Maverick meets the Artemis Moon Rocket (+ More Space Photos)

[PriusHater]

Was at Kennedy Space Center for the scrubbed launch of the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft on the uncrewed Artemis I test flight mission around the Moon and back. Rained a lot but took some photos from on base as well as from Playalinda Beach which is the closest spot from where the general public can see the rocket. So, of course, I made sure to get at least one photo with Woodstock and Artemis together. Enjoy.

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[MostlySafeBear]

Nice photos!

I'm a huge Apollo-era space buff, and I really wish that the program hadn't just ended before they set up a base on the moon or in orbit of the moon. It was a massive missed opportunity that the Artemis program is looking to correct, and the TV show (on Apple's service) "For All Mankind" shows how that might work. Great show.

Granted, it's not a Maverick - nor is it a real part that came off of any spacecraft - but as an Apollo-era buff, I do have a bit of custom made memorabilia from eBay. It's a replica of the same switches as the type used inside the command module.

"Apollo 12, Houston, try SCE to auxiliary, over."

Apollo 12 was struck twice by lightning right after launch on November 14th 1969, which knocked out the command module power systems and telemetry, although the rockets' independent guidance computer was unaffected and still controlling the ascent. One of the flight controllers recognized the patterns in the bad data that he was seeing from a simulation done previously, and he told CAPCOM to have the crew flip the SCE (Signal Conditioning Equipment) power switch from the NORM position to the AUX position. It worked, and telemetry was restored, so the power issues could be troubleshooted and fixed, otherwise they would have had to abort the mission.

 

[oilman300]

Nice photos!

I'm a huge Apollo-era space buff, and I really wish that the program hadn't just ended before they set up a base on the moon or in orbit of the moon. It was a massive missed opportunity that the Artemis program is looking to correct, and the TV show (on Apple's service) "For All Mankind" shows how that might work. Great show.

Granted, it's not a Maverick - nor is it a real part that came off of any spacecraft - but as an Apollo-era buff, I do have a bit of custom made memorabilia from eBay. It's a replica of the same switches as the type used inside the command module.

"Apollo 12, set SCE to auxiliary"

Apollo 12 was struck twice by lightning right after launch on November 14th 1969, which knocked out the command module power systems and telemetry, although the rockets' independent guidance computer was unaffected and still controlling the ascent. One of the flight controllers recognized the patterns in the bad data that he was seeing from a simulation done previously, and he told CAPCOM to have the crew flip the SCE (Signal Conditioning Equipment) power switch from the NORM position to the AUX position. It worked, and telemetry was restored, so the power issues could be troubleshooted and fixed, otherwise they would have had to abort the mission.

I was thinking of buying one of the switches and put it in the cubby next to the radio. I just don't have anything to connect it to.

 

[MostlySafeBear]

I was thinking of buying one of the switches and put it in the cubby next to the radio. I just don't have anything to connect it to.

They'll look cool at least, and in the future, they can be connected to whatever you want. At least the switch set that I bought, they are actual working switches with the proper contacts on the back to be used. Amusingly, it says on the back "DO NOT USE IN OUTER SPACE".

 

[PriusHater]

Granted, it's not a Maverick - nor is it a real part that came off of any spacecraft - but as an Apollo-era buff, I do have a bit of custom made memorabilia from eBay. It's a replica of the same switches as the type used inside the command module.

I came across a 3D print file for a single version of the SCE to AUX switch. Would love to have it slightly resized in order to print it and place it in the cubby hole. For now, Astronaut Snoopy fills the area nicely.

 

[MostlySafeBear]

I came across a 3D print file for a single version of the SCE to AUX switch. Would love to have it slightly resized in order to print it and place it in the cubby hole. For now, Astronaut Snoopy fills the area nicely.

Nice Apollo 10 LM reference you have there!

I'm not up to speed on how to resize things for 3D printing, but if you hear about it being done, I'd love to know.

Where did you get your specific Snoppy in a bubble helmet?

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Nice photos!

I'm a huge Apollo-era space buff, and I really wish that the program hadn't just ended before they set up a base on the moon or in orbit of the moon. It was a massive missed opportunity that the Artemis program is looking to correct, and the TV show (on Apple's service) "For All Mankind" shows how that might work. Great show.

Granted, it's not a Maverick - nor is it a real part that came off of any spacecraft - but as an Apollo-era buff, I do have a bit of custom made memorabilia from eBay. It's a replica of the same switches as the type used inside the command module.

"Apollo 12, Houston, try SCE to auxiliary, over."

Apollo 12 was struck twice by lightning right after launch on November 14th 1969, which knocked out the command module power systems and telemetry, although the rockets' independent guidance computer was unaffected and still controlling the ascent. One of the flight controllers recognized the patterns in the bad data that he was seeing from a simulation done previously, and he told CAPCOM to have the crew flip the SCE (Signal Conditioning Equipment) power switch from the NORM position to the AUX position. It worked, and telemetry was restored, so the power issues could be troubleshooted and fixed, otherwise they would have had to abort the mission.

Dang they keep missing opportunities. I would have bought a fistful of $20 tickets for "win the maverick that has been around the moon" probably could have paid for the rocket fuel from all tickets they could have sold.

 

[PriusHater]

Where did you get your specific Snoppy in a bubble helmet?

There were four designs produced by Hallmark years ago. Found them on Amazon for $15 apiece. Was a random selection but got snoopy in the orange flight suit as well as Snoopy hitting a golf ball on the Moon in mostly gray. The exact two I was hoping for!

 

[LM42]

Was at Kennedy Space Center for the scrubbed launch of the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft on the uncrewed Artemis I test flight mission around the Moon and back. Rained a lot but took some photos from on base as well as from Playalinda Beach which is the closest spot from where the general public can see the rocket. So, of course, I made sure to get at least one photo with Woodstock and Artemis together. Enjoy.

Sick photos! Are you going to get to go back for the launch, or is this just a missed opportunity?

 

[PriusHater]

Sick photos! Are you going to get to go back for the launch, or is this just a missed opportunity?

I’m credentialed for the launch, but have conflicts this weekend,

 

[Flight Test]

Nice photos!

I'm a huge Apollo-era space buff, and I really wish that the program hadn't just ended before they set up a base on the moon or in orbit of the moon. It was a massive missed opportunity that the Artemis program is looking to correct, and the TV show (on Apple's service) "For All Mankind" shows how that might work. Great show.

Granted, it's not a Maverick - nor is it a real part that came off of any spacecraft - but as an Apollo-era buff, I do have a bit of custom made memorabilia from eBay. It's a replica of the same switches as the type used inside the command module.

"Apollo 12, Houston, try SCE to auxiliary, over."

Apollo 12 was struck twice by lightning right after launch on November 14th 1969, which knocked out the command module power systems and telemetry, although the rockets' independent guidance computer was unaffected and still controlling the ascent. One of the flight controllers recognized the patterns in the bad data that he was seeing from a simulation done previously, and he told CAPCOM to have the crew flip the SCE (Signal Conditioning Equipment) power switch from the NORM position to the AUX position. It worked, and telemetry was restored, so the power issues could be troubleshooted and fixed, otherwise they would have had to abort the mission.

Night shot of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). I was there with several other engineers working on the Heat Rejection System Radiators for the International Space Station (ISS) at the same time Space Shuttle Columbia was being prepped in the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) for what would be its final flight. Apologies for hijacking the thread.

 

[Red Ryder]

Good stuff, thanks for sharing.

I remember, while working in Huntsville, Alabama many decades ago, going to ham fests in Von Braun Center. There was usually some surplus program-related electronics, usually communications stuff, that ended up on the tables.

 

[projectvortex]

Was at Kennedy Space Center for the scrubbed launch of the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft on the uncrewed Artemis I test flight mission around the Moon and back. Rained a lot but took some photos from on base as well as from Playalinda Beach which is the closest spot from where the general public can see the rocket. So, of course, I made sure to get at least one photo with Woodstock and Artemis together. Enjoy.

Those pics are simply…..over the moon! I’d like to be the guy parking my RV on the government’s grass. Lol.

 

[inthecabin]

Night shot of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). I was there with several other engineers working on the Heat Rejection System Radiators for the International Space Station (ISS) at the same time Space Shuttle Columbia was being prepped in the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) for what would be its final flight. Apologies for hijacking the thread.

Been there as well when the shuttle was being prepared. Just don’t touch the crawler unless authorized… not a pleasant outcome, you can get a foot away but just don’t touch it. One my coworkers found out the hard way. Let’s just say he was never allowed back on base ever again.

 

[MostlySafeBear]

Night shot of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). I was there with several other engineers working on the Heat Rejection System Radiators for the International Space Station (ISS) at the same time Space Shuttle Columbia was being prepped in the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) for what would be its final flight. Apologies for hijacking the thread.

Very cool. The shuttle was a neat space vehicle, but sadly it was full of design compromises that killed two entire crews and very nearly killed a third crew. I can only hope that we never ever repeat those design compromises again.

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