Re: MA-8 FLight Plan questions.
From: Andre Lieven (dg411_at_FreeNet.Carleton.CA)
Date: 02/01/05
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Date: 1 Feb 2005 03:52:55 GMT
"adam bootle" (adam@BEGONEbootle32.freeserve.co.uk) writes:
> Thanks Andre,
You're very welcome. I am glad that I was able to help, a bit.
> I really should look into things more before I start reading things like
> flight plans ! I have got so into the Apollo missions I thought it was
> time to educate myself about the earlier missions.
Indeed, and have at it. Its great that you are so enthused over the
topic, and I share that, as I believe many here do. You're just a bit
newer at it than most of us are, and time and good study will amply
take care of that, and give you more information to enjoy.
> All this time I thought there was a staging like they had in the Gemini
> and Apollo missions, I didn't know the two side engines only came away
> and the centre carried on.
Yeah, that was a rather unusual method of rocket staging.
> Im in FLA in May so I will take a close ook at the Atlas at KSC while
> I am there.
If you really want to enjoy that visit ( And, I've been there twice,
most recently in Feb of last year ), I would suggest doing some reading
before you go. A very good history of the US 60s manned program would
be the inestimable Andrew Chaikin's " A Man On The Moon ", which was
the primary resource book for the excellent HBO miniseries " From
The Earth To The Moon ( Which is available on DVD, in a 4 disc set,
and is also very highly recommended ). Another would be the most recent
edition of Kenneth Gatland's " Space Technology; A Comprehensive
History Of Space Exploration. " Its a well stuffed coffee table sized
book. My edition is 20 years old, but that leaves in loads on 60s
boosters, and the like.
Also check out Mark Wade's website: www.astronautix.com. You'll spend
days and days in there.
Before you go to Canaveral, seek them out on the web, so that you can
better decide on what you want to see there. Their entry prices aren't
quite Disney levels, but the $50 price range passes are good for two
days, as I discovered on my last visit there.
> Cheers.........Adam
Enjoy.
> "Andre Lieven" <dg411@FreeNet.Carleton.CA> wrote in message
> news:ctmdsm$khm$1@theodyn.ncf.ca...
>>
>> "adam bootle" (adam@BEGONEbootle32.freeserve.co.uk) writes:
>>> Thanks for that Jim, I had heard mention of a sustainer engine but didnt
>>> really know what it was.
>>
>> If you look at a picture of an Atlas rocket of the period, and
>> specifically, a Mercury Atlas, you will note that it has, at it's
>> base, three engines. So, the bottom of the Atlas is not round,
>> as the three engines are all side to side to side.
>>
>> At booster cut-off and sep, the aft Atlas skirt that includes
>> the two outboard engines is dropped away, and the centre, aka
>> sustainer engine, continues firing up to orbital insertion.
>>
>> So, since all three engines are firing right from launch,
>> and only one is still aboard and firing, at cut off, it was
>> customary to call the Atlas a 1.5 stage rocket.
Andre
--
" I'm a man... But, I can change... If I have to... I guess. "
The Man Prayer, Red Green.
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