"Launch Day Urine Bags" - Locker R5
February 12, 2016 10:43 AM Subscribe
During the course of a project to produce a detailed 3D model of the Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia, we were able to observe and record some hand-written notes and markings in areas of the spacecraft that have been hidden from view for more than 40 years.
The markings include Michael Collins' notes and calculations on where the Lunar Module landed on the Moon, a small hand-drawn calendar used to tick off the days of the mission, and a reminder of where the astronauts put their waste bags before the waste disposal system came on line.
Having seen a few Apollo CMs, and having sat in a mockup of one as a kid, I'm always struck by how relatively spacious interior photos make it look. They say, however, zero g allows more of the cabin to be "useful space," so that may be part of it.
posted by MrGuilt at 11:23 AM on February 12, 2016
posted by MrGuilt at 11:23 AM on February 12, 2016
Burying the lede here ... a 3D model supposedly to be publicly available? .3DS or it didn't happen!
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 11:30 AM on February 12, 2016
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 11:30 AM on February 12, 2016
Curious what, if any, notes are in the Apollo 11 Command Module. That crew was known for salty language and having a good time.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:31 AM on February 12, 2016
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:31 AM on February 12, 2016
Once the 3D model is available, researchers and the public will be able to build upon these findings, clarify them, and make many discoveries of their own.
Hopefully, if we don't find Nefertiti's tomb next to Tut's, we can start looking for it here, attached to the CM.
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:35 AM on February 12, 2016
Hopefully, if we don't find Nefertiti's tomb next to Tut's, we can start looking for it here, attached to the CM.
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:35 AM on February 12, 2016
Not pictured:
posted by Atom Eyes at 12:57 PM on February 12, 2016
Veni, vidi, vici.Lafayette, we are here!- That's one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.
Bang! Zoom! I'm on the moon!
posted by Atom Eyes at 12:57 PM on February 12, 2016
But I thought pencils were forbidden since graphite is electrically conductive?
Maybe it was an alloy pencil.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 1:03 PM on February 12, 2016
Maybe it was an alloy pencil.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 1:03 PM on February 12, 2016
What's striking to me are the notes that are next to buttons, dials, gauges -- I assume they indicate something about what the button does or when/how to push it, turn it or panic about it. Is this something astronauts still do? (or people who similarly operate complex machines, like submarines) Or has digital changed the way we annotate our lives?
posted by OrangeDisk at 1:49 PM on February 12, 2016
posted by OrangeDisk at 1:49 PM on February 12, 2016
"Launch Day Urine Bags" a.k.a. "Do Not Open."
DON'T | PEEposted by ArgentCorvid at 1:58 PM on February 12, 2016
OPEN | INSIDE
On Subs, graffiti like that is not tolerated (at least not where it's openly visible).
Some grease marker boards are provided for easily update-able quick reference notes on operating condition though. I think this is closer to what Michael Collins did on the panel in the first picture. I don't see any notes next to buttons or dials.
and the "Apollo-era control panel and signage typography" is more "large government contract control panel and signage typography", as all of the panels on the Submarine I was on looked like that too.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 2:34 PM on February 12, 2016
Some grease marker boards are provided for easily update-able quick reference notes on operating condition though. I think this is closer to what Michael Collins did on the panel in the first picture. I don't see any notes next to buttons or dials.
and the "Apollo-era control panel and signage typography" is more "large government contract control panel and signage typography", as all of the panels on the Submarine I was on looked like that too.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 2:34 PM on February 12, 2016
The Apollo 13 movie depicts the CM pilot (Jack Swigert) taping a piece of paper with the word "NO" over the LM JETTISON switch just in case he sleepily punches the wrong button and splits the spacecraft in two. (Though I don't know that this actually happened)
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 3:50 PM on February 12, 2016
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 3:50 PM on February 12, 2016
A halcyon day, you left off the stinger of that quote:
just to the left of where Command Module pilot, Michael Collins, would have stood using the spacecraft’s sextant and telescope for navigation.
posted by 256 at 4:32 PM on February 12, 2016
just to the left of where Command Module pilot, Michael Collins, would have stood using the spacecraft’s sextant and telescope for navigation.
posted by 256 at 4:32 PM on February 12, 2016
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But I thought pencils were forbidden since graphite is electrically conductive?
Also, I love Apollo-era control panel and signage typography SO MUCH. Thanks, Etrigan!
posted by a halcyon day at 10:52 AM on February 12, 2016 [1 favorite]