Space Rocket History Podcast

Silently and carefully, Armstrong raised his left boot over the lip of the footpad and lowered it to the dust. Immediately he tested his weight, bouncing in the gentle gravity, and when he felt firm ground, he was still, one … Continue reading →

The post 50th Anniversary Special – An Encore Presentation of Space Rocket History #223 – Apollo 11 – Moonwalk – Part 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The majority of the second moonwalk was dedicated to reaching the rim of Cone Crater. The wide, deep geological gold mine, which scientists believed was actually the remains of an ancient volcano.

The post Space Rocket History #317 – Apollo 14 – Moonwalk 2 – Part 1 – The Rim of Cone Crater first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

With the Hycon camera down, Roosa would have to step in and use a Hasselblad with a 500 mm lens, to take detailed photos of the Apollo 16 potential landing site. If Roosa did nothing else, he had to return … Continue reading →

The post Space Rocket History #316 – Apollo 14 – Solo Flight Over the Moon & Lunar Geology first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The mortar package contained a set of grenades which were planned to be fired to distances of 500, 1000, 3000, and 5000 feet to the north of the ALSEP site.

The post Space Rocket History #315 – Apollo 14 – Moonwalk 1 – Part 3 – ALSEP Deployment first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

A small plutonium source was used to power the Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) that would provide electric power for the ALSEP experiments. Ed Mitchell performed the delicate maneuver of inserting the fuel capsule into the RTG.

The post Space Rocket History #314 – Apollo 14 – Moonwalk 1 – Part 2 – Fueling the Nuke first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

“Al is on the surface. And it’s been a long way, but we’re here.” Alan Shepard

The post Space Rocket History #313 – Apollo 14 – Moonwalk 1 – Part 1 – Color TV From the Moon first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Suddenly the caution lights went out and the radar signals began to transmit. Within seconds the astronauts could see that its data was good. Seconds later in mission control, a jubilant Will Presley shouted, “Flight, we got radar lockup!”

The post Space Rocket History #312 – Apollo 14 – Lunar Landing – Part 2 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

While checking the lander’s guidance software, during a final practice run for the landing, engineers in mission control detected that the computer was receiving an errant signal from the abort pushbutton.

The post Space Rocket History #311 – Apollo 14 – Lunar Landing – Part 1 first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

The first extended use of the Service Propulsion System engine on the Command and Service module was for the Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI) burn.

The post Space Rocket History #310 – Apollo 14 – Lunar Orbit first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.

Mitchell kept his plan a secret from NASA, knowing that the agency would be completely unreceptive to the idea. He said nothing about it to his crewmates. The test subjects had also agreed to keep quiet.

The post Space Rocket History #309 – Apollo 14 – The Long Coast first appeared on Space Rocket History Podcast.