The Flickr Fdai Image Generatr

“Artist’s drawing showing one of the medical experiments to be conducted by Gemini astronauts.”

Above per the press slug associated with another print of this image.
If so, it looks to be some sort of vestibular/spatial orientation test…note the graduated markings on the “faceplate” worn. Additionally, the astronaut on the left appears to be holding an artificial horizon indicator thingy.

By John Gorsuch…I love it.

Rare photograph of an early Command Module ‘chop shop’, with two of the clean-cut thugs, posing as Honeywell Manufacturing engineers, preparing to fence the stripped components, which include both a Translation Hand Controller & Rotation Hand Controller, a Stabilization and Control System (SCS) panel, an Attitude Set & Gimbal Display panel & Velocity Change Indicator panel. Even a coveted Flight Director/Atitude Indicator (FDAI), with a street value of least $275. Fortunately, these were all Block I Command Module components, only to become obsolete and of no value within several years. What looks to be the installed Translation Hand Controller is visible through the side window, equipped with its jail cell door observation window sliding panel.
Note also the chart recorder/plotter, which looks to be placed/positioned atop some sort of shelving or similar structure in the background. Also, the elevated floodlights, angled downward & possibly attached to scaffolding. Interesting.

“RONALD CHISENHALL”. Really? Obviously, the perps got a little carried away with the alias. I suppose to not be too plain/dull/vanilla, like say Jones, Smith, Carpenter, etc.

Or, I suppose it could conceivably be associated with the following, from the February 6, 1964 entry of “The Apollo Spacecraft - A Chronology”/NASA SP-4009. In fact, it explains the components prominently “on display” in the photograph:

“Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company reported it had developed an all-attitude display unit for the CM to monitor the guidance and navigation system and provide backup through the stabilization and control system. The Flight Director Attitude Indicator (or "eight-ball") would give enough information for all spacecraft attitude maneuvers during the entire mission to be executed manually, if necessary.
Honeywell News Release, "All-Attitude Display Produced By Honeywell For Apollo Spacecraft," February 6, 1964; Space Business Daily, February 24, 1964, p. 290.”

At:

www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4009/v2p2c.htm


Finally, as I’m sure at least one of you is wondering, what is this Command Module designated as? A ‘boilerplate’ I think.

Apollo 8, the first manned mission to the Moon, entered lunar orbit on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1968. That evening, the astronauts did a live television broadcast from lunar orbit, in which they showed pictures of the Earth and Moon seen from Apollo 8. They ended the broadcast with the crew taking turns reading from the book of Genesis.

Please visit:
www.vsual.co/shop/space-exploration-gen-z
www.redbubble.com/people/Astro3antica/shop?asc=u&ref=...

“This drawing, looking over the shoulder of command pilot Walter Schirra, shows approach of the Apollo 7 module and its third stage booster in rendezvous exercise. Sighting device is lighted reticle projected on window by instrument above.”

The 'instrument' is the Crewman Optical Alignment Sight (COAS). Interestingly, very little is available, both in images & text, pertaining to the one used within the Command Module. Understandably, the analogous COAS used inside the Lunar Module is by far more 'popular'.

history.nasa.gov/afj/ap13fj/pics/coas-diagram.jpg
Credit: Apollo Flight Journal website

Despite being really into Apollo photos, I'm not all that familiar with the CM's instrument panel(s), however; the depiction appears to be pseudo-accurate, albeit greatly simplified.

7.75" x 9.375".

Fortunately, yet another unique, creative & unexpected Arasmith find.

A full life:

www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/westminster-ca/russell...
Credit: Dignity Memorial website

Thank You Sir, Continue to Rest In Peace.

“Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, in this artist’s drawing, stand up while flying the lunar module toward the landing site.”

Although used for a July 20, 1969 edition of a newspaper in this instance, the concept art/photo is actually from 1964, as confirmed by the dated signature of Craig Kavafes. Also, interesting (to me), is the conservative block lettering & inclusion of first name by Mr. Kavafes.
Finally, multiple visual clues, ranging from the space suits worn to the Lunar Excursion Module’s instrumentation, also date the photo as being an earlier work.

Although rough around the edges, literally and figuratively, the image itself is still bright, crisp & vibrant.

See also:

up-ship.com/blog/?p=11971
Credit: “The Unwanted Blog” website (which has a bunch of good stuff btw)

Interesting:

www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4205/ch6-3.html

Excellent:

dodlithr.blogspot.com/2016/12/lm-descent-to-moon-part-6-p...
Credit: "EXO CRUISER" website

Artist’s concept of two Apollo Astronauts navigating the Lunar (Excursion) Module above the lunar surface, probably/possibly prior to landing.
Despite the multiple ‘1968’ datings on both the obverse (incorporated into the image) and verso, I doubt it. It’s more likely a reissue of an original ca. 1964/65 depiction.
By 1968, the interior of the LM was finalized, as were the pressure suits/helmets, etc. of the Astronauts, none of which are ‘accurately’ depicted here.

The most important thing to figure out here is who was the artist...having the initials of M.A.H. Seems like I should have an inkling, but I don’t. The names of these unheralded, unknown & forgotten folks are all running together in my head. Ugh.

Also, interesting:

www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4205/ch6-3.html

Post-flight documentation photo of the interior of the Gemini 5 capsule.
Amongst the other cool things going on here, to include multiple hand-written reminders by Cooper & Gordon, note particularly "WHEN THESE ARE ON, ASSUME THEY ARE GREEN", immediately above the ringed checklist, stowed in the right pedestal pouch, at the bottom of the photo.

Check this out...apparently...only on spacecraft 5, were there two fuel cell delta (change in) pressure indicator lamps installed on the right instrument panel. They'd turn red in the event of a malfunction of some sort.
My read: Their "one off" location/placement and (I guess), lack of green(?)/any(?) illumination indicates conditions/status are nominal/within tolerance. Hence and understandably meriting a memory aid/reminder by the crew. Being under "monitor and display", as it pertains to re-entry, obviously pretty important.

Extract pertaining to the above:

"...An out of tolerance delta pressure indication is also provided by the fuel cell delta pressure (FCAP) telelights on the center instrument panel. The lights are illuminated red when a malfunction exists. On spacecraft 5 only, two FCAP indicator lamps on the right instrument panel are illuminated red when a malfunction exists..."

At: en.wikisource.org/wiki/NASA_Project_Gemini_Familiarizatio...
Credit: "NASA Project Gemini Familiarization Manual" at Wikisource

Further to the right, hand-annotated under the Flight Director/Atitude Indicator, aka the "Eight Ball", is "GMTLO 13+59." (and whatever else further to the right, off the photo)". Greenwich Mean Time Liftoff, which was indeed 1359.
It's this kind of human-produced minutia - only when associated with (preferably manned) space exploration (of yore) of course - is cool as sh!t!!!

I miss it.

“LONE SPACE COWBOY

LONE ASTRONAUT -- Dick Gordon, Apollo 12 spacecraft command module pilot, maneuvers craft into position for rendezvous and docking with lunar module returning from moon in this drawing by North American Rockwell’s Space Division. Gordon orbits moon alone Tuesday through Thursday in command module while Astronauts Pete Conrad and Alan Bean explore lunar surface. Apollo spacecraft command and service modules for the Apollo 12 mission were produced for NASA by North American Rockwell’s Space Division.”

The caption per the NASA issuance of the photo:

“In this artist concept, Apollo 12 astronaut Richard F. Gordon maneuvers the command module into position for rendezvous and docking with the lunar module returning from the Moon's surface. Astronauts Charles Conrad, Jr., and Alan L. Bean will transfer from the lunar module into the command module for the return trip to Earth, Apollo 12 will be the Nation's second manned lunar landing mission.”

I've always found this image odd, no matter where I've seen it, in that it's always been identified as being Richard Gordon. I understand mission attribution in artist's concepts, and Neil Armstrong for obvious reasons...but specifically, of an individual Astronaut, rarely, especially in the course of performing a nominal, routine, expected, previously conducted task, like maneuvering the CSM. I like it, but I don’t get it...there had to be some other angle to it. I really don't think it was originally intended to be him...that's the face of a generic 1969 ‘action figure’ Astronaut. ;-)

Apollo 11 LMP Buzz Aldrin photographed by Mission Commander Neil Armstrong during initial inspection of the LM.

Per usual, the unbeatable content from the ALSJ (paraphrased):

Neil took this picture of Buzz during their initial inspection of the LM. Aldrin is wearing his intravehicular suit, a specially made set of garments designed to be as flame retardant as the rest of the ship, and made from the same fabric as the outer layer of the spacesuits". Note that Buzz's watch reads 5:35 (Houston time), which is 57:03 GET (Ground Elapsed Time).

Very nicely assembled panorama:

www.popsci.com/g00/3_c-7x78x78x78.qpqtdj.dpn_/c-7NPSFQIFV...
Credit: popsci.com

Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., Apollo 11 Lunar Module Pilot, is seen in this color reproduction, taken from the third television transmission, from the Apollo 11 spacecraft during its trans-lunar journey toward the moon. Aldrin is inside the Lunar Module (LM). In the background are some of the LM's controls and displays. A LM window is on the right. The LM was still docked with the Command/Service Module (CSM). Apollo 11 was approximately 176,000 nautical miles from Earth, and traveling at a speed of about 3,200 feet per second when this photograph was taken. Also, in the LM with Aldrin was astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, Apollo 11 commander. Astronaut Michael Collins, command module pilot, remained in the Command Module (CM).

images-assets.nasa.gov/image/S69-39532/S69-39532~orig.jpg

GAEC documentation photo of LM-5’s main instrument panel (actually, panels 1, 2, 3 & 4 I believe), roughly two months prior to delivery to KSC.
Can you find the blue (dark gray in this case) "LUNAR CONTACT" indicator lights?
If not, this should help:

www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/apollo/images/print/AS11/36/53....

There’s something about the Apollo Block I artifacts that I find appealing.

I like the embedded stories in prototype efforts and figure they are a rare window into a pivotal point of history.

These are the Command Module designs used on Apollo 1, which ended in a tragic pad fire (from faulty wiring and excessive velcro in a pure oxygen environment), and were released as a Block II redesign was used on future missions. I was born a month later.

From left to right, you see:
• Propellant Utilization Subpanel MDC-20
• Electric power panel MDC-18, which managed the fuel cells and the 28 Volt DC and 120 Volt AC load centers, and the
• FDAI “8 Ball” on the right

And a couple X-15 rocket plane artifacts lurk in the background:
• A 1/32 scale composite model of an X-15, signed on the wings by pilots Bob White and Joe Engle
• The flown windshield from what is still the fastest plane flight on Earth, the X-15A-2 which hit Mach 6.7

I have been back in the office this week, and there are still about 7000 Africa photos I have not seen yet. But meanwhile, there are a bunch of new space artifacts to distract me… =)

I have been looking for this for a while to fill out the command module instrument panel.

Heritage Description:
“Apollo Early Block I Training-Used Command Module Flight Director Attitude Indicator (FDAI).

This FDAI or "8 Ball" was used to define the relative position of the spacecraft in three-dimensional space. Originally designed to be three different panel instruments, the astronauts, many of whom were pilots, lobbied for an all-in-one device similar to the "artificial horizon" indicator in airplanes.

The metal tag on the side indicates that this was "MFG BY HONEYWELL FOR NAA /S & ID". (This was the Space and Information Systems Division of North American Aviation.) The manufacturer part number is shown as "DJG204E3" and the manufacture date as "Jul 23, 1964". Printed on the same side is the text: "Caution For Training Use Only". A handwritten pencil note reads: "Pitch Out - 6-22-69? LQS". Two red inspector stamps and the number "C29-2A52" are present.”

Built in 1964, the Apollo 1 astronauts may have trained with this FDAI before the tragic pad fire.

Update: just learned that the Space1 fellow below was the consigner of this artifact. "about that FDAI: Based on its markings, it must have been used in training. I had acquired it from an auction of Charlie Bell's estate on April 29, 2000. (Charlie Bell was a NASA engineer at KSC.) Charlie Bell had lots of varied items, literally acres of test equipment, tools, ground support equipment, launch vehicle components (including a damaged Atlas missile on its carrier, several H-1 and J-2 engines), and many mostly unsorted Apollo artifacts, including some flown items. He got all of his stuff from NASA sales."