And, the Oscar goes to...Apollo! part two of the Space Race.

 

The Apollo program, was NASA's name for the successive manned missions to the Moon.  So many different experiments had to be made, in order to 

This is a list that I ripped off from another site, but I did it because it has links to biographical and mission information... 

• Neil Armstrong (1930-2012)–Apollo 11
• Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin (1930-)–Apollo 11
• Charles "Pete" Conrad (1930-1999)–Apollo 12
• Alan Bean (1932-2018)–Apollo 12
• Alan B. Shepard Jr. (1923-1998)–Apollo 14
• Edgar D. Mitchell (1930-2016)–Apollo 14
• David R. Scott (1932-)–Apollo 15
• James B. Irwin (1930-1991)–Apollo 15
• John W. Young (1930-2018)–Apollo 10 (orbital), Apollo 16 (landing)
• Charles M. Duke (1935-)–Apollo 16
• Eugene Cernan (1934-2017)–Apollo 10 (orbital), Apollo 17 (landing)
• Harrison H. Schmitt (1935-)–Apollo 17

Few seem to remember Apollo 1, and this is wrong, because the men who manned that flight should be remembered.  Additionally, it is instructive in seeing how NASA later studied the accident, in an effort to painstakingly re-create what happened, and then attempt to correct it.  In spite of this, however, it was a public relations disaster for the program.  

The problem was a faulty wire in a control panel of the capsule--it sparked, and the capsule (with its' pure oxygen atmosphere) erupted into flame.  Within three seconds, the crew was overwhelmed by a catastrophic fire.  Why oh why didn't they then fire off the explosive bolts of the hatch? Because they'd been removed after Grissom's accident!  Tragic and ironic, eh?

But, was there a reason why the fire spread so quickly?  Yes.  It was discovered that Velcro does not do so well in an oxygen rich environment.  Put this material in this kind of situation, have the right type of ignition source, and boom--instant fire.  With the lack of a mechanism to quickly open the capsule, the astronauts simply succumbed to the flames.  

NASA would have to account for this huge debacle, both to the public, and Congress.  With the findings of the flight review, they were able to show congress exactly what happened, and therefore retained the goodwill of the government.  There were some in Congress, and in America who believed that bajillions of dollars should not be spent on silly ole rocket ships.  They believed that this money should instead be spent on the millions of poor and disadvantaged people in the country.  Social concerns, over exploration.  Manifest Destiny, said these reformers, was dead.  Never mind that it took Americans' attention away from the horrors of the many assassinations that took place during that troubling decade, thus giving them hope.  Congressmen like Walter Mondale felt that the space race was simply too expensive to continue.  And, yet, I believe that we needed the space program--needed it desperately, as a matter of fact.  There is a necessary moment to escape, and the mid-to-late sixties provided it.  People needed to imagine; to feel proud;  to accomplish.  And, so they did, eventually taking the lead in the space race away from the Russians.

To go through the many stages of technological experimentation needed to go to the moon, would necessitate my non-existent scientific skills.  However, let me say this:  NASA rocked it.  From deciding what types of insulation would be good on the new space suits, to building the LEM (or Lunar Excursion Module).  

Now, landing wasn't on the moon wasn't the problem.  The problem was weight, and getting enough power to make it back home.  What was finally decided upon was called "Lunar Orbit Rendezvous", which entailed the LEM meeting with the command module in space...thus, two space crafts for the price of one.  Or at least, I think that was what it was called!  Hey, I'm an historian, not a physicist!!

Once the particulars were hammered out, we had to figure if we were able to make it to the moon and back, first without landing.  This led to a series of flights that explored the possibilities of flight in space, walking outside of the spacecraft, and connecting with the other half of your ship in space.  Now, I am an historian.  I am describing to you their actions, but am staying away from specifics.  This is because I am not an engineer, but I will do my best!

There are several missions that I wish to highlight in this exploration of the 'spacey' past, so I will write separately about each one.  So, that's it for this post.  I hope you liked it, and I shall continue!