Apollo 13 & duct tape

wrote in message
om...
| But who was the unsung hero who thought of putting a role
| of duct-tape onboard, and how did they justify it?

Dunno who it was, but they deserve a special padded aisle seat in heaven.

I can't imagine that it was too hard a decision though. Throughout the
missions there were several small incidental problems of the form, "Attach X
to Y." Tape seems like a good idea.

| Was this the real 3M brand?

Maybe for Apollo. But for the shuttle flights they carry Shurtape cloth
tape, which has been certified for flammability. (Or rather, the lack
thereof.) This is the same tape used in the entertainment industry, known
as "gaffer tape". It's actually far superior to duct tape for the same
ulterior purposes as duct tape is used for.

--
|
The universe is not required to conform | Jay Windley
to the expectations of the ignorant. | webmaster @ clavius.org

On Wed, 10 Sep 2003 21:13:12 -0600, "Jay Windley"
wrote:

| But who was the unsung hero who thought of putting a role
| of duct-tape onboard, and how did they justify it?

Dunno who it was, but they deserve a special padded aisle seat in heaven.

Tape can always be handy. I was surprised that they didn't have any
blank paper.

In article ,
says...

wrote in message
om...
| But who was the unsung hero who thought of putting a role
| of duct-tape onboard, and how did they justify it?

Dunno who it was, but they deserve a special padded aisle seat in heaven.

I can't imagine that it was too hard a decision though. Throughout the
missions there were several small incidental problems of the form, "Attach X
to Y." Tape seems like a good idea.

I think it was just common sense on someone's part, which brings me to
wonder whether it might possibly have been Bill Tindall's idea. That man
took on the responsibility of being NASA's collective common sense.
Thank God someone did.

| Was this the real 3M brand?

Maybe for Apollo. But for the shuttle flights they carry Shurtape cloth
tape, which has been certified for flammability. (Or rather, the lack
thereof.) This is the same tape used in the entertainment industry, known
as "gaffer tape". It's actually far superior to duct tape for the same
ulterior purposes as duct tape is used for.

I know that during Apollo it was never referred to during the missions as
duct tape. It was always called "the gray tape."

The gray tape was especially useful on the lunar surface, even though it
wasn't all that effective (because the dust would coat the adhesive and
kill the tape's stickiness). But it saved the day on a number of
occasions -- for example, while it didn't work to tape the broken fender
back onto the Rover on Apollo 17, it *did* work to tape four stiff cards
together (in the relatively dust-free LM cabin, where the tape worked
better) and clamp them onto the Rover to serve as a fender. Without the
tape, Apollo 17's Rover might have just died early from excessive
dusting.

--

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

On 10 Sep 2003 19:51:33 -0700, wrote:

And don't bother looking for those earlier posts, as my long time
Internet experience says that it is better to remain as anonymous as
possible.

"He who feareth the wrath of the Maxson scum shall forever dwell in
ignorance under a rock with his head also buried under the sands ot
time..."

From The Book of OM 3:14159


OM

--

"No ******* ever won a war by dying for | http://www.io.com/~o_m
his country. He won it by making the other | Sergeant-At-Arms
poor dumb ******* die for his country." | Human O-Ring Society

- General George S. Patton, Jr

"Doug..." wrote in message
...
|
| I know that during Apollo it was never referred to during the missions as
| duct tape. It was always called "the gray tape."

Yes, I remember that. Duct tape is hard to work with. Its adhesive is
extremely gummy and you need a cutting tool in order to cut it. Gaffer tape
is made from a much finer cloth, with a less "plasticky" coating. It's very
strong, but it can be torn. Its adhesive is strong, but does not leave much
residue unless left in place for too long.

The qualities that make it desirable to the entertainment industry also make
it desirable for space travel: strong, durable, easy to work with, and
non-flammable. And like everything else made for space (or Hollywood), it's
expensive: around $12 per roll.

--
|
The universe is not required to conform | Jay Windley
to the expectations of the ignorant. | webmaster @ clavius.org

| I know that during Apollo it was never referred to during the missions
as
| duct tape. It was always called "the gray tape."

[snip]

The qualities that make it desirable to the entertainment industry also
make
it desirable for space travel: strong, durable, easy to work with, and
non-flammable. And like everything else made for space (or Hollywood),
it's
expensive: around $12 per roll.

We use some duct-tape like tape at work that is green--everyone calls it
"200 mph" tape, and I have heard mention of same on NASCAR races--it this
the same stuff, or something completely different?


--
David Stribling
Remove the to reply

From Doug...

I know that during Apollo it was never referred to during the missions as
duct tape. It was always called "the gray tape."

The gray tape was especially useful on the lunar surface, even though it
wasn't all that effective (because the dust would coat the adhesive and
kill the tape's stickiness). But it saved the day on a number of
occasions -- for example, while it didn't work to tape the broken fender
back onto the Rover on Apollo 17, it *did* work to tape four stiff cards
together (in the relatively dust-free LM cabin, where the tape worked
better) and clamp them onto the Rover to serve as a fender. Without the
tape, Apollo 17's Rover might have just died early from excessive
dusting.

....or maybe NASA could have improved the design following the *first*
broken fender (on A16) so that 17 wouldn't have had to mess with this
problem.


~ CT

wrote in message
om...
Mass was a premium, so you don't just throw random things onboard
incase they might be handy (did they have a pair of Vice-Grips also?)

I have a stowage list for Gemini 12 handy (probably similar enough to Apollo
stowage items). The list includes:

Velcro - Hook, 2" x 6", quantity 4
Velcro - Pile, 2" x 6"
Velcro 8" x 1" back-to-back tape, quantity 7
Tape 1/2" x 10 feet, quantity 2
Rubber Bands, quantity 15
Screw Driver, quantity 1
#327 Light Bulbs, quantity 6

as well as a few plastic bags (in addition to the standard stowage pouches,
camera equipment, food, etc.). So everything was carefully allocated and
stowed.

--
John Fongheiser
President, Historic Space Systems
http://www.space1.com
Exhibits that Launch Imaginations (tm)

I can't recall why they had duct tape on Apollo, but on shuttle missions
they always have several rolls for use in experiments and such. But they
call it "Nasa grey tape" and beleive or not they have data on the holding
strength of the tape (so many psi in shear stress, etc.) as I found out when
the astronauts used some to hold down the lid on an experiment that I was
helping to run, and we had to do a quick analysis to figure out whether the
lid would stay closed during re-entry.
PS: I am a long time lurker too

wrote in message
om...
Long time lurker, seldom poster.

Me: Forgive me Father for I have sinned. It has been almost 3 years
since my last post.
Him/Her: You are forgiven, for in that time the sci.space groups were
full of the rantings of many net-kooks, conspiracy-kooks, kook-kooks,
people who just don't get it, and the replies of those who think they
can cure the kooks if only they could get them to rotate their tires.

And don't bother looking for those earlier posts, as my long time
Internet experience says that it is better to remain as anonymous as
possible. When you walk in the neighborhood of lovers, muggers and
thieves (Boston you're my home) (with apologies to Dirty Water) it is
best to keep your hat brim pulled low and your collar turned up.

Okay, now that I have tried to alienate many who frequent this group,
here is my question..

I just watched yet another documentary on Apollo 13, and came across
the movie several times while channel surfing. What comes to mind
each time I watch one of these is the deal with adapting the LM CO2
scrubbers to use the canisters from the CM. All of the items used
were "other things" that had a specific purpose on the spacecraft(s).
But who was the unsung hero who thought of putting a role of duct-tape
onboard, and how did they justify it?

Mass was a premium, so you don't just throw random things onboard
incase they might be handy (did they have a pair of Vice-Grips also?)
Was there a specific purpose for a given length of duct tape? If so,
what was it?
This stuff is sticky, and hard to handle at 1G and normal pressure.
If it had a specific purpose, did they practice with it on the
vomit-comet so as not to waste it?
Was this the real 3M brand? If so, why didn't Minnesota Mining and
Manufacturing take advantage of it in advertisements, much as Tang
did?

Wondering aloud,
tp

"Those are my principals, and if you don't like them, well, I have
others."

Groucho Marx

The term is actually "duck tape", it's made from cotton duck fabric with
a sticky adhesive.