Space Rocket History Archive
267 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 122 ratingsThe history of early space exploration.
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Episodes
Space Rocket History #257 – Apollo 12 – Return, Re-entry and Splashdown
April 27, 2024 19:41 - 37 minutes - 51.9 MBTen days ago, their Saturn V rocket had blasted Bean and his crew mates out of earth’s gravitational pull. Now their home planet was pulling them back at more than 24,000 miles per hour, twelve times faster than a high-speed rifle bullet. “Boy,” said Bean, “we are really hauling!” Homepage with pictures
Space Rocket History #256 – Apollo 12 – Leaving the Moon
April 27, 2024 17:53 - 33 minutes - 46.3 MBDick Gordon opened the tunnel to Intrepid, saw his companions floating in a dirty cloud of moon dust, and slammed the hatch closed. He called out, “You guys ain’t gonna mess up my nice clean spacecraft!” Homepage with pictures
Space Rocket History #255 – Apollo 12 – Lunar Liftoff
March 28, 2024 16:14 - 36 minutes - 49.6 MBAfter a total of 31.6 hours on the moon, the Lunar Module ascent stage fired for about 7 minutes placing Intrepid into an orbit of 10 miles by 54 miles. Homepage with pictures
Space Rocket History #254 – Apollo 12 – Moonwalk 2 – Part 5 – Blocky Crater & Closeout
March 28, 2024 15:59 - 34 minutes - 47.5 MBConrad and Bean now walked north, up Surveyor Crater’s 14 degree slope. Fatigue set in as Pete and Al walked up the crater wall. The hand tool carrier was nearly full of rocks now and Bean felt the full weight of it. Homepage with pictures
Space Rocket History #253 – Apollo 12 – Moonwalk 2 – Part 4 – Surveyor Crater & Surveyor 3
February 27, 2024 17:35 - 35 minutes - 48.7 MBSurveyor 3 was now to their right, 300 feet away, gleaming in the morning sunlight. Antennas and sensors still reached upward from its tubular frame, just as they had on April 20, 1967, when the spacecraft thumped onto the moon amid blasts from its braking rockets. Homepage with pictures.
Space Rocket History #252 – Apollo 12 – Moonwalk 2 – Part 3 – Rock ‘n’ Roll at Halo Crater
February 27, 2024 17:20 - 32 minutes - 29.8 MBThe problem with running into the sun was it was so bright that Conrad and Bean could not see the moon’s surface features until they were right on top of them. Homepage with Pictures
Space Rocket History #251 – Apollo 12 – Moonwalk 2 – Part 2 – Bench and Sharp Craters
January 26, 2024 17:58 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MBWhile Conrad led the way, Bean watched the ground for something interesting. It wasn’t easy to do field geology while running, and on the moon. Homepage with pictures
Space Rocket History #250 – Apollo 12 – Moonwalk 2 – Part 1 – Head Crater – Tang Ceremony
January 26, 2024 17:43 - 45 minutes - 41.3 MBPete and Al could not hear the excited shouts of the geologists in the back room down the hall from mission control, but they knew they had found something significant. Homepage with pictures
Space Rocket History #249 – Apollo 12 – Moonwalk 1 – Part 3
December 28, 2023 20:39 - 39 minutes - 36.3 MBMost of the remaining moon walk time was spent collecting rock samples, making surface observations such as the small mounds or hills, and taking pictures. Homepage with Pictures
Space Rocket History #248 – Apollo 12 – Moonwalk 1 – Part 2 – ALSEP
December 28, 2023 20:20 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBAccording to the checklist, Bean was allowed 5 minutes to gain his balance and learn to walk on the Moon. Bean was amazed at his new buoyancy saying, “You can jump up in the air…” But Conrad wanted to press on saying, “Hustle, boy, hustle! We’ve got a lot of work to do.” Homepage with Pictutures
Space Rocket History #247 – Apollo 12 – Moonwalk 1 – Part 1
November 27, 2023 21:50 - 38 minutes - 34.8 MB“The old Surveyor, yes sir. It can’t be any more than 600 feet from here. How about that?” (Pete Conrad.) Homepage with Pictures
Space Rocket History #246 – Apollo 12 – Pin Point Landing Part 2 – Right Down the Middle of the Road
November 27, 2023 21:34 - 40 minutes - 37 MB“Hey, there it is! There it is! Son of a gun, right down the middle of the road! Look out there! I can’t believe it! Fantastic!” Pete Conrad when he saw his landing site. Homepage with Pictures
Space Rocket History #245 – Apollo 12 – Pin Point Landing Part 1 – Right Down the Middle of the Road
October 26, 2023 20:13 - 32 minutes - 30 MBThere was adrenaline in Pete Conrad’s voice as he counted down the last seconds before ignition. He and Bean were still weightless, but their bodies were secured to the cabin floor by harnesses. “Seven, six, five.” Conrad pushed the PROCEED button on the computer, and a moment later Intrepid’s descent engine ignited 50,000 feet above the moon. Homepage with Pics
Space Rocket History #244 – Apollo 12 – Lunar Orbit
October 26, 2023 20:02 - 35 minutes - 32.4 MBAt 83 hours mission elapsed time, the long lunar coast was almost over. It was time for the lunar orbit insertion burn. This burn would put Yankee Clipper and Intrepid into lunar orbit. Homepage with Pics
Space Rocket History #243 – Apollo 12 – TLI and the Coast
September 28, 2023 16:53 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MBIt was impossible to check out the entire spacecraft; that could only be done on the ground. In the short time available, Griffin’s team ran a pre-maneuver check list, re-aligned the CSM platform, and discussed proceeding with the mission with the crew. Homepage with Pics.
Space Rocket History #242 – Apollo 12 – The Launch Part 2
September 28, 2023 16:42 - 37 minutes - 33.9 MBJohn Aaron’s (EECOM) next call made him a legend in Mission Control. He said quickly and confidently, “Flight, try S-C-E to Aux.” Homepage with pics
Space Rocket History #241 – Apollo 12 – The Launch Part 1
August 28, 2023 23:56 - 38 minutes - 34.9 MBIt was 68 degrees, overcast, and raining at Cape Kennedy on November 14, 1969. The ceiling was 2,100 feet and the winds were light. There was some discussion, while the astronauts were suiting-up, of scrubbing the launch, but that would mean ramping this whole thing down, draining every drop of fuel out of the Saturn, and sitting on their hands for a twenty-eight-day hold. Homepage with Pics
Space Rocket History #240 – Apollo 12 – Saturn V Instrument Unit
August 28, 2023 22:10 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MBThe Saturn V’s control system was housed inside and also referred to as the Instrument Unit (IU). Marshall Space Flight Centers Astrionics Laboratory categorized the IU as the “brain” and “nerve center” of Saturn V. Homepage with Pics
Space Rocket History #239 – Apollo 12 – Commander Charles Conrad – Part 2
July 31, 2023 19:19 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MBPete Conrad joined NASA as part of the second group of astronauts, known as the New Nine, on September 17, 1962. He was regarded as one of the best pilots in the group, and was among the first of his group to be assigned a Gemini mission.
Space Rocket History #238 – Apollo 12 – Commander Charles Conrad – Part 1
July 31, 2023 19:02 - 41 minutes - 37.8 MBThe third man to walk on the moon, Charles Conrad Jr. was born on June 2, 1930, in Philadelphia, to Charles and Frances Conrad. He was their third child and their first son. Homepage with Pictures
Space Rocket History #237 – Apollo 12 – Lunar Module Pilot Alan Bean – The Artist
June 30, 2023 20:46 - 42 minutes - 39 MBAfter completing a four-year tour of duty, he attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. He trained under the direction of Pete Conrad, who would later become Commander of the Apollo 12 moon flight, and who would be instrumental in getting Bean assigned to that mission. Homepage with pictures.
Space Rocket History #236 – Apollo 12 – Command Module Pilot Richard “Dick” Gordon
June 30, 2023 20:31 - 29 minutes - 27 MBAfter graduating from the University of Washington, Gordon joined the US Navy, and after his first exposure to planes decided to become a pilot. Gordon said “Once I found what the airplane could do for me, or I could do for it, it was love at first sight.” Homepage with pictures.
Space Rocket History #235 – Apollo 12 – Introduction
May 28, 2023 22:02 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBAt NASA Headquarters, George Mueller and other planners created a far-reaching plan that Administrator Paine made even more ambitious in adapting it for Nixon’s Space Task Group. The task group’s timetable called for a twelve-man space station and a reusable space shuttle as early as 1975. By 1980, the station would have grown into a fifty-man space base; five years later there would be a hundred men in orbit. Meanwhile, there would be a base in lunar orbit by 1976, with a base on the lunar ...
Space Rocket History #234 – Soyuz 6, 7, and 8 – Part 2 -The Vulcan Device
May 28, 2023 21:47 - 35 minutes - 32.3 MBThe Vulcan device consisted of two major units. The first unit included various welding devices and a turn-table with samples of metals to be welded. The second unit consisted of an electric power pack, a protective shield which covered the welding unit, and a remote control console. click here for Homepage with pictures
Space Rocket History #233 – Soyuz 6, 7, and 8 with Shonin, Kubasov, Filipchenko, Volkov, Gorbatko, Shatalov, Yeliseyev – Part 1
April 28, 2023 19:44 - 39 minutes - 36 MBFinally, on April 25, 1969 during a meeting of the Soyuz State Commission, it was decided that the solo and docking flights outlined for 1969 by design bureau OKB-1 would be combined into a joint flight of three spacecraft. The plan was to fly Soyuz 6, 7, and 8 together in August of 1969; Soyuz 7 and 8 would dock and 6 would rendezvous with the docked pair and take pictures of it as well as perform a welding experiment. Homepage with pictures
Space Rocket History #232 – Apollo 11 – Final Duties & World Reaction Part 2
April 28, 2023 19:29 - 39 minutes - 36.2 MBThe round-the-world tour began on September 29th and lasted until November 5th covering 28 cities in 25 countries in 38 days. The astronauts’ wives were allowed to go along on the trip, as well as a large staff. Homepage with Pictures
Space Rocket History #231 – Apollo 11 – Final Duties & World Reaction Part 1
March 31, 2023 19:36 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MBOn August 10th, 1969 quarantine officially ended for the Apollo 11 crew, but that did not end the duties required for a flight of such magnitude. On August 12th, the Astronauts conducted a post flight press conference. They were greeted with a standing ovation from members of the media. Homepage with Pictures and more:
Space Rocket History #230 – Apollo 11 – Recovery, Nixon, & Quarantine
March 31, 2023 19:19 - 39 minutes - 35.8 MBThe helicopter door slid open and Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins stepped out of the helicopter onto the lower deck of the carrier Hornet to the accompaniment of a brass band. They appeared to many, like men from another world. They were outfitted from head to toe in gray-colored Biological Isolation Garments. Homepage with pictures and more
Space Rocket History #229 – Apollo 11 – Re-entry & Splashdown
February 28, 2023 21:43 - 42 minutes - 39 MBAt launch, Apollo 11 weighed 6,000,000 pounds, now all that was left of Columbia weighed in at a mere 11,000 pounds. Homepage with Pictures
Space Rocket History #228 – Apollo 11 – The Return
February 28, 2023 21:22 - 46 minutes - 42.3 MBThe next critical event in the Apollo 11 mission was the Trans-Earth Injection burn. The burn involved firing the big service propulsion engine for two and a half minutes on the back side of the moon. Homepage with Pictures
Space Rocket History #227 – Apollo 11 – Rendezvous, Docking and Jettisoning
January 28, 2023 20:00 - 36 minutes - 33.2 MBThe ascent of the Eagle was strikingly swift compared with the liftoff of the huge Saturn V rocket from Cape Canaveral. Of course for the Moon launch, there was no atmosphere resisting Eagle, and there was only one-sixth gravity to overcome. Homepage with Pics
Space Rocket History #226 – Apollo 11 – Moon Launch
January 28, 2023 18:21 - 37 minutes - 34 MBUntil now they had been focused on reaching the moon, landing, taking a walk on its surface, setting up experiments, exploring, and gathering evidence. With those tasks completed and their lunar bounty was board, the top priority was to fly back to Earth. Homepage with Pics
Space Rocket History #225 – Apollo 11 – Moonwalk – Part 3
December 14, 2022 21:09 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MBWithout a word to Houston, while Buzz made his way back to Eagle, Armstrong took off running. Long strides carried Armstrong into the sun’s glare to the edge of a crater that looked to be 80 feet across and 15 or 20 feet deep. Homepage with pictures
Space Rocket History #224 – Apollo 11 – Moonwalk – Part 2 – One Priceless Moment
December 14, 2022 20:55 - 36 minutes - 33.8 MB“For one priceless moment, in the whole history of man, all the people on this earth are truly one. One in their pride in what you have done. And one in our prayers that you will return safely to earth” President Nixon. Homepage with pictures
Space Rocket History #223 – Apollo 11 – Moonwalk – Part 1
November 30, 2022 20:53 - 44 minutes - 40.7 MBSilently and carefully, Armstrong raised his left boot over the lip of the footpad and lowered it to the dust. Immediately he tested his weight, bouncing in the gentle gravity, and when he felt firm ground, he was still, one foot on the last vestige of earthly things, the other on the moon. Then he spoke: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Homepage with pictures
Space Rocket History #222 – Apollo 11 – Post Landing & EVA Prep
November 30, 2022 20:32 - 40 minutes - 37.1 MBInside the Eagle Buzz and Neil knew every second was crucial. The T1 time was only 2 minutes so They hastily ran down through their checklists, preparing as though they were going to lift off within the two-minute window. Homepage with pictures
Space Rocket History #221 – Apollo 11 – Lunar Landing – Part 3
October 28, 2022 20:19 - 46 minutes - 42.2 MB“Houston, Tranquillity Base here. The Eagle has landed.” Homepage with pictures
Space Rocket History #220 – Apollo 11 – Lunar Landing – Part 2
October 28, 2022 20:03 - 35 minutes - 32.7 MBSuddenly, Buzz and Neil heard the high-pitched sound of the Master Alarm. On the computer display the “PROG” light glowed amber. “Program alarm,” Armstrong radioed. Quickly, Aldrin queried the computer for the alarm code, and “1202” flashed on the display. Homepage with pictures
Space Rocket History #219 – Apollo 11 – Lunar Landing – Part 1
September 30, 2022 19:19 - 42 minutes - 39.2 MBThe machine-like performance of flight crew and ground controllers continued. Each participant was in perfect harmony with the other, moving to a cadence dictated by the laws of physics and the clock. Homepage with pictures.
Space Rocket History #218 – Apollo 11 – Lunar Orbit
September 30, 2022 19:03 - 39 minutes - 36.4 MBAs they passed behind the moon, they had just over 8 minutes to go before the burn. They were super-careful now, they checked and rechecked each step several times. It had to be perfect. Just one digit in the computer out of place could send them into a lunar mountain or turn them and send them into orbit around the sun. Homepage with pictures
Space Rocket History #217 – Apollo 11 – Cislunar
August 29, 2022 19:49 - 39 minutes - 36.5 MBWhat do we call this strange region between earth and moon? Cislunar space is the most common term, Is it day or night? Humans generally define night as that time when our planet is between our eyes and the sun, so this must be considered constant daytime, But it looks like night out of Command Module’s windows. Homepage with pictures.
Space Rocket History #216 – Apollo 11 – Transposition, Docking & Extraction
August 29, 2022 19:17 - 40 minutes - 36.9 MBCollins’ first task was to separate the command and service modules from the Saturn and proceed away from it a safe distance; then turn around and face it. Homepage with Pictures.
Space Rocket History #215 – Apollo 11 – Trans Lunar Injection
July 27, 2022 20:49 - 39 minutes - 36.3 MBAs Apollo 11 passed over Western Australia, at T+2 hours 26 minutes Houston relayed to Collins, Armstrong, and Aldrin – through Carnarvon – formal permission to go to the moon. “Apollo 11, this is Houston. You are go for TLI.” Mike Collins answered, “Apollo 11. Thank you.” Homepage with Pics
Space Rocket History #214 – Apollo 11 – The Climb to Orbit
July 27, 2022 20:33 - 51 minutes - 47.2 MBA Saturn V liftoff is spectacular, and the launch of Apollo 11 was no exception. But it didn’t give the audience any surprises. To the three Gemini-experienced pilots, who likened the sensation to the boost of a Titan II, it was a normal launch. Homepage with Pics
Space Rocket History #213 – Apollo 11 – The Launch
June 29, 2022 19:14 - 46 minutes - 42.2 MBOn July 16th 1969, nearly a million people crowded the Florida highways, byways, and beaches to watch man’s departure from the earth to walk on the moon. Twenty thousand guests looked on from special vantage points. Homepage with Pics
Space Rocket History #212 – Apollo 11 – Prelaunch
June 29, 2022 19:01 - 44 minutes - 40.3 MBIn addition to the ordinary taxpayers who gathered on the beaches and roads of eastern Florida, 20,000 VIPs were invited by NASA to watch the lift off from viewing stands near the Vehicle Assembly Building. Homepage with Pics
Space Rocket History #211 – Apollo 11 – Mission Training – Part 3 & Contamination
May 27, 2022 16:40 - 37 minutes - 34 MBIn addition to the fixed-base lunar module simulators in Houston and at the Cape, astronauts also practiced at Langley Research Center on the suspended lunar landing trainer which was equipped with realistic surface views and lighting. Homepage and Pics
Space Rocket History #210 – Apollo 11 – Mission Training – Part 2
May 27, 2022 16:25 - 39 minutes - 36.2 MBSteve Bales (Guido) made a new entry to the trajectory and guidance section of the rules book which excluded lunar module computer program alarms 1201 and 1202 from the abort list. Homepage with Pics
Space Rocket History #209 – Apollo 11 – Mission Training – Part 1
April 26, 2022 17:15 - 40 minutes - 36.9 MBCrew training for Apollo 11 was already complicated by the need to master the controls of two different and very complex spacecrafts, as well as the space suit, but now the mission took on new dimensions, principally in learning how to set a 14.5-metric-ton lunar module safely down on the moon. Homepage
Space Rocket History #208 – Apollo 11 – Commander Neil Armstrong – Part 3
April 26, 2022 16:58 - 49 minutes - 45.5 MBAfter his death, Armstrong was described, in a statement released by the White House, as “among the greatest of American heroes—not just of his time, but of all time.” Homepage