Post your Experiences on APOLLO.Family,Past Descendants.Please.

mikeesik · 07-20-2013, 10:26 PM

Hello.
I so wish to hear from people that had Family or have known friends that have worked on Apollo.
What a better time to voice your memories. The Anniversary of the Moon Landing.
Perhaps I am being selfish but I dont know what other venue to go to.
This is my thought, because many here have known Astronauts.
Please.

mikeesik · 11:20 PM

So all are deceased?
Wait!!!!!!! Theres this Astronaut that has been screwed over by his ex wife........................

rouxroux · 07-20-2013, 11:56 PM

Mike, I moved to Huntsville in '59 and probably met/lived next to all of "the team" throughout all of the Mercury/Gemini/Apollo missions. Did not meet many of the astronauts, but living in the middle of it all was surreal for me. The TV/radio stations would even warn you days in advance on the Saturn rocket tests so you could put breakables in a safe place in your house. (Yes, between that and the blasting from the limestone quarry on the mountain by our house, there was quite a bit of rumbling those days).

My Father was the station manager for Capital airlines (merged into United in '61). I'd go to the airport with him every Saturday, and while he did paperwork I would meet with many of "the team" who'd be flying from HSV to DC every weekend.

rouxroux · 07-21-2013, 12:04 AM

CAR CONTENT: Dr Von Braun in front of HQ (Redstone Arsenal) in Huntsville 1960 (Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA) was built on land at the Arsenal)

mikeesik · 07-21-2013, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rouxroux

Mike, I moved to Huntsville in '59 and probably met/lived next to all of "the team" throughout all of the Mercury/Gemini/Apollo missions. Did not meet many of the astronauts, but living in the middle of it all was surreal for me. The TV/radio stations would even warn you days in advance on the Saturn rocket tests so you could put breakables in a safe place in your house. (Yes, between that and the blasting from the limestone quarry on the mountain by our house, there was quite a bit of rumbling those days).

My Father was the station manager for Capital airlines (merged into United in '61). I'd go to the airport with him every Saturday, and while he did paperwork I would meet with many of "the team" who'd be flying from HSV to DC every weekend.

Wow!!!
Almost all my life I have been reading continuously about APOLLO-GEMINI and MERCURY.
I am nobody but have read and read and read. I have NEVER read about the warnings from radio stations warning the populace about Rocket tests and putting breakables in a safe place!
EVER!
This should be documented.
Thanks for that...

rouxroux · 07-21-2013, 12:23 AM

Mike, if you wish, I can send you pictures of the static test stands, from the old "oil derrick" stand they used on the Redstones (Mercury) up to the static stands for the Saturn V and Space Shuttle. Dr. Von Braun taught this young boy how to fold a Rogallo wing from a sheet of notebook paper. Also have pics of the Guppy and Supper Guppy aircraft bringing in rocket components and also they'd load boosters on barges on the Tennessee River for transport. The entire city grew exponentially in the late 50's-early 60's with the influx of NASA. Anything you want pics of, I've probably got.

mikeesik · 07-21-2013, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rouxroux

Mike, if you wish, I can send you pictures of the static test stands, from the old "oil derrick" stand they used on the Redstones (Mercury) up to the static stands for the Saturn V and Space Shuttle. Dr. Von Braun taught this young boy how to fold a Rogallo wing from a sheet of notebook paper. Also have pics of the Guppy and Supper Guppy aircraft bringing in rocket components and also they'd load boosters on barges on the Tennessee River for transport. The entire city grew exponentially in the late 50's-early 60's with the influx of NASA. Anything you want pics of, I've probably got.

I would be so indebted to you if you would.
Speechless but so so grateful.

mikeesik · 07-21-2013, 12:49 AM

Hello.
You wrote that V.B taught this young boy how to fold a Regallo wing from...
How do you mean that? "this young boy"

rouxroux · 07-21-2013, 01:07 AM

Here's a few to get you started. First is the Redstone test site where the Jupiter-C (Explorer)and Redstone rockets (Alan Shepard-Mercury)were test fired. Then a pic of the S-1C test stand with the dynamic test stand in the background (the dynamic stand was the place that the shuttle system of orbiter, fuel tank and solid rocket boosters were assembled and tested), and finally a pic of Von Braun, Kennedy and Johnson.

I really don't want to hijack your thread with all these photos, just let me know what else you want to know and I'll be glad to PM you all you want.

rouxroux · 07-21-2013, 01:10 AM

Mike, what I meant was that he taught me how to fold a Rogallo wing from paper (and threw Frisbee with me as well). My Dad had a room in their operations center where most of the NASA guys would wait for their flights instead of out in the lobby, and being all of 5 years old I'd bring them coffee while they waited.

mikeesik · 07-21-2013, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rouxroux

Mike, what I meant was that he taught me how to fold a Rogallo wing from paper (and threw Frisbee with me as well). My Dad had a room in their operations center where most of the NASA guys would wait for their flights instead of out in the lobby, and being all of 5 years old I'd bring them coffee while they waited.

What!!?

rouxroux · 01:47 AM

Yes, it was a wonderful era. Dr Von Braun was also a great supporter of the arts, saw him at many concert events. I was in one of the first groups to play in the civic/concert center that bears his name. I was playing in the University Of Alabama Wind Ensemble and we had Dr. William Revelli come in to direct a concert at the VBCC right after it opened. Von Braun was also known to pick a mean banjo and sing as well at parties at his house on Monte Sano mountain. If you ever get a chance to go to Huntsville, by all means visit the Alabama Space & Rocket Center, the best space museum on Earth, and take a bus tour (if they are still doing that) out to Redstone Arsenal/Marshall Space Flight Center.

EDIT...and speaking of the static tests, yes, the entire valley felt like a mild earthquake with 7.5 million pounds of thrust rumbling. I remember news reports that the tests could be heard as far away as Birmingham and close to Nashville (both about 100 miles away). At school, we'd all go outside during the tests, then usually on the same days practice our "duck & cover" drills.

mikeesik · 07-21-2013, 01:45 AM

Hello.
I do not mean any disrespect in any way.
Please tell me your being honest.
YOU KNEW WERNER VONBRAUN?

rouxroux · 01:57 AM

Yes sir, as well as most of his team. We were not on a "first name basis", but I talked with him many times when I was young. Like I said, at that time in Huntsville, most of your neighbors WERE rocket scientists. When we moved to HSV in '59 we had to live in a Holiday Inn by the old airport while our house was being built. Many folks had to do that as there were NO houses available. The town grew so fast that it did not "catch up with the boom" until the mid-60's. I lived there until 1975

mikeesik · 07-21-2013, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rouxroux

Yes sir, as well as most of his team. We were not on a "first name basis", but I talked with him many times when I was young. Like I said, at that time in Huntsville, most of your neighbors WERE rocket scientists. When we moved to HSV in '59 we had to live in a Holiday Inn by the old airport while our house was being built. Many folks had to do that as there were NO houses available. The town grew so fast that it did not "catch up with the boom" until the mid-60's

I am so stunned at this moment that I will ask another question.
Did you ever meet Ehricke Kraft?

rouxroux · 07-21-2013, 02:08 AM

No, but I remember Rees, Heimburg, Grau, Geissler, Heuter, Lang and others. Ehricke was not at MSFC too long, never met him.

mikeesik · 07-21-2013, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rouxroux

No, but I remember Rees, Heimburg, Grau, Geissler, Heuter, Lang and others. Ehricke was not at MSFC too long, never met him.

Today I wrote to an Apostle.
Have you ever thougt of writing your memoirs down?

mikeesik · 07-21-2013, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rouxroux

No, but I remember Rees, Heimburg, Grau, Geissler, Heuter, Lang and others. Ehricke was not at MSFC too long, never met him.

Today I wrote to an Apostle.
Have you ever thougt of writing your memoirs down?

rouxroux · 07-21-2013, 02:24 AM

Mike, all I can really say is that it was a proud time, a magical time & place, watching that entire valley grow as the aerospace industry grew from its infancy. I can remember the road leading to the "old airport". There were two main "signs of the times" within 100 yards of each other: A Hermes rocket on static display (think modified V2) and a huge concrete building that was painted solid white with huge red & blue CD Civil Defense signs painted on all sides (a fallout shelter). I was a strange feeling seeing both of those together. We did not realize what was truly happening in our little sleepy town and what it would become. Yes, I feel blessed to have grown up then & there.

mikeesik · 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rouxroux

Mike, all I can really say is that it was a proud time, a magical time & place, watching that entire valley grow as the aerospace industry grew from its infancy. I can remember the road leading to the "old airport". There were two main "signs of the times" within 100 yards of each other: A Hermes rocket on static display (think modified V2) and a huge concrete building that was painted solid white with huge red & blue CD Civil Defense signs painted on all sides (a fallout shelter). I was a strange feeling seeing both of those together. We did not realize what was truly happening in our little sleepy town and what it would become. Yes, I feel blessed to have grown up then & there.

But have you wanted to share your experiences?
There are no good reads out there.
There is an audience there that would want to know what you experienced from your young perspective.
My God, whom you have seen, met and known!!