Author Archives: Bristol Harris

Neil Armstrong – First on the Moon, Almost First American to Die in Space

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David Scott, Neil Armstrong

Very few people realize or remember that Neil Armstrong came within minutes of dying in space in an out-of-control spacecraft on a space mission before Apollo11.  His quick thinking and actions saved him and his fellow astronaut from burning up on an un-controlled re-entry from space.

In March 1966, Gemini 8 mission with Neil Armstrong and David Scott conducted the first docking of two spacecraft in orbit, but suffered the first critical in-space system failure of a U.S. spacecraft which threatened the lives of the astronauts and required immediate abort of the mission. The crew was returned to Earth safely. The only other time this happened was on the flight of Apollo 13, which was years later.

The following is an official NASA Account of the Mission from On the Shoulders of Titans: A History of Project Gemini, by Barton C. Hacker and Charles C. Alexander, Published as NASA Special Publication-4203 in the NASA History Series, 1977.

The Atlas-Agena target vehicle for the Gemini VIII mission was successfully launched from KSC Launch Complex 14 at 10 a.m. EST March 16. The Gemini VIII spacecraft followed from Launch Complex 19 at 11:41 a.m., with command pilot Neil A. Armstrong and pilot David R. Scott aboard. The spacecraft and its target vehicle rendezvoused and docked, with docking confirmed 6 hours 33 minutes after the spacecraft was launched.

This first successful docking with an Agena target vehicle was followed by a major space emergency. About 27 minutes later the spacecraft-Agena combination encountered unexpected roll and yaw motion. A stuck thruster on Gemini put the docked assembly into a wild high speed gyration. Near structural limits and blackout, Armstrong undocked, figuring the problem was in the Agena, which only made it worse. The problem arose again and when the yaw and roll rates became too high the crew shut the main Gemini reaction control system down and activated and used both rings of the reentry control system to reduce the spacecraft rates to zero. This used 75% of that system’s fuel.

Although the crew wanted to press on with the mission and Scott’s planned space walk, ground control ordered an emergency splashdown in the western Pacific during the seventh revolution. The spacecraft landed at 10:23 p.m. EST March 16 and Armstrong and Scott were picked up by the destroyer U.S.S. Mason at 1:37 a.m. EST March 17. Although the flight was cut short by the incident, one of the primary objectives – rendezvous and docking (the first docking of two spacecraft in orbital flight) – was accomplished.

This was not the only time that Neil Armstrong narrowly escaped death while working in the space program.  He escaped again while training in a Lunar Landing Research Vehicle that crashed on May 6, 1969. That was just over 2 months before his successful landing on the moon.

Of course, at the time it was important for NASA to put a civilian like Armstrong into a prominent astronaut assignment.  Apparently his actions of narrowly escaping death promoted Neil Armstrong to the front of the line of several highly qualified candidates to be the first to land on the moon.  NASA wanted someone tested under fire in a real space mission that could use those skills again to save Apollo 11 if required.

A famous quote from NASA is “Failure is not an option”, but as Neil Armstrong demonstrated, failure can be overcome and may lead directly to even better experiences.

Mars Transportation Before Mars Colonies

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I am excited thinking, reading, and talking about proposed Mars habitats for the first human explorers on Mars. Actually, many of the proposals address the habitat design with naval terms for a ship like wardroom instead of living room, galley instead of kitchen, sickbay, and bunks!  That got me to thinking about the US Navy’s nuclear submarines that patrol the ocean with a crew of over 100 and they can stay submerged up to 6 months.

So here is my plan for the least expensive first Mars Expedition, which will consist of 3 nuclear submarines that have been surplused by the US Navy, 3 new heavy lift rockets, one Mars descent rocket, one Mars orbit ascent rocket, two Earth return rockets, and a 6-member crew spacecraft and earth-orbit rocket.

First, one Earth return rocket will be attached to a submarine and put into Earth orbit by one heavy lift rocket.  A second submarine with Earth return rocket attached will be launched into Earth orbit. Next, attach the Mars descent rocket to the third submarine AND attach the Mars ascent rocket to the submarine emergency escape pod; then attach both to the third submarine. Now launch the third submarine into Earth orbit with the two other subs.  I know, launching “submarines” is ridiculous, but please keep reading and see if you agree with me!!!

Finally, launch the 6-member crew to dock with and enter the third submarine.  After checkout of all systems on all three submarines, the upper stage of the heavy lift rocket attached to each submarine will ignite and send all three together on a flight path to Mars.  The third submarine will contain the 6-member crew and rockets for descending and ascending from Mars while the other two subs will remain empty for emergency use and return to Earth capabilities.

When arriving at Mars all three submarines will enter Mars orbit, and after checkout the third submarine will land on Mars while the other two submarines remain in orbit.  After a period of exploration, the crew will return to Mars orbit in the submarine emergency escape pod and transfer to one of the two submarines.  Finally the Earth return rockets will fire and both submarines will return to Earth together.

When reaching Earth orbit, the crew and Mars samples will transfer to the crew spacecraft left in orbit previously and return to Earth.  The two submarines will be left in Earth orbit for re-supply and reuse for another Mars trip.

Obviously, launching submarines is not feasible because of many factors, but particularly weight and inward pressure design for a submarine vs. outward pressure design required for a spacecraft.  Of course, nuclear reactors could be replaced with solar panels to dramatically reduce weight, etc. and etc.  Still, everywhere in the scenario above where you read “submarine”, you should replace it with “trans-Earth/Mars spacecraft”.

The main point of this blog post is the technology for an independent self-sufficient living environment; such as, a nuclear submarine with a 100-member crew has been around since the 1950’s and extending that capability for space travel will not require a new technology break-through.  So let’s develop the new rocket engine technology and explore Mars now.

What current technology or slightly improved technology would you use to send explorers to Mars?

I Love Space Exploration!!!

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Apollo/Saturn V Launch

Since this is my first post, please let me introduce myself – I am a “rocket scientist” whose fingerprints are on the moon in 6 locations.  How did that happen?

As a young engineer just out of college, I was employed by NASA at the Kennedy Space Center just 7 months before Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders in Apollo 8 circled the moon on Christmas Eve and safely returned to earth. Part of my duties as an engineer on the Saturn V, S-IVB third-stage was to participate in the Launch Countdown Closeout Walk-Around approximately 24 hours before launch inside the stage inspecting the area for anything out of place.

The Lunar Module sat on top of the S-IVB stage with its four landing legs folded against the top of the stage, and during the walk-around I would purposely touch the ladder attached to one of the Lunar Module legs.  Therefore my fingerprints are on all 6 successful Apollo moon landings!  Even if the vacuum of space obliterates fingerprints; touching each of those six ladders still remains a high, lifetime experience for me.

I love space exploration!  Initially, I wanted to be an Astronomer. When Sputnik was launched in 1957, my love changed to “rockets” like the Redstone, Jupiter, and Atlas.  I wanted to help launch rockets for space exploration and to go to the moon!  I got my engineering degree and worked at the Kennedy Space Center for 26 years on Apollo, Skylab, Apollo-Soyuz, and Space Shuttle programs.

Some people, who are not familiar with Astronomy, may think of it as “science” and “boring;” however, discovering and interpreting new data that exposes the fact the original “Big Bang Theory” is wrong without a period of “Inflation” being added.  This addition, which is necessary for the theory to be a possible explanation for creation of the known universe, is “exciting” Astronomy.

Also some people may think of Space Exploration as “exciting”, thanks to Star Trek; however, developing, creating, and placing special greenhouses on Mars to grow food for colonies is awesome also!  I think of both Astronomy and Space Exploration as “Great Adventures” for us to engage for continued discovering!!!

Four areas that really intrigue me are:

  • Current Mind-Blowing Space Exploration Discoveries!
  • Plans for Future Technology Break-Throughs
  • Plans for Future Human Colonies on Mars
  • Past Space Exploration Accomplishments and Fun Facts About Them

In my following posts, I hope we can discuss subjects from each of these areas in order to learn and share new ideas.  Thanks for reading, and I hope you and I may discuss Space Exploration in person someday!  Until then, please post comments.

Also, what is a “rocket scientist”?  Is there such a thing as a “rocket scientist”, or are they really “engineers?”  Let me know your thoughts!