Home » Science & Nature » Space Exploration » Unrecorded Facts in Space History

Unrecorded Facts in Space History

© b.w. white

To the space buff interests go far beyond launch dates and astronaut names. Much of the information that anyone could ever want is readily available, but what of the spots of this living history that have not been recorded? What aren’t available, at least without research, are the lesser known testimonials and facts of the space race. In decades to come these questions may be answered or they may fade into mystery to those who ponder them. Unfortunately, today’s space exploration activities will also most likely fade into curious animosity.

Here are a few of those questions. 1.What of the rescue kit for CSM 118 that was to save the crew of Skylab 3? What happened to it after it was dismantled? Was it scrapped? Lost? Is it preserved somewhere? Is it inside the CSM 119 on display at KSC? Are there any recorded specific reminisces by the almost “official” rescue crew (Brand and Lind). I would love to see something about their experiences during the time they were preparing for this impromptu mission.

3.Are there any recent pictures of the long since dismantled LOLA simulator? Was any of it preserved for history (LOLA was intended to be a simulator that would re-create the visual cues an astronaut would experience once in lunar orbit. It was never finished as it was found to be redundant.)?

4. What of also the other well-known simulator at Langley—LLRV? Does it still stand? Are there any parts of it preserved? Does possibly the landing vehicle possibly still exist?

5.What of the MOL space station? I know of the one MOL Gemini on display at Wright Patterson. Are there any other similar never flown craft? What of the MOL itself? Was any real hardware, or possibly a mockup, ever built?

6.What of the Gemini 2 capsule that was launched as an unmanned prelude to Gemini 3? Now on display at the AFB museum near KSC, why did it have the MOL entrance hatch? Was the hatch tested in flight? Are there any data or pictures of such a test?

7. What of the mysterious bunker imbedded deep within the concrete of the Saturn launch pads? It is absent from “Moon port” the official history and description of the launch complexes. I briefly saw it mentioned in a video documentary, but have never been able to find pictures or schematics of it. Do any exist?

8.What of the interesting color schematics that is visible on a few pictures of Skylab era command modules? One picture in particular shows an all white Command Module with strips of white on the service module? Why was this variation used?