"John Maxson" wrote in message
...
Here's a current (modern day) application of an electrical load simulator:

http://www.fctec.com/fctec_systemCAPdetails.asp?ID=29

Maybe some of the electrical engineering experts in the group will be kind
enough to compare this application with (or relate it to) the Apollo One
situation, as described by LaDonna's Plugs-Out timeline for the launch-pad
fire which occurred during the simulated RCS static fire test, killing Gus
Grissom, Roger Chaffee, and Ed White.

John Maxson

LaDonna,

I checked out the two electrical engineering forums in the 'sci' heirarchy.
The most active one (sci.engr.electrical.compliance) has a problem like that
of sci.space.history. It's 98% porn! However, straightforward web research
continues to indicate that Scott's scenario could well be close to the mark.

I strongly suspect that (Apollo 1) load simulators were being used to
control the magnitude of the electrical load on CM and SM internal power
sources for the Plugs-Out Test (batteries, in this case). In addition to
Scott's scenario, I don't think it's too much of a stretch to suspect that
NASA and/or North American didn't do a very good job of controlling said
magnitude on the day of the fire. That could account for some of the
anomalies recorded prior to the fire (possibly a smokescreen for the fatal
short). That's just an educated guess (without a copy of the final test
plan and the final test configuration/procedures to be implemented that
day).

I hope this is of some limited help to the Grissom cause.

John Maxson