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I was thinking about the problems Boeing is having now compared to what problems may have been "in the moment" back when NASA and partners were developing Apoll

I was thinking about the problems Boeing is having now compared to what problems may have been "in the moment" back when NASA and partners were developing Apollo — problems that are all but forgotten since the climax of the work was of such import. Obviously the Apollo I fire is not forgotten although I was older before I learned about it — older of course than when I learned that astronauts had walked on the Moon. YouTube has a trove of "quarterly reports" (and even older material — Manned Spaceflight Reports, for example) that apparently were created as a means of tracking progress and/or setbacks (and money spent?) on the space missions. As a space nerd since I was quite young, I find these reports somewhat fascinating. (They make interesting "filler material" for my TV app that plays content every day on my home "channel".) I can't point to a specific report but do recall the odd one talking about a tank rupturing on a pressure test or an engine test-stand being destroyed during an engine run-up. They paint a picture of a fascinating time when the work was brisk and well-funded — whole facilities being developed, concrete poured, barges built - for this singular goal of ... well, showing up the Soviet Union, I guess. Some playlists I found (they may not be complete) when quickly searching this morning: Lots of reports here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDwzqZWIrfza3pcILatnC3ytxGKQZdHTn https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDwzqZWIrfza3pcILatnC... Saturn V Quarterly Reports: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbEPfQne9a3zPJRdBb-HAqhdCHcAADeYq https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbEPfQne9a3zPJRdBb-HA... Saturn I/IB Quarterly Reports: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiXem4nUKgcEgQXmr0zy6Yq6SXW4T93SM https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiXem4nUKgcEgQXmr0zy6...

deleted 2y ago
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euroderf 2y ago
> Obviously the Apollo I fire is not forgotten Apollo NASA is a main suspect here. I recall reading that long before the fire, NASA had seen that even asbestos burns in a pure oxygen environment. So there were grounds for concern and for engineering investigation.
- JKCalhoun 2y ago
  Not to go down the rabbit hole of assigning blame, but the gains from a pure oxygen environment were of course substantially reduced vehicle pressure. Mercury and Gemini both had used pure oxygen environments with obviously no mishaps.
  - HankB99 2y ago
    > Mercury and Gemini both had used pure oxygen environments with obviously no mishaps. Pure oxygen atmosphere is pretty dangerous. I worked with it at a steel mill where it was a process gas. Oxygen lines had to be "oxygen clean" before put into service. This meant no oil or grease or particulates that could strike a spark if propelled along the line. Also the line had to be sized for a maximum flow velocity or the oxygen would "scarf" the line. Think rapid oxidation like combustion. I read a fatality report where a pipe fitter descended into an oxygen valve pit and burst into flames. The report speculated that the fitter had some grease on his gloves that spontaneously combusted in the presence of pure oxygen. I suppose it's less hazardous at reduced pressure, but still not an atmosphere I would want to work in. A search finds more info at https://www.eiga.eu/uploads/documents/DOC013.pdf https://www.eiga.eu/uploads/documents/DOC013.pdf which discusses this.

deleted 2y ago

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euroderf 2y ago

> Obviously the Apollo I fire is not forgotten Apollo NASA is a main suspect here. I recall reading that long before the fire, NASA had seen that even asbestos burns in a pure oxygen environment. So there were grounds for concern and for engineering investigation.

JKCalhoun 2y ago
Not to go down the rabbit hole of assigning blame, but the gains from a pure oxygen environment were of course substantially reduced vehicle pressure. Mercury and Gemini both had used pure oxygen environments with obviously no mishaps.
- HankB99 2y ago
  > Mercury and Gemini both had used pure oxygen environments with obviously no mishaps. Pure oxygen atmosphere is pretty dangerous. I worked with it at a steel mill where it was a process gas. Oxygen lines had to be "oxygen clean" before put into service. This meant no oil or grease or particulates that could strike a spark if propelled along the line. Also the line had to be sized for a maximum flow velocity or the oxygen would "scarf" the line. Think rapid oxidation like combustion. I read a fatality report where a pipe fitter descended into an oxygen valve pit and burst into flames. The report speculated that the fitter had some grease on his gloves that spontaneously combusted in the presence of pure oxygen. I suppose it's less hazardous at reduced pressure, but still not an atmosphere I would want to work in. A search finds more info at https://www.eiga.eu/uploads/documents/DOC013.pdf https://www.eiga.eu/uploads/documents/DOC013.pdf which discusses this.