How Were the Rockets Held Up During Gemini and Apollo?

How exactly were the rockets held in place when they were on their
launch pads during the Gemini and Apollo missions? They simply didn't sit
on their engines. How did the launch pad hold up so much weight?

Also, when the rocket engines were ignited, did the launch pads hold the
rockets down for a few seconds to build up a certain amount of energy before
the pad released it?

I just got done watching the DVD set Project Gemini - A Bold Leap
Forward. A three DVD set produced by Spacecraft Films. I picked it up at
my local Sams Club for only $15.00 A great price considering all the
footage that's contained in the set. It has every launch from the Gemini
missions.

I thought it was pretty cool how they point the rocket up in a cradle.
But I'm wondering how they hold it up after it's sitting up and at what
point they release it after the engines have ignited?

Thanks!

There are clamps that hold onto the rocket, same goes for the shuttle too.
And if you watch the films, you'll note that the engines are started at
about t-5 seconds, that way, by the t-0 point their thrust has built up to
full and the clamps release the birds for flight

Now, there was ONE rocket ( un-manned very very eraly in history ) that DID
sit on it's own fins for blast off. Can you name it?

"Von Fourche" wrote in message
ink.net...


How exactly were the rockets held in place when they were on their
launch pads during the Gemini and Apollo missions? They simply didn't
sit
on their engines. How did the launch pad hold up so much weight?

Also, when the rocket engines were ignited, did the launch pads hold
the
rockets down for a few seconds to build up a certain amount of energy
before
the pad released it?

I just got done watching the DVD set Project Gemini - A Bold Leap
Forward. A three DVD set produced by Spacecraft Films. I picked it up at
my local Sams Club for only $15.00 A great price considering all the
footage that's contained in the set. It has every launch from the Gemini
missions.

I thought it was pretty cool how they point the rocket up in a cradle.
But I'm wondering how they hold it up after it's sitting up and at what
point they release it after the engines have ignited?

Thanks!

"Starlord" wrote in message
...
There are clamps that hold onto the rocket, same goes for the shuttle too.
And if you watch the films, you'll note that the engines are started at
about t-5 seconds, that way, by the t-0 point their thrust has built up to
full and the clamps release the birds for flight

Now, there was ONE rocket ( un-manned very very eraly in history ) that
DID
sit on it's own fins for blast off. Can you name it?


Nope, I have no idea.

"Starlord" wrote in message
...

Now, there was ONE rocket ( un-manned very very eraly in history ) that
DID sit on it's own fins for blast off. Can you name it?

That would be the Estes rocket that I was launching with some friends when I
was a kid. We didn't have the official launch pad and rod handy, so we just
put it on a board. Then, because we didn't have the electronic ignition
system, we put a firecracker fuse in it. The act of lighting it with a
match caused the rocket to tip over. It then shot around the back yard in
circles, a land-rocket, seemingly chasing us.

Great fun. Kids, don't try this at home.

Algomeysa2 wrote:
"Starlord" wrote in message
...

Now, there was ONE rocket ( un-manned very very eraly in history )
that
DID sit on it's own fins for blast off. Can you name it?

That would be the Estes rocket that I was launching with some friends
when I
was a kid. We didn't have the official launch pad and rod handy, so
we just
put it on a board. Then, because we didn't have the electronic
ignition
system, we put a firecracker fuse in it. The act of lighting it
with a
match caused the rocket to tip over. It then shot around the back
yard in
circles, a land-rocket, seemingly chasing us.

Great fun. Kids, don't try this at home.


We also launched an Estes rocket in our back yard back in the 60's. It
was a 2-stage model and we did have the launch pad and rod stabilizer,
but yes it did sit on its fins.

The launch was scheduled for February, but weather conditions delayed
the launch for nearly a month. Finally, the skies cleared, and after
an appropriate count down, the launch button was pushed!

Nothing happened.

After reassessing the situation, the range safety officer (my dad) gave
the go ahead for a manual ignition (with a match).

The blast of was successful, carrying the rocket high into the air! We
had separation, but the second stage failed to ignite! Its trajectory
carried it over our house and down the hill into a wooded area on the
other side. A diligent search effort led to the recovery of the
vehicle.

A re-launch of the second stage was schedule soon thereafter. On this
second mission, the one staged vehicle shot up about as high into the
sky as the eye could see. The parachute deployed and the vehicle
slowly descended into a nearby forested area.

Although the recovery effort was intense, this time the vehicle could
not be found. Perhaps its parachute caught on a tree branch and held
it where it could not be spotted.

Further missions were scrubbed when a legal problem developed over
shipping of the rocket parts into our state. Apparently our state
legislators did not believe in the advancement of science!

Double-A

While just about ALL the Model Rocket companys have made a flying verson of
the rocket, AND there have been non-flying display models of it too, there
was an early Rocket that was used during WWII that could stand on it's own
fins for launching.

I'm surprised no one answered it ... The German V2 ... Now go hang your
heads in shame.

www.starlords.org


"Double-A" wrote in message
oups.com...

We also launched an Estes rocket in our back yard back in the 60's. It
was a 2-stage model and we did have the launch pad and rod stabilizer,
but yes it did sit on its fins.

"Starlord" wrote in message
...
While just about ALL the Model Rocket companys have made a flying verson
of the rocket, AND there have been non-flying display models of it too,
there was an early Rocket that was used during WWII that could stand on
it's own fins for launching.

I'm surprised no one answered it ... The German V2 ... Now go hang your
heads in shame.

Hey - I got it right !

Starlord wrote:
While just about ALL the Model Rocket companys have made a flying
verson of
the rocket, AND there have been non-flying display models of it too,
there
was an early Rocket that was used during WWII that could stand on
it's own
fins for launching.

I'm surprised no one answered it ... The German V2 ... Now go hang
your
heads in shame.

www.starlords.org


"Double-A" wrote in message
oups.com...

We also launched an Estes rocket in our back yard back in the 60's.
It
was a 2-stage model and we did have the launch pad and rod
stabilizer,
but yes it did sit on its fins.



By the way, the laws on model rocketry in our area have become more
enlightened since those days. While the 4th of July varieties are
still illegal, model rockets can now be bought right off the shelf in
the hobby sections of popular stores.

Double-A

"Starlord" wrote in message
...
There are clamps that hold onto the rocket, same goes for the shuttle too.
And if you watch the films, you'll note that the engines are started at
about t-5 seconds, that way, by the t-0 point their thrust has built up to
full and the clamps release the birds for flight

Now, there was ONE rocket ( un-manned very very eraly in history ) that
DID sit on it's own fins for blast off. Can you name it?

V-2 ?

BINGO

www.starlords.org


"adm" wrote in message
...

"Starlord" wrote in message
...
There are clamps that hold onto the rocket, same goes for the shuttle
too. And if you watch the films, you'll note that the engines are started
at about t-5 seconds, that way, by the t-0 point their thrust has built
up to full and the clamps release the birds for flight

Now, there was ONE rocket ( un-manned very very eraly in history ) that
DID sit on it's own fins for blast off. Can you name it?

V-2 ?