Apollo 7 added to my list!

Okay, it might not mean anything to many of you, but I got the
opportunity to visit Apollo 7 CM on display at Canada's National Museum
of Science and Transportation, in Ottawa, Ontario, this week. The
capsule is prominently displayed in the space exhibits area, protected
by a plexiglass and wood shield. The capsule is not covered with a cone
of plexiglass, as some of the capsules are, but the hatch is sealed with
plexiglass. Inside are mannikins of Schirra, Eisele, and Cunningham
(Eisele may be real*) in what appear to be training suits. The abort
and manuevering controls appear to be wooden mockups. It is easy to see
the lack of docking hatch, and the Commander's window is bubbled from
re-entry heat. The other interesting note was no lettering or US flag
on this capsule.
The capsule is clean, meaning free of dust and particulates. Obviously
the visitors appreciate the artifact.

Incidently, the musuem is first-class in many respects. Their Hall of
Steam Locomotives should be the envy of every technology museum in the
world.

(*sorry)

To date I've gotten to see and photograph:

All flown manned Mercury Capsules and three unmanned.
Gemini's 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12.
Apollo's 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, 17
Skylab's 3 and 4.

Anyone seen Gemini 10?
Apollo 1 should be appropriately displayed as well (my opinion).

RDG wrote:
Okay, it might not mean anything to many of you, but I got the
opportunity to visit Apollo 7 CM on display at Canada's National
Museum of Science and Transportation, in Ottawa, Ontario, this week.
The capsule is prominently displayed in the space exhibits area,
protected by a plexiglass and wood shield. The capsule is not
covered with a cone of plexiglass, as some of the capsules are, but
the hatch is sealed with plexiglass. Inside are mannikins of
Schirra, Eisele, and Cunningham (Eisele may be real*)

Oh, you bad person!

in what appear
to be training suits. The abort and manuevering controls appear to
be wooden mockups. It is easy to see the lack of docking hatch

Not quite sure what you mean by this. Apollo 7 and 8 were never intended to
dock with anything, so presumably didn't carry the docking probe, but surely
they would still have the forward hatch even if it was never used? The
alternative would be an unnecessary design change.
--
Gordon Davie
Edinburgh, Scotland

"Slipped the surly bonds of Earth...to touch the face of God"

in what appear
to be training suits. The abort and manuevering controls appear to
be wooden mockups. It is easy to see the lack of docking hatch

Not quite sure what you mean by this. Apollo 7 and 8 were never intended to
dock with anything, so presumably didn't carry the docking probe, but surely
they would still have the forward hatch even if it was never used? The
alternative would be an unnecessary design change.

I thought all Block II CSM's were equipped for docking. This was the major
difference between the Block I and Block II. Even prior to the redesigns made
after the Apollo 1 fire, NASA knew that the CSM would have to be upgraded with
docking equipment and why only one Block I mission was planned at the time of
the fire. So, Apollo 7 probably carried the proper equipment for docking.

Besides, Apollo 8's mission profile changed so late in the game I am certain it
at least was equipped for docking. Remember, it was originally going to fly the
first mission with the LEM.

I just think some museums have removed the docking hatches...I seem to remember
at the KSC the unflown CSM at the Saturn V display there has no docking hatch.

-A.L.

In article ,
says...
in what appear
to be training suits. The abort and manuevering controls appear to
be wooden mockups. It is easy to see the lack of docking hatch

Not quite sure what you mean by this. Apollo 7 and 8 were never intended to
dock with anything, so presumably didn't carry the docking probe, but surely
they would still have the forward hatch even if it was never used? The
alternative would be an unnecessary design change.

I thought all Block II CSM's were equipped for docking. This was the major
difference between the Block I and Block II. Even prior to the redesigns made
after the Apollo 1 fire, NASA knew that the CSM would have to be upgraded with
docking equipment and why only one Block I mission was planned at the time of
the fire. So, Apollo 7 probably carried the proper equipment for docking.

Besides, Apollo 8's mission profile changed so late in the game I am certain it
at least was equipped for docking. Remember, it was originally going to fly the
first mission with the LEM.

I just think some museums have removed the docking hatches...I seem to remember
at the KSC the unflown CSM at the Saturn V display there has no docking hatch.

Yes, *all* Block II CMs were equipped with a docking tunnel. I believe
that Apollos 7 and 8 flew without the probes, since they were not needed.

Even the Block I CM had a hatch in the apex, though. So did the Mercury
capsule. It was there to allow crew exit on the water in rough seas,
where opening the side hatch might swamp the spacecraft.

--

Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for | Doug Van Dorn
thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup |