ASTP Apollo Set for Splashdown Today

Space NI\SJ\

Vol. 14, No. 15 John F. Kennedy Space Center Ju Iy 24, 1975 ASTP Apollo Set For Splashdown Today The Apollo Soyuz Test Project The ASTP mission, which laid a will conclude this evening when as foundation for future international tronauts Tom Stafford, Vance space ventures, met all major objec Brand and "Deke" Slayton guide tives, according to both U.S. and their Apollo spaceship to a watery Soviet officials. landing some 345 miles west of Internationally, the mission gen Honolulu, Hawaii. erated considerable interest. Splashdown will occur at ap Through the miracle of worldwide proximately 5:18 p.m. EDT at 22 television, hundreds of millions of degrees north latitude and 163 de people around the globe watched as grees west longitude. astronauts and cosmonauts gave vis The Soyuz spacecraft, piloted by ibility to detente. cosmonauts Aleksey Leonov and Between bear hugs, fruit-juice Valeriy Kubasov, landed safely last toasts and dinner parties Monday northeast of the Soviet town of Arkalyk in Kazakhstan, six See Photos, page 3 miles from the planned target point. amongst the stars, the spacemen of The Apollo crew and spacecraft both nations gave ample proof that will be recovered by the helicopter ASTP was a serious scientific en ~ ~ carrier New Orleans. The astronauts deavor as well. They conducted 27 Cosmonauts Valeriy Kubasov and Aleksey Leonov talk with astro will be flown to Ellington Air Force experiments in all - five jointly naut Tom Stafford after their historic space meeting. Inset shows Base near Houston, arriving Satur and practiced rendezvous and Apollo (foreground) as it approached Soyuz prior to docking. day at 8 a.m. EDT. docking techniques which are appli cable to future international mis sions and the rescue of stranded Managers, Visitors Pay Tribute To Launch Tearn space travelers. Launch activities went smoothly They helped create the space time, getting the vehicle ready un ship." It is just that. It's a feeling of on both sides of the Atlantic, al age. They re-wrote Jules Verne. der the very real pressure of trying purpose. It's a feeling of dedication though public accessibility to the They let men touch the stars. to meet the window, and by golly, to other team members. It's like be launch sites differed sharply. The Who are they? They're the mem you made it. You're the greatest, ing on a sports team - giving your only Americans invited to view the bers of the greatest launch team in and we thank you." all, paying any price in order to Soyuz launch from Baikonur were the world - Kenney Space Center's What made the "great" team win. U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet own. Young describes? It takes a lot to be on the team. Union Walter Stoessel and Mrs. They're unique. Collectively, Experience. The Saturn launch Those on the team know it and talk Stoessel; Willis Shapley, NASA As they have skills no other group can team was formed at Complexes 34 about it. sociate Deputy Administrator; and match - built up over years of and 37 in the mid sixties. Its size (See TEAM, Page 7) (See SPLASHDOWN, Page 8) launching men and machines into and competence grew with the Cen outer space. ter's development. The team ex See related stories, pages 4-5 panded to include Complex 39 and the launch of the first Saturn V, SA We know they're special. And 501, on November 9,1967. the world does too. During the next five years, it Through the years of successes, launched II more Saturn V's; all of they have collected praises from them successful, all of them his representatives of almost every toric. country in the world, including Even more demands were placed Ambassador Dobrynin from the on the team in the Skylab program, Soviet Union who told them July with four launches required in six IS, "My heart is with you doing months. this very nice job. I should say that But they did it. And this month without your magnificent perform all these years of experience have ance here ... the whole project culminated in the launch of the last would be impossible ... Well done Saturn vehicle for the Apollo Soyuz and thank you very much." Test Project. The astronauts who trusted their In addition to this skill and lives to the team's competence have training, however, there is another also paid them tribute. Apollo 10 factor, not often delineated, that crewman John Young "said, "The makes the difference between KSC LAUNCH DIRECTOR Walter Kapryan (left) and KSC Di difference between mediocrity and "mediocrity" and "greatness." rector Lee Scherer (second from left) talk with the Soviet Ambassa greatness is this launch test Fortune Magazine has described dor to the United States Anatoliy Dobrynin (right) and Mrs. Dob team ... trouble shooting in real that factor as a "mystical comrade- rynin in the Firing Room following the ASTP launch. Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS July 24, 1975 KSC Director Praises Launch Team FLIGHT. RESEARCH CENTER (Editor's Note: Following the ASTP Apollo/Saturn launch KSC Di rector Lee Scherer made the [allowing statement to the personnel in Firing Room 3.) "We've just seen another truly professional performance from a great team. All good things must come to an end and it seems like this is an appropriate time for the Saturn launch program to end. And it's being done with a particularly important mission. A few of you have received specific individual recognition for your part in this program - most of you have not and that's the way it is with a large team. But all of you can take with you the self esteem, perhaps the greatest reward of all, from the fact that you've been a member of a team that made a fan tastic contribution to our country. And now as you go your separate ways over these next few weeks I'd like to thank all of you and wish you the best in your future ventures. God speed to you al1." 0 New Regulations For Health Claims

TODD GROO (left), NASA Associate Administrator for Center Op Final regulations for resolving the denial by the Civil Service Com erations, and David Scott, Director of the Flight Research Center, disputes between Federal Em mission's Bureau of Retirement, In break ground for a new Space Shuttle hangar at FRe. The hangar is ployees, annuitants, and survivors surance, and Occupational Health. being built by the Sante Fe Engineers, Inc., Lancaster, CA., under covered under the Federal Em Also, if the carrier again denies contract to KSC. ployees Health Benefits program the claim, the carrier must explain and their health insurance carriers the denial in detail and inform the were recently published by the Civil claimant of his or her right to re Service Commission. Procedures for quest review by the Bureau within resolving such disputes are as fol 90 days. IS Director F. Miller To Retire lows: When necessary, the Bureau may The claimant's written request request other information, in must be made within one year of cluding an advisory opinion from Frederic H. Miller, Director of During World War II he com the denial to the health insurance an independent physician. As in all Installation Support at the Ken manded a B-24 liberator combat carrier which denied the claim. The matters pertaining to medical nedy Space Center since 1967, will group in the European theater and carrier is required to respond within records, all medical information retire on July 28, ending 43 years later served as Director of Current 30 days after receipt of the will be treated confidentially. of federal service. Operations for the U.S. Strategic claimant's request unless the carrier The Bureau will notify both the Miller, a retired Air Force major Air Force Headquarters in Europe. needs additional information to carrier and the claimant of its final general, joined NASA in 1966, serv For three years he worked in the make a determination. Counting decision within 30 days of receipt ing as KSC's Deputy Director of Pentagon for the Assistant Secre the time needed to receive the addi of the information needed to re Administration and Chief of the tary of Defense for International tional information from the claim solve the dispute, and the Bureau's Resources Management Office. He Security Affairs, serving as Director ant, the carrier may have up to an decision will constitute a final ad was appointed Director of Installa of the European Region. additional 60 days to respond. ministrative decision. tion Support in October 1967 by Miller retired from the Air Force If the carrier fails to respond The new regulations will apply former Center Director Dr. Kurt while commanding the Middletown within the required time limit, the to all claims for health services ren Debus. Air Materiel Command in claimant may request a review of dered on or after January 1, 1975. In his present capacity, Miller Pennsylvania, completing a 34-year exercises day-to-day cognizance of military aviation career that began the Center's principal support con with the liberty engined, fabric tractors, Boeing, Expedient Ser winged aircraft of yesteryear. vices, Inc., New World Services, At "I consider Apollo to be one of Iantic Technical Services, and the great engineering an~ scientific McGregor & Werner, Inc. achievements of all time," said Mil Miller is a graduate of Purdue ler. "I have been extremely University and holds a master's de fortunate to participate in the pro gree in business administration gram." from the University of Penn Miller resides on Merritt Island sylvania. He began his military with his wife, Alice. His plans for career in 1932 as a pilot in the the future 'are indefinite, but include Army Air Corps, which included a plenty of golf, fishing and travel, brief stint flying U.S. air mail when perhaps even a part-time job in a the Army had that task. selected field ofinterest. 0

Published every other week by the John F. Kennedy Space Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, COSMIC RAY SATELLITE-B (COS-B) is scheduled for launch , Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899 from KSC facilities at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, no Charles T. Hollinshead, Chief, Public Affairs earlier than August 6. The satellite is being launched by NASA for Karl Kristofferson, Editor the European Space Research Organization. It will investigate Edward K_ Harrison, Photographic Coordinator Klaus Wilckens, Staff Photographer gamma radiation from space. July 24, 1975 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3

Test Conductor Dick Thornburg, Soviet Ambassador Anatoliy Dobrynin and NASA Administrator James Fletcher watch the launch. ASTP launch Day

Early on launch day. Tom Stafford reCeives "call" on the way to the pad.

Astronauts watched the Soyuz launch during breakfast. Liftoff! Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS July 24,1975

I Teamwork Important To Kennedy Spac. team • work, n: work done by a been with the program since the ASTP means additional cooperation number of associates with usually first Saturn V and it has been a very between the US and the USSR." each doing a clearly defined por worthwhile program. ASTP is truly Ray Bond, Test Conductor, tion, but all subordinating personal a step toward the fu ture, however, Chrysler: "We all feel we'd like to prominence to the efficiency of the because the complete conquest of fly a few more birds." whole. space will be done by all the peo -Webster's Third ples of the world and not by just International Dictionary one country." Harold "Digger" O'Dell, S-lB The KSC launch team's record J. FORD E. BRANSON Senior Test Conductor, Chrysler: "I of successful launches is evidence think it's a shame this country is that the necessity to subordinate fully meeting them. I once believed that due to the relatively large num not going to have any more manned individuality for the good of the launches for the next four years. I'd team has always governed its ac ber of people involved in the space program that each one's con like to see us go back to the moon. tions. Therefore, we have asked tribution was almost negligible. By ending the moon program, we some of those on the team to state S. HOLLOWAY A. HOLDEN When you consider, however, that have abandoned a part of the space individually their feelings about the Joe Eckhoff, Environmental your contribution was part of some program we shouldn't have aban end of the Saturn program. Control Systems Test Engineer, of the world's most momentous doned." Boeing: "I get great satisfaction out events of all time, then suddenly Kiyoshi Yamasaki, Firing Panel of the fact that I did contribute to you start figuring that your part Operator, Chrysler: "It is a shame the Saturn program. We feel there is was not so small. I feel very proud no way they could launch without of my contribution." us." Art Sawyer, LVO Operations Creath Dean, Sr., Quality In Engineer, NASA: "Ending the pro spector, IBM: "I've been here since gram this way is sure going to break 1962, and the entire time has been up a lot of friendships, which is the interesting and exciting." saddest part about this launch." Bob Claudio, Specialist Engi Billy Melton, Senior Test Con J. ECKHOFF R. CLAUDIO neer, Boeing: "We established a ductor, Boeing: "Being on the whole new plane of exploration. We Bill Scott, IU Test Conductor, launch team has been a great job have a generation of people who IBM: "I have thoroughly enjoyed C. DEAN and I'm proud to have been a part have lived from the horse-drawn my eight years here and I hate to of it. This has been a great crew to that the Saturn program is coming see it end. I enjoyed most of all get work with." to an end now. I don't feel that in ting the systems working together, dividually I have contributed that starting with an individual task as much to the program, but I feel that signment and progressing to a com I am part of the team that has con pletely integrated T-O launch time. tributed to the program's successes. My job has been satisfying pri Hopefully, ASTP will be the begin marily because I am working with a ning of some further international whole bunch of great people." missions with the USSR." Carroll R. Rouse, LVO Systems James Schofield, S-IVB Test Engineering Staff, NASA: "I feel a Conductor, McDonnell Douglas: SHERRINGTON R. ENGLISH great sense of pride and satisfaction "I'm just as enthusiastic about this carriage to man on the moon. My in having been part of a team that G. WAUGH P. THOMAS launch as I was about the first one I contribution has been trying to do could consistently set fbng range J. Tal Webb, Assistant Test Con participated in. I hate to see the my job to the best of my ability so goals of such a highly technical na ductor, McDonnell Douglas: "I am program halt mainly from a rela tha t the areas I was involved in ture and·· logically overcome the really sorry to see the Saturn tionship standpoint with all the were successfully completed." many inherent obstacles in success- program end. Looking back, I've people I've worked with. I hope Kelly Fiorentino, LV Instrumen- July 24, 1975 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 5

THE PHOTOS ABOVE show the evolution of the Saturn class of vehicles. Starting from the left, the launch vehicles are: The first Center Launch Team Saturn space vehicle (SA-I) launched on October 27, 1961; the SA-6 vehicle launched on May 28, 1964, carrying the first unmanned tation Engineer, NASA: "My con privilege to be associated with the boilerplate model of the Apollo spacecraft; the first Saturn 1B, tribution to the program was not as people who carryon the functions launched February 26, 1966; and the first Saturn V vehicle launched great as the contribution the space we have to carryon to accomplish a November 9, 1967. The firing room scenes (from the left) show program gave to me, which was the successful launch." blockhouse 34 used for the SA-I launch; blockhouse 37 used for the fact that I had the opportunity to Tom Sherrington, Sr., Test Con SA-6 launch; and Firing Room 1 of the Complex 39 Launch Control work on this great undertaking. I ductor, Boeing: "It is a real pity Center. feel that I would have worked on that a team like this is breaking up. the space program without pay." We need the space program to ex James Ford, Field Technician, ploit the vast possibilities of space. Chrysler: "We had a mission - and Calling a halt now is like telling the ASTP Launch Is End Of An Era it takes a team like this to work Wright Brothers, 'OK, we've flown together to solve all the problems now, we don't have to do it again!' The 32nd and final Saturn class The first Saturn IB, an improved for a launch." Anyone who is against space has vehicle thundered away from Com two-stage vehicle, was launched on Eugene Branson, Electrical Sys their head in the sand because the plex 39B at 3:50 p.m. on July 15, February 26, 1966, from Complex tems Engineer, NASA: "The break future is space." closing the era of NASA's largest 34. The unmanned suborbital flight up of the team is a personal sorrow. Sid Holloway, Electronic Tech expendable launch vehicle. carried further developmental hard It is unfortunate to see all these ex- nician, Rockwell International: It was a successful era. All 32 ware and was the first test in space "The space program has put us launches of the Saturn 1, Saturn IB of the Apollo spacecraft. ahead in the world as far as leader and Saturn V performed success Three additional unmanned ship goes. The main thing is that we fully. The Saturn vehicle put men launches followed, verifying the op really haven't failed. I always en into earth orbit and sen t men to the era tion of the S-IVB second stage joyed the program. It was the great moon, ultimately to land on its the restart capability of its engine est show on earth to me." dusty surface. in orbit and providing further flight Paul Thomas, Electronic Tech The story of the Saturn class of testing of the command, service and nician, Rockwell International: launch vehicles is one of evolution lunar modules of the Apollo space "The program should be continued - from the Saturn 1 to the Saturn cra ft. because we still have a lot to learn. 1B to the Saturn V. And as the ve The fifth Saturn IB launch was R. BOND E. HENNING There are many benefits, in weather hicle developed, so did the KSC the first manned Apollo mission. perienced people leaving and the forecasting, medicine, etc. that we launch team. Apollo 7, launched from Complex team disband." still haven't realized yet." The first Saturn launch was on 34 on October II , 1968, carried as Tom Lookabaugh, Firing Room AI Holden, Scheduler, Bendix: October 27, 1961, from Complex tronauts Walter Schirra, Donn Technician, Boeing: "It's very sad ''I'm proud of the fact that I had a 34. The launch hurled two water Eisele and Walter Cunningham. Ex and discouraging for a person like helping hand in the Saturn plO filled, dummy stages (carried as bal tensive checkout of spacecraft me who has worked with the pro gram. I would like to see it con last) to a peak altitude of 84.8 systems was performed during the gram for 20 years to see us lose a tinue because we can gather so miles and a distance of 214.7 miles mission. lot of good people. We have just much important data from each down range. Meanwhile, Marshall Space touched base with future space pro launch - not only for space and Te n Sa turn 1 vehicles were Flight Center was developing the jects, and there are a lot of areas technology, but for people in gen launched in developmental nights. third generation of Saturns. the that could still be explored." eral." The last three carried Pegasus satel powerful Saturn V. The Boeing Royce English, Structural/ Bi! Waugh, Assistant Supervisor, lites into earth orbit on meteoroid Company built the first stage of the Mechanical Supervisor, McDonnell Rockwell International: "I think detection missions which provided Sa t urn V and Rockwell Inter Douglas: "Space is something that space programs should be con valuable information for the design national provided the second STage. we as a coun try should be endea tinued because I think that any pro of successor spacecraft. McDonnell Douglas built the third voring to advance - it should be a gram that provides work is better The Chrysler Corporation was stage and IBM, the instrument unit. national challenge. I hate to iSee the than a giveaway program. You al the contractor for the first stage of All stages used Rocketdyne engines. program dying off the way it is." ways get something from the work, the Saturn 1; McDonnell Douglas, The first Saturn V launch on Ebbe Henning, Quality Assur but you don't get anything out of a for the second stage; and IBM, for ance, Chrysler: "To me it's a great giveaway." 0 the instrument unit. (See VEHICLES, Page 7) Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS July 24, 1975

Teamwork Important To Kennedy Spac. team • work, n: work done by a been with the program since the ASTP means additional cooperation number of associates with usually first Saturn V and it has been a very between the US and the USSR." each doing a clearly defined por worthwhile program. ASTP is truly Ray Bond, Test Conductor, tion, but aU subordinating personal a step toward the fu ture, however, Chrysler: "We all feel we'd like to prominence to the efficiency of the because the complete conquest of fly a few more birds." whole. space will be done by all the peo -Webster's Third ples of the world and not by just International Dictionary one country." Harold "Digger" O'Dell, S-IB The KSC launch team's record J. FORD E. BRANSON Senior Test Conductor, Chrysler: "I of successful launches is evidence fully meeting them. I once believed think it's a shame tills country is that the necessity to subordinate not going to have any more manned individuality for the good of the that due to the relatively large num ber of people involved in the space launches for the next four years. I'd team has always governed its ac like to see us go back to the moon. tions. Therefore, we have asked program that each one's con tribution was almost negligible. By ending the moon program, we some of those on the team to state S. HOLLOWAY A. HOLDEN When you consider, however, that have abandoned a part of the space individually their feelings about the Joe Eckhoff, Environmental your contribution was part of some program we shouldn't have aban end of the Saturn program. Control Systems Test Engineer, of the world's most momentous doned." Boeing: "I get great satisfaction out events of all time, then suddenly Kiyoshi Yamasaki, Firing Panel of the fact that I did contribute to you start figuring that your part Operator, Chrysler: "It is a shame the Saturn program. We feel there is was not so small. I feel very proud no way they could launch without of my contribution." us." Art Sawyer, LVO Operations Creath Dean, Sr., Quality In Engineer, NASA: "Ending the pro spector, IBM: "I've been here since gram tills way is sure going to break 1962, and the entire time has been up a lot of friendships, which is the interesting and exciting." saddest part about tills launch." Bob Claudio, Specialist Engi Billy Melton, Senior Test Con J. ECKHOFF R. CLAUDIO neer, Boeing: "We established a ductor, Boeing: "Being on the whole new plane of exploration. We Bill Scott, IU Test Conductor, launch team has been a great job have a generation of people who IBM: "I have thoroughly enjoyed C. DEAN LOOKABAUGH and I'm proud to have been a part have lived from the horse-drawn my eight years here and I hate to of it. Tills has been a great crew to that the Saturn program is coming see it end. I enjoyed most of all get work with." to an end now. I don't feel that in ting the systems working together, dividually I have contributed that starting with an individual task as much to the program, but I feel that signment and progressing to a com I am part of the team that has con pletely integrated T-O launch time. tributed to the program's successes. My job has been satisfying pri Hopefully, ASTP will be the begin marily because I am working with a ning of some further international whole bunch of great people." missions with the USSR." Carroll R. Rouse, LVO Systems J ames Schofield, S-IVB Test Engineering Staff, NASA: "I feel a Conductor, McDonnell Douglas: SHERRINGTON R. ENGLISH great sense of pride and satisfaction "I'm just as enthusiastic about this carriage to man on the moon. My in having been part bf a team that G. WAUGH P. THOMAS launch as I was about the first one I contribution has been trying to do could consistently set long range J. Tal Webb, Assistant Test Con participated in. I hate to see the my job to the best of my ability so goals of such a highly technical na ductor, McDonnell Douglas: "I am program halt mainly from a rela tha t the areas I was involved in ture and, logically overcome the really sorry to see the Saturn tionship standpoint with all the were successfully completed." many inherent obstacles in success- program end. Looking back, I've people I've worked with. I hope Kelly Fiorentino, LV Instrumen- July 24, 1975 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 7 Annuity Increase Dr. James Fletcher. Effective August 1 Congratulates 1" earn A 5.1 percent cost-of-living in (Editor's note: NASA Admin crease in retirement annuities will istrator Dr. James Fletcher made become effective August 1, 1975. the [allowing remarks to KSC The increase was triggered when launch personnel [allowing the the Consumer Price Index (CPI) ex ASTPApollo launch.) ceeded by 3 percent the base CPI established in October 1974 "Needless to say that was an ab (153.0) and held for three conse solutely fabulous launch by an ab cutive months: March (157.8), solutely fabulous team. And let me April (158.6), and May (159.3). congratulate you all before I say Annuities of employees already anything further. You probably retired will be adjusted automati know as well as I do that you're cally in the checks mailed Septem making history today and this is the ber 1, 1975. first step on a long mission, but al Retiring employees who separate so, I think, on a long program with or whose pay ceases before August NASA HAS AWARDED Eugene R. Schumann (right), a senior en the Soviet Union. Congratulations 1, 1975, may get the benefit of two gineer with Bendix Launch Support Division, a certificate of recogni all for a job extremely well done." increases. They will receive the tion from the Chairman of the NASA Inventions and Contributions higher of two computations: (1) Board, a $50 check and a copy of the NASA Tech brief for which The annuity computed as of the award was granted. Schumann was recognized for his work on A small sun spot may be roughly December 31, 1974, plus the 7.3 the transfer of gaseous oxygen from high-pressure containers. Dr. the size of the earth. Larger ones percent increase effective January Hans P. Bruckner (left), General Manager of the Bendix Division, may be big enough to hold hun 1, 1975, plus the 5.1 percent in presents the awards to Schumann. dreds or thousands of earths. crease effective August 1, 1975; or (2) the annuity computed to the William Schick, Chief Test date of separation or date pay Team ... Supervisor: "I appreciate the ex pediency of the test team reporting ceases, plus the 5.1 percent increase (continued from page 1) effective August 1, 1975. their problems, and the dedication Employees who retire after - "You feel you are giving more of each team individual in the pro August 1, 1975, will receive the to the program than the average cessing of their work. I look higher of two computations: (1) guy." forward to having each and every The annuity computed as of July - "Extra hours are routine." member of the Apollo/ 31, 1975, plus the 5.1 percent in - "You must be constantly Skylab/ASTP test team that work crease; or (2) the annunity com available." ed with me as a member of any fu puted to the date of separation 0 - "You often must sacrifice loy ture test team I might be a part of." alty to everything else - your com Ike Rigell, Director, Launch Ve pany, your family - in order to get hicle Operations: "The flawless per Vehicles ... the job done when it has to be formance of the Saturn 1B launch (continued from page 5) done." vehicle attests to the thoroughness In the midst of all the hardware and precision in which the pre- November 9, 1967, marked the first and procedure problems, this mysti WALTER KAPRYAN use of the new facilities at Complex cal comradeship remains undi 39. A little over a year later Frank minished. one of you success wherever you Borman, James Lovell and William The ASTP launch brings us to go." Anders blasted off from KSC on Skip Chauvin, Spacecraft Test December 21, 1968, and headed for the end of an era,. and the breaking up of this launch team. We've asked Conductor: "In my 12 years as a lunar orbit, marking man's first test conductor on the command flight to the moon. several people for their thoughts at this time. module, there has never been This was followed by Apollos 9 enough praise given to the shop and 10, which further proved the technicians and quality control per integrity and reliability of all sonnel. My sincere thanks and lots G. POWERS W. SCHICK launch vehicle and spacecraft of luck to all of you." systems, leading to the Apollo 11 Gary Powers, Launch Vehicle launch preparations and the launch mission which landed Neil Arm Test Conductor: "I will always be were carried out by the govern strong and Edwin Aldrin on the impressed with how the' launch ment/industry team. The breakup Moon, July 20,1969. team works together to achieve suc of our launch team is unfortunate, Other Apollo missions to the cess of a common goal. Success has for this team represents a tremen moon followed, culminating with P.DONNELLY I. RIGELL been the result of pride, extra dous national resource that has ac the spectacular night-time launch of ordinary dedication and a high de cumulated an enviable success Apollo 17. Paul Donnelly, Launch Opera gree of professionalism which has record." The final Saturn V launch placed tions Manager: "I feel now the way helped propel our country far out Walter Kapryan, Director, the l00-ton Skylab space station I did when I addressed the astro front in space technology. We have Launch Operations: "The team that into orbit in 1973. Three crews sub nauts and the launch team at T made history by forever being the checked out and launched Apollo sequently left KSC aboard Saturn minus four minutes in the count very b est launch team in the Soyuz on July 15 was completely 1B rockets for extended stays in down July 15 when I told them, world." professional through the last sec the orbiting station, for a total of , Tom, Deke, Vance, and the launch ond. This is in keeping with the 171 days in space. team, I want you to know that we dedication and motivation that has And, finally, the Apollo Soyuz saved the best until last'." exemptlrfied their service through Test Project Apollo/Saturn launch Norm Carlson, Prime Launch the years. The fact that many of sent three American astronauts to Vehicle Test Conductor: (message them may not have jobs after this an earth orbit rendezvous with two written on July 16) "Six years ago month in no way affected their per Soviet cosmonauts ... an end to today was one of the happiest days formance. I will always respect the Saturn program probably never of my life, the Apollo 11 launch. them and value their friendship. On imagined by those involved 1h the Today is one of the saddest days behalf of Launch Operations, I wish launch of the first Saturn in Oc because of the dispersion of the them Godspeed and best wishes for tober 1961. 0 launch crew. I wish each and every S. CHAUVIN N.CARLSON success in their future endeavors." Page 8 SPACEPORT NEWS July 24, 1975

BOEING COMPANY McDONNELL DOUGLAS LVO Holds Appreciation Coffee For LVO Contractors The Launch Vehicle Operations of IBM, GE, McDonnell Douglas, the LVO organizations, and also by receiving mementos on behalf of all Directorate employees held an "Ap- Chrysler Corp., Boeing Launch Dr. Hans Gruene, former LVO Di- of their employees were George predation" coffee for the LVO Support and Rocketdyne by Ike rector; Paul Donnelly, Launch Smith, IBM; Cal Fowler, GE; Contractor personnel in Firing Rigell, Director of LVO; and group Operations Manager; and Walter George Faenza, McDonnell Doug Room 1 on July 16, the day pictures were made of the em- Kapryan, Director of Launch las; Dino Salvador, Chrysler; Art following the ASTP Launch. ployees with each company. Brief Operations. Rigell served as MC for Scholz, Boeing Launch Support; Autographed pictures of launch- speeches thanking the contractors the program which had some 1000 and Roscoe Nicholson, Rocket ings were presented to the managers were made by representatives from attendees. Contractor managers dyne. 0 \

CHRYSLER CORPORATION IBM

GENERAL ELECTRIC ROCKETDYNE from viewing areas outside the KSC Splashdown perimeter. Over 2,000 news media representatives from the U.S. and DOT'N DASH h~ Woods (continued from page 1) other parts of the world jammed Dr. Egon Loebner, Science Chief in the Complex 39 press site to cover WHAT IS YouR P\-\\L.OSO PHY I DON'T F=£AR the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. While the historic launch. NeITHE~ TOWARD "TEAC.HING A DEATH aUT The weather, which for days had "'EeNAGE~ 00 \ AC.TlVEL.'( SEE\( IT.' U.S. technical observers were sta ,0 DRIVE? tioned in the Soviet mission control posed a threat to an on-time center outside Moscow, newsmen Apollo-Saturn launch, was near per were restricted to the Soviet press fect. And the Saturn launch vehicle center at Moscow's Inturist Hotel. followed suit. The first stage burn At KSC, more than 85,000 time was .4 seconds longer than guests, including Soviet Ambassa predicted and the second stage ex dor to the U.S. Anatoliy Dobrynin ceeded its planned burn time by and his wife, viewed the liftoff of only 1.9 seconds. From liftoff sig the last scheduled Apollo-Saturn nal to orbital insertion, the actual rocket. Another 750,000 persons, times of the launch sequences COP)'"9"" 1975 t. E. Wood. according to Florida Highway Pa varied from the planned times by a trol estimates, witnessed the launch total of 2.3 seconds. 0 * u.s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OE'FICE: 1975-641-244/2