Category Archives: Apollo

Sandwiches in Space

Posted on May 15, 2013 by asteitel

Most of NASA’s Apollo program files are publicly available, in many cases digitized and accessible online. But there’s one picture from the Apollo 12 files that I’ve never been able to find much information about: a picture of a suit … Continue reading →

Posted in Apollo, Gemini, History of Space Science, Manned Spaceflight, Moon | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Is Wernher von Braun Spaceflight’s Most Controversial Figure?

Posted on May 9, 2013 by asteitel

That he was responsible for both the deadly Nazi V-2 and NASA’s majestic Saturn V makes Wernher von Braun a controversial historical figure. Some hold that his participation in the Nazi war effort necessitates classifying him as a villain. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Apollo, History of Space Science, Manned Spaceflight, Mercury, Moon, Rockets | 7 Comments

McDivitt’s Trials With Orbital Rendezvous

Posted on April 24, 2013 by asteitel

Orbital mechanics and the challenges of orbital rendezvous isn’t a simple thing to explain, particularly as a non-scientist breaking it down for other non-scientists. But it’s a central part of the Apollo mission profile, so it comes up a lot … Continue reading →

Posted in Apollo, Gemini, Manned Spaceflight | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

The View from Apollo 4

Posted on April 6, 2013 by asteitel

Apollo 4 is one of the unsung heros of the Apollo program. Launched on November 9, 1967, it was the first flight of a Saturn V rocket, the first orbital test of a Command and Service Module, and an overall … Continue reading →

Posted in Apollo, History of Space Science, Moon, Unmanned Spaceflight | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Wernher von Braun Strolling on the Moon

Posted on April 4, 2013 by asteitel

I often post strange or fun space history pictures from NASA’s amazing archives on Facebook, Google+, and Twitter. The other days I posted this one showing Wernher von Braun strolling casually across the Lunar surface. I didn’t realize until after … Continue reading →

Posted in Apollo, History of Space Science, Manned Spaceflight | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Apollo 8 and Inspiration Mars: Context Matters

Posted on March 21, 2013 by asteitel

We have an amazing ability to selectively read history, and it’s something that happens a lot with the Space Race. We see the inspirational effects of bold missions to the Moon and use them as a benchmark for future exploration. … Continue reading →

Posted in Apollo, Manned Spaceflight, Moon, Soviet | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Gene Cernan and I Walk Into a Bar; or, Swearing Around the Moon

Posted on March 3, 2013 by asteitel

In all his official NASA portraits, Apollo 17 commander Gene Cernan looks stern. All the Apollo-era astronauts were photographed unsmiling, almost as though it would give tax paying Americans the sense that their national heroes took their roles deadly seriously … Continue reading →

Posted in Apollo, Gemini, Moon | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments