heroicrelics.org: 2009 News

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2009 Archived News

News from 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008

December 26, 2009:

I recently acquired an LM-1 launch certificate of participation. I scanned it, reconstructed it, and added some information about LM-1's flight.

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December 23, 2009:

I just scanned & uploaded a document regarding a proposed change to the Saturn V S-IC (first) stage, to be called the "S-ID". Much like an Atlas, the four outboard engines would be jettisoned once above much of the atmosphere, with the center engine remaining, serving as a sustainer engine. This document is S-ID Propulsion/Mechanical.

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November 18, 2009:

Uploaded pictures of some Apollo artifacts, including Lovell's Apollo 8 inflight coverall garment and the Apollo 8 flight plan at the Museum of Science & Industry.

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October 6, 2009:

Uploaded a PDF version of a pamphlet, circa 1962, explaining Lunar Orbital Rendezvous.

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October 4, 2009:

Pictures of a display of models depicting Lunar Module evolution, at the Cradle of Aviation. Also added a page detailing some early lunar module evolution and a fun little info page regarding Grumman's use of paperclips in aerospace design.

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October 1, 2009:

Uploaded picture sets of some lunar module artifacts (including an RCS thruster, thrust translation and attitude controllers, a section of an APS engine, LM landing gear strut crushable aluminum honeycomb, and a lunar surface sensing probe) and of the Gemini 4 hatch from the Cradle of Aviation.

Also uploaded accompanying "info" pages:

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September 30, 2009:

By special request, uploaded a set of pictures of the Apollo High Gain Antenna at Stafford Air & Space.

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September 26, 2009:

Grrr. The NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) has been down for a couple of days, delaying some research into a set of LM pictures I've been working on, so that'll have to wait.

But, I have put the time to good use, preparing a set of lunar module structural drawings for LTA-8.

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September 17, 2009:

Uploaded a number of picture sets from the National Air & Space Museum, including

Ascent Propulsion System engine (from the Apollo lunar module).
A model depicting an early lunar module.
A mockup of a lunar module cockpit.

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September 16, 2009:

Uploaded a number of picture sets from the Cernan Earth & Space Center, including

The Apollo Boilerplate BP-213.
Ascent Propulsion System engine (from the Apollo lunar module).
The Jack Schmitt's Apollo 17 lunar EVA gloves.

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September 15, 2009:

Also uploaded Ascent Propulsion System thrust chamber (from the Apollo lunar module) at the Air Zoo.

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September 15, 2009:

Uploaded a number of picture sets from the US Space & Rocket Center, including

Ascent Propulsion System engine (from the Apollo lunar module).
The Descent Propulsion System engine (from the Apollo lunar module), when it was displayed outdoors.
The Descent Propulsion System engine (from the Apollo lunar module), when it was displayed in the "old" museum.

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September 13, 2009:

Uploaded a number of picture sets from the former Michigan Space & Science Center, including

The Apollo 10 command module hatch
Ascent Propulsion System engine (from the Apollo lunar module ascent stage).
Pegasus Micrometeoroid Satellite mockup.
S-I 1/4 scale model (Block I Saturn I first stage) manufactured by the ABMA.
Skylab artifacts including triangular interlocking shoes and the Lower Body Negative Pressure experiment.

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August 15, 2009:

Today marks Saturn's 51st birthday, when ARPA Order No. 14-59 called for the development of a 1.5 million-pound booster.

Today also marks heroicrelics.org's 1st birthday. Yes, by sheer, dumb luck, I happened to sign up for a hosting plan on the 50th anniversary of the Saturn program. I started out with no images online, and a year later, and I've posted 3,252 pictures of "relics" which I've taken, plus 88 "supplemental" images (mostly diagrams I've scanned or captured from other electronic documents). Not a bad year!

Now, those of you who've visited before know we take our Saturns pretty seriously around here, so to commemorate the event(s), I've uploaded a number of Saturn-related items:

A NASA booklet on the SA-6 mission, a Block II Saturn I.
A Chrysler publication, AS-207 Vehicle Systems Information Drawings, an early set of engineering drawings on the Saturn IB.
A set of Saturn V inboard profiles, for the S-IC, S-II, and S-IVB stages.
NASA Facts 33, the "Saturn V poster" NASA Facts issue.

Of course, this just supplements all the Saturn-related content that's been on this site for a while now:

ARPA Order No. 14-59, which authorized the creation of the Saturn family of rockets
A diagram of the Saturn I Block I profile
Block I S-I fuel pressurization system
Block I Saturn I second stage adapter
S-I LOX pressurization system
The Block I Saturn I static test stage, SA-T, and Marshall Space Flight Center's static test tower, where it was static tested.
A diagram of the Saturn I Block II inboard profile
A diagram of the Saturn I Block II boattail
Saturn I/IB turbine exhaust
S-IB LOX vents
A photo from SA-209's assembly
A diagram of the Saturn V S-IC positions
A time-lapse photo of the Saturn V S-IC assembly
S-IC-15, the Saturn V first stage at the Michoud Assmebly Facility.
A composite picture of S-IC-15 at night at the Michoud Assembly Facility

And, of course, there are pages I've written up about Saturn rocket engines, as well as pictures of 11 F-1 engines at museums all over the country.

Happy birthday, Saturn, and happy birthday heroicrelics!

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July 30, 2009:

Uploaded my pictures of Gemini 2/MOL at the Kennedy Space Center.

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July 29, 2009:

Uploaded my pictures of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) space suit at the Omniplex and a few pictures of the Gemini-MOL spacecraft at the Air Force Museum.

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July 24, 2009:

July 24, 1969: Splashdown! The Apollo 11 crew returns safely to Earth.

A flurry of activity as the crew splashes down in the ocean: the spacecraft was stabilized and secured by uprighting bags and a flotation collar (on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center), the Apollo 11 hatch (on display at the National Air & Space Museum) is opened, biological isolation garments (on display at the USSRC) are tossed in for the astronauts to don, the astronauts climb into the Billy Pugh net (on display at the National Air & Space Museum) and are whisked away to the carrier, where they march into the Mobile Quarantine Facility (on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center).

This concludes heroicrelics' commemoration of the Apollo 11 anniversary; 1007 new pictures were posted during this nine-day period!

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July 23, 2009:

July 23, 1969: The moon ... now "back."

Having accomplished the "landing a man on the moon," the astronauts are nearly done with the less ambitious "and returning him safely to the Earth" portion of their mission.

And the spacecraft which will return them safely to the Earth is their Apollo 11 command module, Columbia, on display at the National Air & Space Museum.