knowledge and stories, if you're up for it, please keep 'em coming! Thanks again, - Mark Powers |
Daniel on the Moon
Member Posts: 354
From: Bronxville, NY
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 01-06-2016 12:50 AM
Prior to an Apollo 16 crew training EVA exercise with John Young and Charlie Duke in the Crew Training building at KSC, Charlie handed me an envelope and suggested I open it at the completion of the exercise.When I opened the envelope, I found the below photo and letter. Looking at the photo of me (getting suited up) and my team members, I was extremely excited that I not only had a letter to share with my team, I also had a great photo. I decided to make copies of both the photo and letter and gave each team member copies. You can't imagine how pleased they were to have memorabilia that recognized their outstanding contribution to help make Apollo 16 a success.  
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LM-12
Member Posts: 4021
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 01-06-2016 07:06 AM
Great to hear stories like this from someone who was actually there. Dan, it looks like you can be seen in Apollo 11 training photo S69-38514 taken at KSC. |
Daniel on the Moon
Member Posts: 354
From: Bronxville, NY
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 01-06-2016 11:31 AM
Yes, that is me in the photo.In the photo, Armstrong is seen evaluating a redesigned "positive" locking device between the upper PLSS straps and the RCU. The problem associated with the redesign was that in previous suit donning procedures, and subsequent crew training exercises, the RCU inadvertently "disconnected" from one and/or both PLSS upper strap horizontal bar attachment points. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 4021
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 01-06-2016 01:07 PM
And the strap in Armstrong's left hand attached to the velcro patch in front to keep the RCU locked to the PLSS attachment points, is that correct? Great photo. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4600
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-06-2016 01:39 PM
Dan, you had the kind of dream job many of us would have done for free... and you were paid to do it! You were surely living the dream Buddy! |
Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 814
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 01-06-2016 04:17 PM
In the pic posted by LM-12 what is Armstrong 'resting' the backpack on? |
Daniel on the Moon
Member Posts: 354
From: Bronxville, NY
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 01-06-2016 11:52 PM
quote:
Originally posted by LM-12:
And the strap in Armstrong's left hand attached to the velcro patch in front to keep the RCU locked to the PLSS attachment points, is that correct?
As you suggested in the photo, Armstrong is pulling the RCU "positive locking mechanism" strap (1) downward to open the locking mechanism "hooks" (2) that will engage with the horizontal "bars" (3) of the upper PLSS Straps. The RCU lower connection "hook" (4)will engage with the PGA "D" Ring (5). As can be seen in the photo, the RCU "positive locking mechanism" solves the problem of inadvertent RCU disengagement from the PGA. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 4021
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 01-07-2016 12:11 AM
Thank you Dan for that detailed explanation and photo. Much appreciated. |
Daniel on the Moon
Member Posts: 354
From: Bronxville, NY
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 01-07-2016 01:22 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Paul78zephyr:
In the pic posted by LM-12 what is Armstrong 'resting' the backpack on?
Paul, that is an excellent question.Before we began crew training EVAs at KSC I was in charge of getting all existing crew training hardware from MSC. I realized that when donning and doffing the PLSSs the PLSS had no "resting" place. At the time, it appeared that the suit tech would have to support the PLSS. That's when I came up with the idea of an integrated chair with a platform to support the PLSSs as shown in the photos below.  
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LM-12
Member Posts: 4021
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 01-07-2016 10:02 PM
You mentioned the simulated lunar surface area outside the KSC crew training building. Considering the amount of lunar surface training that was done both inside and outside that building, were the training suits for the prime and backup crews kept there? Was there some type of suit room in the Flight Crew Training Building? |
Daniel on the Moon
Member Posts: 354
From: Bronxville, NY
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 01-08-2016 12:40 AM
The astronauts donned their training PGAs in the Crew Training building. They walked from the suit up room to the building training area where they donned their Training PLSSs. The training PLSSs were always kept at the HSD building at KSC. The training PLSSs were delivered to the crew training building for every EVA run.In a future post I will discuss the training PLSSs in detail. As a heads up I will tell you that there were four different PLSS training configurations depending on the nature of the exercise and they all had to be maintained. |
sev8n
Member Posts: 266
From: Dallas TX USA
Registered: Jul 2012
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posted 01-09-2016 02:24 PM
Fascinating thread!!! Thank you for posting and I look forward to more of your recollections. |
sev8n
Member Posts: 266
From: Dallas TX USA
Registered: Jul 2012
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posted 01-09-2016 03:37 PM
Adding to an earlier comment, here is a diagram of the SLA showing the LM access door, screen grab from a NASA structures document. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 4021
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 01-09-2016 07:49 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Daniel on the Moon:
They walked from the suit up room to the building training area
I don't think I have ever seen a photo of the suit up room in the Flight Crew Training Building. |
Daniel on the Moon
Member Posts: 354
From: Bronxville, NY
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 01-09-2016 09:27 PM
quote:
Originally posted by sev8n:
Fascinating thread!!! Thank you for posting and I look forward to more of your recollections.
Thank you for your interest in the greatest adventure in the history of man. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 4021
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 01-10-2016 10:33 AM
Note the leg cast that Dan is wearing in the photo I linked above. I think he can also be seen in these Apollo 14, Apollo 15 and Apollo 17 photos: Because of your extensive experience at KSC training the Apollo crews, you might be able to solve these two mysteries about Apollo 15 training photo 71-H-1103 which is dated July 20, 1971: - Who is the LMP seen in the photo? The caption identifies the astronauts as backup crewmembers Jack Schmitt (left) and Richard Gordon (right). I am almost certain that is Gordon, but the RCU on the left has a "J. Irwin" name tag. If that is Jim Irwin, then the photo would seem to show some cross-training by prime and backup crewmembers.
- Apollo 15 backup commander Richard Gordon wore yellow CDR stripes on his training suit. Do you know the story behind that?
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NJ CO
Member Posts: 23
From: Greenwich, NJ, US
Registered: Mar 2008
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posted 01-10-2016 05:08 PM
So what happened to the 'ol leg, Dan? (Don't have to say if you're not willing, of course!) Sure didn't slow you down from the program! |
Tom
Member Posts: 1755
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 01-10-2016 07:05 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Daniel on the Moon:
That's when I came up with the idea of an integrated chair with a platform to support the PLSSs as shown in the photos below.
Dan, thanks for sharing your fascinating stories! In the photo with Al Bean, by any chance is that Pete Conrad behind you fully suited? |
Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 814
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 01-10-2016 09:52 PM
Dan, I must say that after everything I have read here from your posts, etc, you need to find a publisher and write a book about your experiences. Just fascinating 'behind-the-scenes' stuff.Thanks again for your efforts! |
Daniel on the Moon
Member Posts: 354
From: Bronxville, NY
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 01-11-2016 12:08 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Tom:
In the photo with Al Bean, by any chance is that Pete Conrad behind you fully suited?
Yes Tom, that is Pete Conrad fully suited. |
TLIGuy
Member Posts: 254
From: Virginia
Registered: Jul 2013
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posted 01-11-2016 01:44 PM
This has been a fascinating thread to follow and I'm glad you you are sharing it here at cS. I'm not sure if you have had the opportunity to look through the book Moonshots & Snapshots of Project Apollo that was recently released. You are seen in an image helping Alan Shepard during EVA training on page 133. You get a nice mention in the caption. If you have not seen the book I would be happy to email a picture of the page you appear on. Thanks again for sharing the great story. |
Daniel on the Moon
Member Posts: 354
From: Bronxville, NY
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 01-11-2016 01:55 PM
quote:
Originally posted by TLIGuy:
You are seen in an image helping Alan Shepard during EVA training on page 133.
I would really like to see the photo. Thank you also for the "heads up" on the referenced book. |
Daniel on the Moon
Member Posts: 354
From: Bronxville, NY
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 01-11-2016 02:57 PM
quote:
Originally posted by NJ CO:
So what happened to the 'ol leg, Dan? (Don't have to say if you're not willing, of course!) Sure didn't slow you down from the program!
Your question about my leg brought back some very fond memories about playing softball with the astronauts.A few of the astronauts (I don't remember who) challenged contractor personal to one or two softball games. As I recall, only 4 or 5 astronauts (I only remember Cernan) volunteered to participate. I was asked to play on the astronauts team. Somehow they found out I played in a softball league on Merritt Island. Getting back to your question about the cast on my leg,I injured it sliding into second base during a Merritt Island League game. I found the below photo of me at bat with Cernan on second. Don't ask me if I got a hit. I don't remember!! It is very interesting to note (in Gene's book) that a few weeks before his Apollo 17 moon landing shot Gene pulled a ligament playing softball and almost lost his chance to walk on the moon. Luckily the flight surgeon secretly helped Gene with ligament rehab. Guess where it happened. Yep, you guessed it!  |
NJ CO
Member Posts: 23
From: Greenwich, NJ, US
Registered: Mar 2008
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posted 01-11-2016 05:07 PM
Wow... would you believe I was thinking when typing my question how funny it would be (minus the injury part, of course) if you actually injured it playing ball with the astronauts, or something like that!? Then I thought, nah... Couldn't be that, lol! And it was, with a picture to boot!
Also what came to mind is CDR Cernan describing in great detail his his book, his leg injury with the Saturn V in the distance, albeit years after your mishap.
What a story, both his and yours... Thank you sharing it. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 4021
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 01-11-2016 10:27 PM
Dan (still with cast) also appears in Apollo 11 training photo KSC-69P-579 dated July 11, 1969. It looks like there is a blank plaque attached to the LM ladder. |
Daniel on the Moon
Member Posts: 354
From: Bronxville, NY
Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 01-12-2016 12:05 PM
quote:
Originally posted by LM-12:
Apollo 15 backup commander Richard Gordon wore yellow CDR stripes on his training suit. Do you know the story behind that?
That is a great question. Please see my reply under the topic, Apollo A7L/B spacesuits: Red and yellow stripes. |
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