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Author
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Topic: Astronauts' hair length (crew cuts and longer)
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Captain Apollo
Member Posts: 302
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 10-17-2018 06:06 PM
   
I was wondering when Neil Armstrong let his hair grow out from the Gemini crew cut to the longer hairstyle he wore for Apollo 11. I guess it was in response to trends — Al Shepard did the same. It does make him look different. |
Delta7
Member Posts: 1679
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 10-18-2018 07:18 PM
There were a number of astronauts who went from crew cut to full hair during the course of their career. Deke Slayton, Rusty Schweikart and Gene Cernan come to mind, when you look at early versus late pictures of them. Even Al Bean who was partially bald had more hair during the ASTP and shuttle era.  |
Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 754
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 02-03-2022 07:57 PM
Even Gene Kranz grew his hair out a bit for a while in the early 1970s (I believe he discusses it in his book). |
hbw60
Member Posts: 248
From:
Registered: Aug 2018
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posted 02-03-2022 09:04 PM
Regarding hair length, I've always wondered if it had something to do with fostering a non-military image for the Apollo program. The Mercury and Gemini eras were more heated and competitive. But as the lunar landings approached and NASA took a comfortable lead in the space race, there was a shift toward something more timeless, universal, and non-competitive — "we came in peace for all mankind." Many people suspected that Armstrong was chosen to be first on the moon because he was one of the few civilian astronauts. And while that likely isn't true, it's a good indication of the way the mood was shifting. There was even some hesitation about planting a US flag on the lunar surface. And so whether or not there was a formal policy, it always seemed to me that the astronauts took on a more casual, civilian image for Apollo. The "hard-partying military jock" image of the Mercury program was long gone. I also think it was partly in response to the Apollo 1 fire. Before the disaster, it was easier for the public to enjoy the image of a brave military hero, risking his life to voyage to the stars. But after Apollo 1, NASA worked harder to instill feelings of trustworthiness, safety, and reliability. And I think a side effect of that is that the public perception of an astronaut shifted to something less like a fearless military man, and more like an adventurous explorer. And it's possible that the astronauts adapted to that new public perception, possibly without even realizing it. And of course, the 1970's simply had different styles. I love seeing the huge hairstyles on Cernan, Scott and Irwin in this photo:  |
Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 754
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 02-03-2022 09:41 PM
I think the only one in the above pic still sporting a crew cut is Walt Cunningham (and maybe Tom Stafford but he had so little hair to begin with).I've only recently discovered this one (thank you Francis French!). God bless Al Worden!  |
Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 754
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 02-25-2022 10:16 PM
Even Deke Slayton became a hippie: |
carmelo
Member Posts: 1074
From: Messina, Sicilia, Italia
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 02-26-2022 07:34 PM
Slayton hoped in a Shuttle flight? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 47927
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-26-2022 09:33 PM
Slayton served as the manager of the Approach and Landing Test (ALT) program. He had a desire to fly an early shuttle test flight but did not pursue an assignment. See: Deke Slayton and the space shuttle. |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1705
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 02-28-2022 08:26 AM
quote:
Originally posted by hbw60:
Regarding hair length, I've always wondered if it had something to do with fostering a non-military image for the Apollo program.
No, while still in the military, they were still bound by military dress standards. |
Delta7
Member Posts: 1679
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 03-01-2022 08:41 AM
I sometimes wonder what Gus Grissom would've looked like if he lived and let his hair grow. |
Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 754
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 03-03-2022 02:38 PM
Perhap he would have let his hair grow out but I'm not so sure. If he did perhaps he would have looked a bit like his son Scott who had (has?) fairly long hair (ponytail).
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