One thing I would suggest. Do not try to match 2001 as closely as initial attempt. Just have it as a general guideline. Long running space race. Moon bases. Mars by 1990. USSR trucking on. Manned outer planets missions starting to be considered in late '90es. It's not just AI and hibernation, you are not getting Discovery without exceptionally good nuclear engines.
2001: A Space-Time Odyssey - Solo Mission
- Thread starter Michel Van
- Start date
This was never the Attempt, we try to keep it realistic form Politic, cultural and Technology standpoint.
Zay Zomeone Nuklear Enginez ?
wait and see...
I honestly don't have time to calculate but I think that with most solid core NTR your ISP is not high enough to get a transit to outer planets that is not multiple years. Maybe some liquid core or gas core designs could drop it to under 2 years, maybe.This was never the Attempt, we try to keep it realistic form Politic, cultural and Technology standpoint.
Zay Zomeone Nuklear Enginez ?
wait and see...
Or you can just go Orion
you need a nuclear engine with specific Impulse of 100000 sec to get to Jupiter and Saturn in reasonably time
with chemical engine it would take 5 or 12 years to arrive with manned spacecraft...
Part 5 - Kosygin's Rise (1953-1971)
...despite Alexander Kosygin losing his seat to the Politburo in mid 1952, because of stalinist reactionaries.
Being a staunch ally of Khrushchev, his political career soon turned around for the better.
Although he was never one of Khrushchev's protégés, Kosygin quickly moved up the CPSU party ladder.
By the time of the Sputnik 1 and 2 satellite launches in late 1957, he had already become an official of the State Planning Committee and
was made a candidate member of the Politburo.
By 1960 Kosygin was promoted to the State Planning Commitee chairmanship and became Khrushchev's First Deputy Premier.
This changed his life significantly because as First Deputy Premier Kosygin traveled around the world, mostly on trade missions,
to countries such as North Korea, India, Argentina and Italy.
As Gagarin and Titov where orbiting the world, Kosygin was rewarded with his old seat in the Politburo during the 22nd Congress of the Communist Party of the USSR.
Just a year later he was already the Soviet spokesman for improved relations between the Soviet Union and the United States.
Then Kosygin play important role in "The Turmoil of 64".
By 1964 Khrushchev was consider unfit to rule by Communist Hard-liners and Stalinist in the Politburo, do his reform actions
There effort was doomed from beginning to two decisive factors:
Back on February 23rd 1961 the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, Lenoid Brezhnev died after his diplomatic plane was shot down over Algeria.
(what is commonly referred as the Brezhnev incident.)
After that Khrushchev appointed Anastas Mikoyan to the position. Who now protected Khrushchev together with Kosygin and Nikolai Podgorny
Also the Powerful Minister of Defence Rodion Malinovsky, a personal Friend of Khrushchev, supported him with Red Army against the Hard-liners.
And the Hard-liners had not the right candidate due to old age.
But Khrushchev face also criticism from his Friends and allies like Nikolai Podgorny,
Mikoyan, Podgorny, Kosygin and Malinovsky was able to influence Khrushchev to rethink some of his crazy ideas and proposals.
Kosygin influence was responsible for a series of successful economic reform that led to the improvement of living standard for the Soviet people.
Unlike some Stalinist Deviants claim, he was not acting as a revisionist, but simply applying Marxism-Leninism in a unique and creative way.
His democratic succession on Khrushchev as Premier and General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1971.
and policies enacted strengthend socialism through Market forces, rather than reviving Capitalism as counter-revolutionary stalinist and bourgeois elements have claimed.
The thriving Socialist Market Economy of our motherland that exists to this day is a testament to Khrushchev and Kosygin's early work in this period...
Except from Chapter 2: Red Rise
- Alexei Nikolayevich Kosygin: A Short Biography, by The Institute of Marxism-Leninism, CPSU Central Committee © 2006
Notes:
The 1962 Cuba Crisis let to downfall of Khrushchev, as his ally and friend, Minister of Defence Rodion Malinovsky start to criticised him
In end a conspiracy of Lenoid Brezhnev, Nikolai Podgorny and Kosygin removed Khrushchev from Power in 1964
In The TL things went other way
Lenoid Brezhnev died 1961 in Algerian airspace, the R-16 ICBM worked, so no Deployment of soviet Missile in Cuba and no Cuba Crisis in 1962.
Rodion Malinovsky stay allies (also the Red Army) and close friend of Khrushchev, taking momentum from Conservative plot.
but for moment runs Khrushchev the USSR and Kosygin, Podgorny, Mikoyan look over him and slap Khrushchev fingers, if he get too crazy ideas...
...despite Alexander Kosygin losing his seat to the Politburo in mid 1952, because of stalinist reactionaries.
Being a staunch ally of Khrushchev, his political career soon turned around for the better.
Although he was never one of Khrushchev's protégés, Kosygin quickly moved up the CPSU party ladder.
By the time of the Sputnik 1 and 2 satellite launches in late 1957, he had already become an official of the State Planning Committee and
was made a candidate member of the Politburo.
By 1960 Kosygin was promoted to the State Planning Commitee chairmanship and became Khrushchev's First Deputy Premier.
This changed his life significantly because as First Deputy Premier Kosygin traveled around the world, mostly on trade missions,
to countries such as North Korea, India, Argentina and Italy.
As Gagarin and Titov where orbiting the world, Kosygin was rewarded with his old seat in the Politburo during the 22nd Congress of the Communist Party of the USSR.
Just a year later he was already the Soviet spokesman for improved relations between the Soviet Union and the United States.
Then Kosygin play important role in "The Turmoil of 64".
By 1964 Khrushchev was consider unfit to rule by Communist Hard-liners and Stalinist in the Politburo, do his reform actions
There effort was doomed from beginning to two decisive factors:
Back on February 23rd 1961 the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, Lenoid Brezhnev died after his diplomatic plane was shot down over Algeria.
(what is commonly referred as the Brezhnev incident.)
After that Khrushchev appointed Anastas Mikoyan to the position. Who now protected Khrushchev together with Kosygin and Nikolai Podgorny
Also the Powerful Minister of Defence Rodion Malinovsky, a personal Friend of Khrushchev, supported him with Red Army against the Hard-liners.
And the Hard-liners had not the right candidate due to old age.
But Khrushchev face also criticism from his Friends and allies like Nikolai Podgorny,
Mikoyan, Podgorny, Kosygin and Malinovsky was able to influence Khrushchev to rethink some of his crazy ideas and proposals.
Kosygin influence was responsible for a series of successful economic reform that led to the improvement of living standard for the Soviet people.
Unlike some Stalinist Deviants claim, he was not acting as a revisionist, but simply applying Marxism-Leninism in a unique and creative way.
His democratic succession on Khrushchev as Premier and General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1971.
and policies enacted strengthend socialism through Market forces, rather than reviving Capitalism as counter-revolutionary stalinist and bourgeois elements have claimed.
The thriving Socialist Market Economy of our motherland that exists to this day is a testament to Khrushchev and Kosygin's early work in this period...
Except from Chapter 2: Red Rise
- Alexei Nikolayevich Kosygin: A Short Biography, by The Institute of Marxism-Leninism, CPSU Central Committee © 2006
Notes:
The 1962 Cuba Crisis let to downfall of Khrushchev, as his ally and friend, Minister of Defence Rodion Malinovsky start to criticised him
In end a conspiracy of Lenoid Brezhnev, Nikolai Podgorny and Kosygin removed Khrushchev from Power in 1964
In The TL things went other way
Lenoid Brezhnev died 1961 in Algerian airspace, the R-16 ICBM worked, so no Deployment of soviet Missile in Cuba and no Cuba Crisis in 1962.
Rodion Malinovsky stay allies (also the Red Army) and close friend of Khrushchev, taking momentum from Conservative plot.
but for moment runs Khrushchev the USSR and Kosygin, Podgorny, Mikoyan look over him and slap Khrushchev fingers, if he get too crazy ideas...
Part 6 - New Rockets In USSR
The US side of the Story...
In May 1962, the CIA noticed on reconnaissance satellite pictures, an increase of activity at OKB-1 factory, also with the begining of construction work on Baikonur and Pelsectsk.
At Baikonur they erected a huge building in size 720 ft by 343 ft (220 by 125 meters)
It was connected by Railway to six Launch Pads built North East of that new complex. Two pads were huge,
Then in 1964 a US reconnaissance satellite picture, how out this gigantic hall rolled out a puny Rockets to launch pad,
The CIA reconnaissance group got laughing fits about this, the rocket analyst of CIA din’t laugh. That was a completely New Soviet Rocket !
Conical in form, about 106 ft (33 meter) it was launch successful in August 1964 according NORAD.
July 1965 the CIA reconnaissance group stop laughing, as a new bigger rocket was rolled out of that hall, double in length as „Puny Rocket“, That was more serious.
In 1966 to surprise of World Press, the Soviet presented a complete Vostock Rocket on Biggin Hill International Air Fair,
Labeling it a discontinued model, now it was a sure thing the Soviet were replacing their Launch rockets with something new.
1966 October after series of Test launches the two new rocket got official named by Soviet TASS,
The smaller was official label as „Soyuz Rocket“ as it launch the New Soyuz spacecraft.
The bigger was called „Proton“ after the astronomy satellites with same name, it had launch four times.
Finally in 1967 the CIA reconnaissance group stared to gape on a Picture, this time the soviets pulled out a Huge Rocket… one in size of a Saturn V !
The Soviet side of the Story…
In 1961 Sergei Korolev had proposed a Modular rocket family simply called „Nositjel“ (Launch vehicle)
Were the upper stage function also as Launch rocket with 7, 21 and 90 metric ton payload
The Soviet Space Agency studied the proposal together with Chelomei Universal Rocket and R-56 Booster by Yangel
But the two were refused do needed huge amount of Toxic fuel used on those rockets, leading to higher cost compare to Korolev „Launch vehicle“,
who could use the existing propellant facility at the launch sites.
So in 1962 became „Nositjel 1/2/3“ official the new launcher Family of USSR.
In 1963 Sergei Khrushchev finalized the engine specification for N1/2/3 rocket to be build by the OKB-276.
Using for N3, the NK-9 from R-9 ICBM with 392kN and for N2 and N1 the NK-15 with 2120 kN thrust,
This would reduce the risk of Pogo on Launcher by minimised the first stage engine 6 to 16 on N2 and N1
By launching the smaller version of „Nositjel“ the N3 and N2, would reduce the Test program allot instead of 12 test launches with the complete N1 proposed by Vasily Mishin.
Actually each model would do 4 test flights, eliminating possible delays during N1 construction.
with success in 1965 the N3 called „Soyuz“ and 1966 N2 called „Proton“ went into service, called after their first payload launched.
but on 14 January 1966 the program undergo trouble as Sergai Paviovich Korolev died.
In March the Politburo designated Sergei Khrushchev as new Head of OKB-1, Vasily Mishin's cynical comment on this decision: „well we don’t need to replace the Initials...“
Sidenote:
The soviet union boycott the Paris Air Show from 1961 to 1982 because of the Brezhnev Incident.
TASS = Telegraph Agency of soviet Union, Is for distribution of internal and international news for all Soviet media.
POGO is term for a dangerous self-excited combustion oscillation in liquid fuel rockets, causing in extrem situation the destruction of the vehicle during flight.
The US side of the Story...
In May 1962, the CIA noticed on reconnaissance satellite pictures, an increase of activity at OKB-1 factory, also with the begining of construction work on Baikonur and Pelsectsk.
At Baikonur they erected a huge building in size 720 ft by 343 ft (220 by 125 meters)
It was connected by Railway to six Launch Pads built North East of that new complex. Two pads were huge,
Then in 1964 a US reconnaissance satellite picture, how out this gigantic hall rolled out a puny Rockets to launch pad,
The CIA reconnaissance group got laughing fits about this, the rocket analyst of CIA din’t laugh. That was a completely New Soviet Rocket !
Conical in form, about 106 ft (33 meter) it was launch successful in August 1964 according NORAD.
July 1965 the CIA reconnaissance group stop laughing, as a new bigger rocket was rolled out of that hall, double in length as „Puny Rocket“, That was more serious.
In 1966 to surprise of World Press, the Soviet presented a complete Vostock Rocket on Biggin Hill International Air Fair,
Labeling it a discontinued model, now it was a sure thing the Soviet were replacing their Launch rockets with something new.
1966 October after series of Test launches the two new rocket got official named by Soviet TASS,
The smaller was official label as „Soyuz Rocket“ as it launch the New Soyuz spacecraft.
The bigger was called „Proton“ after the astronomy satellites with same name, it had launch four times.
Finally in 1967 the CIA reconnaissance group stared to gape on a Picture, this time the soviets pulled out a Huge Rocket… one in size of a Saturn V !
The Soviet side of the Story…
In 1961 Sergei Korolev had proposed a Modular rocket family simply called „Nositjel“ (Launch vehicle)
Were the upper stage function also as Launch rocket with 7, 21 and 90 metric ton payload
The Soviet Space Agency studied the proposal together with Chelomei Universal Rocket and R-56 Booster by Yangel
But the two were refused do needed huge amount of Toxic fuel used on those rockets, leading to higher cost compare to Korolev „Launch vehicle“,
who could use the existing propellant facility at the launch sites.
So in 1962 became „Nositjel 1/2/3“ official the new launcher Family of USSR.
In 1963 Sergei Khrushchev finalized the engine specification for N1/2/3 rocket to be build by the OKB-276.
Using for N3, the NK-9 from R-9 ICBM with 392kN and for N2 and N1 the NK-15 with 2120 kN thrust,
This would reduce the risk of Pogo on Launcher by minimised the first stage engine 6 to 16 on N2 and N1
By launching the smaller version of „Nositjel“ the N3 and N2, would reduce the Test program allot instead of 12 test launches with the complete N1 proposed by Vasily Mishin.
Actually each model would do 4 test flights, eliminating possible delays during N1 construction.
with success in 1965 the N3 called „Soyuz“ and 1966 N2 called „Proton“ went into service, called after their first payload launched.
but on 14 January 1966 the program undergo trouble as Sergai Paviovich Korolev died.
In March the Politburo designated Sergei Khrushchev as new Head of OKB-1, Vasily Mishin's cynical comment on this decision: „well we don’t need to replace the Initials...“
Sidenote:
The soviet union boycott the Paris Air Show from 1961 to 1982 because of the Brezhnev Incident.
TASS = Telegraph Agency of soviet Union, Is for distribution of internal and international news for all Soviet media.
POGO is term for a dangerous self-excited combustion oscillation in liquid fuel rockets, causing in extrem situation the destruction of the vehicle during flight.
So N111 - N11 - N1. Nice. And earlier Soyuz? I hope that does not kill Vladimir Komarov. Maybe he can have his Version 2 role (😉)Part 6 - New Rockets In USSR
The US side of the Story...
In May 1962, the CIA noticed on reconnaissance satellite pictures, an increase of activity at OKB-1 factory, also with the begining of construction work on Baikonur and Pelsectsk.
At Baikonur they erected a huge building in size 720 ft by 343 ft (220 by 125 meters)
It was connected by Railway to six Launch Pads built North East of that new complex. Two pads were huge,
Then in 1964 a US reconnaissance satellite picture, how out this gigantic hall rolled out a puny Rockets to launch pad,
The CIA reconnaissance group got laughing fits about this, the rocket analyst of CIA din’t laugh. That was a completely New Soviet Rocket !
Conical in form, about 106 ft (33 meter) it was launch successful in August 1964 according NORAD.
July 1965 the CIA reconnaissance group stop laughing, as a new bigger rocket was rolled out of that hall, double in length as „Puny Rocket“, That was more serious.
In 1966 to surprise of World Press, the Soviet presented a complete Vostock Rocket on Biggin Hill International Air Fair,
Labeling it a discontinued model, now it was a sure thing the Soviet were replacing their Launch rockets with something new.
1966 October after series of Test launches the two new rocket got official named by Soviet TASS,
The smaller was official label as „Soyuz Rocket“ as it launch the New Soyuz spacecraft.
The bigger was called „Proton“ after the astronomy satellites with same name, it had launch four times.
Finally in 1967 the CIA reconnaissance group stared to gape on a Picture, this time the soviets pulled out a Huge Rocket… one in size of a Saturn V !
The Soviet side of the Story…
In 1961 Sergei Korolev had proposed a Modular rocket family simply called „Nositjel“ (Launch vehicle)
Were the upper stage function also as Launch rocket with 7, 21 and 90 metric ton payload
The Soviet Space Agency studied the proposal together with Chelomei Universal Rocket and R-56 Booster by Yangel
But the two were refused do needed huge amount of Toxic fuel used on those rockets, leading to higher cost compare to Korolev „Launch vehicle“,
who could use the existing propellant facility at the launch sites.
So in 1962 became „Nositjel 1/2/3“ official the new launcher Family of USSR.
In 1963 Sergei Khrushchev finalized the engine specification for N1/2/3 rocket to be build by the OKB-276.
Using for N3, the NK-9 from R-9 ICBM with 392kN and for N2 and N1 the NK-15 with 2120 kN thrust,
This would reduce the risk of Pogo on Launcher by minimised the first stage engine 6 to 16 on N2 and N1
By launching the smaller version of „Nositjel“ the N3 and N2, would reduce the Test program allot instead of 12 test launches with the complete N1 proposed by Vasily Mishin.
Actually each model would do 4 test flights, eliminating possible delays during N1 construction.
with success in 1965 the N3 called „Soyuz“ and 1966 N2 called „Proton“ went into service, called after their first payload launched.
but on 14 January 1966 the program undergo trouble as Sergai Paviovich Korolev died.
In March the Politburo designated Sergei Khrushchev as new Head of OKB-1, Vasily Mishin's cynical comment on this decision: „well we don’t need to replace the Initials...“
Sidenote:
The soviet union boycott the Paris Air Show from 1961 to 1982 because of the Brezhnev Incident.
TASS = Telegraph Agency of soviet Union, Is for distribution of internal and international news for all Soviet media.
POGO is term for a dangerous self-excited combustion oscillation in liquid fuel rockets, causing in extrem situation the destruction of the vehicle during flight.
Part 7 - Soyuz vs Apollo
It's interesting to see that adversary opponent of Moon Race, came to same solution - Lunar orbital Rendezvous -
but this imply rendezvous and docking technology, what NASA master in the Gemini program.
and Soviet had still to test this with Soyuz space craft
On the Soviet side:
The failure of Voskhod-4 was a wakeup call for OKB-1,
Sergei Khrushchev made clear that manned Soyuz will only fly it all system were "Fool proof and Incapable of errors“
Much to anger of his father who was eager for new space records.
Kosmos 133 was first flight of Soyuz 7K-OK, it had to dock automatically later with Kosmos 134
However Kosmos 133's attitude control system malfunctioned, resulting in rapid consumption of orientation fuel, leaving it spinning at 2 rpm.
After heroic efforts by ground control and five attempts at retrofire over two days, the craft was finally brought down for a landing on its 33nd orbit.
Due to the inaccuracy of the reentry burn, the capsule would land in China.
The self destruct system was thought to have destroyed the ship on November 30, 1966.
But stories persisted over the years of the Chinese having a Soyuz capsule in their possession.
Kosmos 134 had different fate, it became soviet 'the day we launched the escape tower' of US Mercury program.
The Soyuz rocket not ignited, a launcher shutdown was commanded. following inspections of Rocket.
27 minutes after the original launch attempt, the Soyuz launch escape system ignite, pulling the Soyuz away from the booster,
Igniting the third stage fuel tanks, leading to an explosion that severely damaged the pad and killed at least one person and injured many others!
Kosmos 140 experienced attitude control problems, due to a faulty star sensor resulting in excessive fuel consumption.
The spacecraft couldn't keep the required orientation towards the sun to keep the solar panels illuminated.
Despite all of these problems the spacecraft remained controllable.
An attempted maneuver on the 22nd orbit still showed problems with the control system.
It malfunctioned yet again during retrofire, leading to a steeper uncontrolled ballistic re-entry.
The re-entry capsule itself had depressurised on separation from the service module due to a fault in the base of the capsule.
A 300 mm hole burned through in the heat shield during re-entry.
Sergei Khrushchev order that crew had to wear pressure suits on board, what reduce crew from 3 to 2 cosmonauts.
Kosmos 156 was again a disaster, one solar panel failed to unfold, do bad weather the launch of Kosmos 157 was canceled.
But it became worst op on landing the main parachute did not unfold, the unmanned capsule crash into the ground.
The Soviet Space Agency Commission found 203 issue with Soyuz spacecraft in investigation of Kosmos flights.
A manned L1 circumlunar flyby by the 50th Anniversary of the October Revolution was now completely out of the question.
and at best they might be able to have the earth orbit Soyuz 7K-OK ready for a dual manned rendezvous/docking.
Nikita Khrushchev was furious on this bad news.
In Mean time the first unmanned Soyuz 7K-L1 flights under Zond 4 & 5 performed better.
Finally Kosmos 186 and 187 was successful, two Soyuz 7K-OK flew and dock automatic and return save, despite issues.
Sergei Khrushchev order the first manned flight would include a Rendezvous, even that failed there would two Soyuz to test in space.
Soyuz 1 launched on November 27, 1967 crewed by Sergei Komarov, Vladimir Shatalov
While Soyuz 2 launched on November 30, 1967 crewed by Yevgeny Khrunov, Aleksei Yeliseyev.
The Rendezvous was performed entirely automatically by the IGLA-system on board Soyuz 1.
After the first attempt failed (a fly-by at a distance of 900 m), the second attempt succeeded
However, this docking was not entirely successful either - the modules were mechanically docked, but not electrically.
Also, the maneuver had cost more fuel than anticipated.
Khrunov and Komarov in spacesuits made spacewalk so they could transfer vehicles,
the world's first crew-exchange in spaceflight history.
After 3.5 hours of joint flight, the spacecraft parted on a command sent from the earth and continued to orbit separately.
Both made a save landing in the Soviet Union.
On the USA side:
The Apollo spacecraft had not a good start
NASA announcement on 27 November, 1961 that The Martin Company would be prime contractor,
Only a Day later to correct themselves and declare North American Aviation, Inc. (NAA) as winner!
Original planned as Block I (low orbit testing) and Block II (lunar operation)
NASA hoped that result and findings of Block I would help improvement on Block II
Planned were 6 Block I flights (two manned) and 20 Block II flights.
Apollo 1 and 2 were unmanned test of Apollo spacecraft.
Prime Crew for Apollo 3 was Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee,
For Apollo 4 Walter Schirra, Donn Eisele and Walter Cunnigham.
But Apollo spacecraft ran into problems and delays, Grissom pointed on issue with Spacecraft on several occasions.
NASA officials ignored Him, pushing NAA to keep the launch schedule.
The original planned launch of autumn 1966 was pushed to February 21, 1967 for Apollo 3.
Then on January 27, 1967 disaster strike.
During manned launch simulation on launch pad the plug-out test was performed.
It had to show if Apollo spacecraft would operate normal on internal power.
One minute later the crew reported issue with AC Bus 2 voltage, follow 9 seconds later by outcry "FIRE"
During that time the Capsule had a pure oxygen atmosphere at full pressure.
This allow the fire to destroy the capsule in seconds, killing the 3 astronauts !
The USA was in Shock
The Investigation revealed: dangerous neglect, lack of safety procedure by NASA and design errors by North American Aviation, Inc.
While NASA faced political fallout from Capitol Hill during committees hearing to Apollo 3 disaster.
Special senator Walter Mondale profiled him self here and will become a menace for NASA in coming years !
Also face NASA the first budget cuts and Johnson order year later the Stop of Saturn IB and V production.
Apollo program face serious delay because redesign of Capsule and fixing 1407 issue in Spacecraft.
Ironic NAA hired engineers from The Martin Company to fix the problem.
Apollo 4 became a unmanned flight on first Saturn V, (Apollo 5 was test of Lunar module)
while first Block II flew on Apollo 6 the second Saturn V flight.
First manned Block II flight Apollo 7 was scheduled for October 11, 1968
But will the Soviet Union use the delay to their advantage ?
Note:
Actually NASA had no plan to label the manned Apollo mission
There AS-201, AS-202 and AS-203, thats we call Apollo 1 is on request of Grissom widow.
In TL They follow Gemini designation of Flight Hardware, launch AS-201 = Apollo 1, AS-202 = Apollo 2 etc (AS-20X stands for Apollo-Saturn IB, X= flight number )
NASA enter in 1967 a Record budget demand, what Capitol Hill Refused, they even cut the budget do escalating Cost of Vietnam War.
From here Budget got cut annually down.
President Johnson needs money on Social programs, first they stop the Saturn IB production with allot parts completed.
Follow by Saturn V production termination with unit AS-515, unit AS-516 and AS-517 were partly build needed integration and Engines
but after Termination order from White House, AS-516 and AS-517 parts were scrapped.
and the Productions Tool were mothballs for future use...
It's interesting to see that adversary opponent of Moon Race, came to same solution - Lunar orbital Rendezvous -
but this imply rendezvous and docking technology, what NASA master in the Gemini program.
and Soviet had still to test this with Soyuz space craft
On the Soviet side:
The failure of Voskhod-4 was a wakeup call for OKB-1,
Sergei Khrushchev made clear that manned Soyuz will only fly it all system were "Fool proof and Incapable of errors“
Much to anger of his father who was eager for new space records.
Kosmos 133 was first flight of Soyuz 7K-OK, it had to dock automatically later with Kosmos 134
However Kosmos 133's attitude control system malfunctioned, resulting in rapid consumption of orientation fuel, leaving it spinning at 2 rpm.
After heroic efforts by ground control and five attempts at retrofire over two days, the craft was finally brought down for a landing on its 33nd orbit.
Due to the inaccuracy of the reentry burn, the capsule would land in China.
The self destruct system was thought to have destroyed the ship on November 30, 1966.
But stories persisted over the years of the Chinese having a Soyuz capsule in their possession.
Kosmos 134 had different fate, it became soviet 'the day we launched the escape tower' of US Mercury program.
The Soyuz rocket not ignited, a launcher shutdown was commanded. following inspections of Rocket.
27 minutes after the original launch attempt, the Soyuz launch escape system ignite, pulling the Soyuz away from the booster,
Igniting the third stage fuel tanks, leading to an explosion that severely damaged the pad and killed at least one person and injured many others!
Kosmos 140 experienced attitude control problems, due to a faulty star sensor resulting in excessive fuel consumption.
The spacecraft couldn't keep the required orientation towards the sun to keep the solar panels illuminated.
Despite all of these problems the spacecraft remained controllable.
An attempted maneuver on the 22nd orbit still showed problems with the control system.
It malfunctioned yet again during retrofire, leading to a steeper uncontrolled ballistic re-entry.
The re-entry capsule itself had depressurised on separation from the service module due to a fault in the base of the capsule.
A 300 mm hole burned through in the heat shield during re-entry.
Sergei Khrushchev order that crew had to wear pressure suits on board, what reduce crew from 3 to 2 cosmonauts.
Kosmos 156 was again a disaster, one solar panel failed to unfold, do bad weather the launch of Kosmos 157 was canceled.
But it became worst op on landing the main parachute did not unfold, the unmanned capsule crash into the ground.
The Soviet Space Agency Commission found 203 issue with Soyuz spacecraft in investigation of Kosmos flights.
A manned L1 circumlunar flyby by the 50th Anniversary of the October Revolution was now completely out of the question.
and at best they might be able to have the earth orbit Soyuz 7K-OK ready for a dual manned rendezvous/docking.
Nikita Khrushchev was furious on this bad news.
In Mean time the first unmanned Soyuz 7K-L1 flights under Zond 4 & 5 performed better.
Finally Kosmos 186 and 187 was successful, two Soyuz 7K-OK flew and dock automatic and return save, despite issues.
Sergei Khrushchev order the first manned flight would include a Rendezvous, even that failed there would two Soyuz to test in space.
Soyuz 1 launched on November 27, 1967 crewed by Sergei Komarov, Vladimir Shatalov
While Soyuz 2 launched on November 30, 1967 crewed by Yevgeny Khrunov, Aleksei Yeliseyev.
The Rendezvous was performed entirely automatically by the IGLA-system on board Soyuz 1.
After the first attempt failed (a fly-by at a distance of 900 m), the second attempt succeeded
However, this docking was not entirely successful either - the modules were mechanically docked, but not electrically.
Also, the maneuver had cost more fuel than anticipated.
Khrunov and Komarov in spacesuits made spacewalk so they could transfer vehicles,
the world's first crew-exchange in spaceflight history.
After 3.5 hours of joint flight, the spacecraft parted on a command sent from the earth and continued to orbit separately.
Both made a save landing in the Soviet Union.
On the USA side:
The Apollo spacecraft had not a good start
NASA announcement on 27 November, 1961 that The Martin Company would be prime contractor,
Only a Day later to correct themselves and declare North American Aviation, Inc. (NAA) as winner!
Original planned as Block I (low orbit testing) and Block II (lunar operation)
NASA hoped that result and findings of Block I would help improvement on Block II
Planned were 6 Block I flights (two manned) and 20 Block II flights.
Apollo 1 and 2 were unmanned test of Apollo spacecraft.
Prime Crew for Apollo 3 was Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee,
For Apollo 4 Walter Schirra, Donn Eisele and Walter Cunnigham.
But Apollo spacecraft ran into problems and delays, Grissom pointed on issue with Spacecraft on several occasions.
NASA officials ignored Him, pushing NAA to keep the launch schedule.
The original planned launch of autumn 1966 was pushed to February 21, 1967 for Apollo 3.
Then on January 27, 1967 disaster strike.
During manned launch simulation on launch pad the plug-out test was performed.
It had to show if Apollo spacecraft would operate normal on internal power.
One minute later the crew reported issue with AC Bus 2 voltage, follow 9 seconds later by outcry "FIRE"
During that time the Capsule had a pure oxygen atmosphere at full pressure.
This allow the fire to destroy the capsule in seconds, killing the 3 astronauts !
The USA was in Shock
The Investigation revealed: dangerous neglect, lack of safety procedure by NASA and design errors by North American Aviation, Inc.
While NASA faced political fallout from Capitol Hill during committees hearing to Apollo 3 disaster.
Special senator Walter Mondale profiled him self here and will become a menace for NASA in coming years !
Also face NASA the first budget cuts and Johnson order year later the Stop of Saturn IB and V production.
Apollo program face serious delay because redesign of Capsule and fixing 1407 issue in Spacecraft.
Ironic NAA hired engineers from The Martin Company to fix the problem.
Apollo 4 became a unmanned flight on first Saturn V, (Apollo 5 was test of Lunar module)
while first Block II flew on Apollo 6 the second Saturn V flight.
First manned Block II flight Apollo 7 was scheduled for October 11, 1968
But will the Soviet Union use the delay to their advantage ?
Note:
Actually NASA had no plan to label the manned Apollo mission
There AS-201, AS-202 and AS-203, thats we call Apollo 1 is on request of Grissom widow.
In TL They follow Gemini designation of Flight Hardware, launch AS-201 = Apollo 1, AS-202 = Apollo 2 etc (AS-20X stands for Apollo-Saturn IB, X= flight number )
NASA enter in 1967 a Record budget demand, what Capitol Hill Refused, they even cut the budget do escalating Cost of Vietnam War.
From here Budget got cut annually down.
President Johnson needs money on Social programs, first they stop the Saturn IB production with allot parts completed.
Follow by Saturn V production termination with unit AS-515, unit AS-516 and AS-517 were partly build needed integration and Engines
but after Termination order from White House, AS-516 and AS-517 parts were scrapped.
and the Productions Tool were mothballs for future use...
| Part 8 - Red China's New Strong Man The Relationship between USSR and China deteriorated in 1960 during Soviet state visit to China. Thanks to Nikita Khrushchev's unlucky metaphor about how "you need to change worn old shoes“, Referring to China's authoritarian form of communism similar to Stalinism, need to reformed. This was translated into the Chinese metaphor of "you need to get rid of the old whore“, Mao Zedong considered this a major insult on his person. Until 1966 the USSR and Chinese relations deteriorated to the worst they could be. Nikita Khrushchev economic reforms which moved the USSR to less emphasis heavy Industry toward consumer goods by individual enterprises, in addition to the increasing amount of free political criticism and changing attitudes associated with the Khrushchev Thaw. Was interpreted by conservative Maoist as treason toward communism and was denounced as "reactionary" and "revisionist" But Mao had other problems, the Chinese politburo wanted to remove him from power, because of a series of disastrous programs ordered by Mao And the current situation between USSR and China, with the USSR and US's relations improving despite the situation in Vietnam. In 1966 Mao Zedong found a Solution to that: The Cultural Revolution Official a Movement by groups of fanatic young people (Red Guards) operate under Mao orders, against authorities at all levels in China. Mao Zedong wanted to eliminate his political enemies, special the reformist, but the situation escalated into a civil war in China and went out control. As in industrial City of Wuhan, Red Guards started to fights under each other! Beginning in 1967 it went so bad that that Mao Zedong had to fly personal to Wuhan to deal with situation. It was a certain Irony that Mao Zendong was killed there in shoot out between rivals Red Guards fraction! The News of Mao dead let to the "30 Day Crisis“ a battle over control of People’s Republic of China. Like Mao Widow, Jiang Qing and three other High rang official operating as "Gang of Four“ trying to take over the Chinese politburo but failed. The winner of Crisis became the Chinese People’s Liberation Army under commando of Marshall Lin Biao, who restored law and order in China. Lin Biao ruled with hard hand over China and cleaned up Mao Zedong's followers and Red Guards, Made necessary reforms, leading China out it’s political isolation. His top priority in 1968 was the Vietnam war and reconciling with the USSR, with Success, Kosygin was very receptive to reconciliation with China. On North Vietnam, Lin Biao supported them with weapons, material and Advisors, including massive buildup of Troops at North Vietnamese border. He also started an arms race to build an ICBM that could hit the USA, After the death of Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh in the beginning of 1968, the resulting Power struggle under the north Vietnam leadership, That was won by Pro China forces in the North Vietnamese Politburo! The beginning of the Sino-North Vietnamese alliance Now the USA faced a similar scenario, they had during the Korean War, Danger of south Vietnam being over run by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. But this time they got Nuclear weapons ! For US Capitol Hill "The Chinese Nightmare“ started. 
Notes: Khrushchev's remaining in office and his continuation of reforms, rapprochement to the West and the rise of a new class of market reformers in the USSR. Lead to a greater backlash in China and the Cultural Revolution being even more violent than in our timeline. There is no Maoism movement, allot Left Radicals orientating now on Vietnamese Ho Chi Minh movement and their way of political combat! Mean Germany, France, Italy will see more radical Left terrorism warfare in 1970s as in our timeline |
Part 9 - The Moon Race Heats Up
USA and USSR were building the Biggest Rocket ever know, it was time to Test them.
The Soviet N1 had allot problems it's designer Korolev died, The L-3 Complex became to heavy (Lunar lander/Soyuz capsule and Block D stage)
Sergei Khrushchev and Vasily Mishin had to modified N1 for payload of 95 to 105 metric tons
They chilled propellants to fill more in tanks and increase number of engines in first stage from 16 to 22 !
The N1-L3 Rocket made its first launch on July 6, 1967.
After lift off problems started as engine n°12 suffered problems, in response the autopilot KORD wrongly shutdown a working engine on the opposed side!
54.5 seconds after launch the KORD reported engines 11, 12 and 13 were shutting down and a rise of temperature show there was a fire in first Stage.
Then 68.87 second after launch the fire burned the wire harness of engine bay, KORD shot down all engines of first stage, crashing the rocket down range,
while the launch escape tower rescued the boilerplate crew capsule.
The failure analysis was difficult, one problem was KORD's faulty plotting, after Engine 12 went in trouble,
another mystery was what happened to engine 11, 12 and 13 and where had the fire started ?
Flight data show that engine 12's turbo pump suddenly started violently vibrating at 51 second,
followed by the turbo pumps of engine 11 snd 13.
The Soviet Academy of sciences independent investigation board had this theory:
That liquid oxygen line were too brittle because, they had use much cooler propellant than originally designed.
It ruptured under the harsh conditions of launch and the pogo oscillations produce by the engines.
The liquid oxygen poured out onto the running engine starting the fire.
Meanwhile the engine turbo pumps started running dry leading to violent vibrations, beginning the fatal chain reaction which lead to the destruction of N1-L3.
It was a bad surprise for OKB-1, before the launch of the next N1 they had to replace the Stage's liquid oxygen lines, overwork KORD and install better Pogo dampers.
The N1-L4 was pulled out production and scraped.
On November 9th 1967 the Saturn V successfully performed it's first flight,
But the rest of Program was not running good, the Apollo modification delay manned Test flight Apollo 7 to autumn 1968,
The Lunar Module was also facing considerable delays, threatening the 1970 deadline !
The First LM prototype was Tested in space with Apollo 5, but was not Manned ready do issues with flight computers.
April 4th, 1968. the Second test of Saturn V ended in problems: massive Pogo, failure of J-2 engines and failed restart of third stage !
While NASA start debug the Saturn V, The Soviets made another Launch attempt on July 1968 with the N1-L5.
The flight went good until the 104 second were engine 4 having trouble and a overzealous safety range officer activated, the N1 self-destruct mechanism.
The failure analyst Repot showed clearly that despite the failure of engine 4, the N1-L5 could have bring the payload in lower orbit, had safety range officer not acted.
On November 1968 the N1-L6 was launched despite problems with KROD and premature first stage separation, the payload reached Low Earth Orbit,
25 hours after it’s launch, the unmanned L3-Complex test model made the Trans Lunar Injection toward the Moon.
101 hours later the L3-Complex reach the moon where... nothing happened.
The Block-D failed to re-ignite as the L3-Complex passed by the moon and returned back to Earth on it's circumlunar trajectory.
In mean time the Americans notice a large number of Proton rocket launches to moon
There were heavy payload in two category: lunar fly by with return to Earth, the other lunar landings.
In June 1968 one of Heavy probes manage to land safely on the lunar surface.
That Probe transmitted signals on 130 and 190 kHz, much to surprise of CIA analysts, it was of TV Cameras.
Their new probe was a remotely controlled rover ! It was intriguing for CIA analysts and NASA engineers to secretly watch on their equipment,
The attempts by controllers in USSR to drive the Rover in search of... something.
After it reach a flat area it stop and turned its cameras off, switching to a 1000 kHz signal that repeated itself until it was interrupted by The lunar night.
The Soviet labeled this probe as Lunokhod 1, another Triumph of USSR.
NASA never had unmanned Lunar Rover program, there were proposal, but they were consider as contra productive for Apollo program.
Note:
L3-Complex is term for Soviet Lunar lander system
N1-L1 and N1-L2 were only used for Testing, building and integration on launch pad.
POGO is term for a dangerous self-excited combustion oscillation in liquid fuel rockets, causing in extrem situation the destruction of the vehicle during flight.
USA and USSR were building the Biggest Rocket ever know, it was time to Test them.
The Soviet N1 had allot problems it's designer Korolev died, The L-3 Complex became to heavy (Lunar lander/Soyuz capsule and Block D stage)
Sergei Khrushchev and Vasily Mishin had to modified N1 for payload of 95 to 105 metric tons
They chilled propellants to fill more in tanks and increase number of engines in first stage from 16 to 22 !
The N1-L3 Rocket made its first launch on July 6, 1967.
After lift off problems started as engine n°12 suffered problems, in response the autopilot KORD wrongly shutdown a working engine on the opposed side!
54.5 seconds after launch the KORD reported engines 11, 12 and 13 were shutting down and a rise of temperature show there was a fire in first Stage.
Then 68.87 second after launch the fire burned the wire harness of engine bay, KORD shot down all engines of first stage, crashing the rocket down range,
while the launch escape tower rescued the boilerplate crew capsule.
The failure analysis was difficult, one problem was KORD's faulty plotting, after Engine 12 went in trouble,
another mystery was what happened to engine 11, 12 and 13 and where had the fire started ?
Flight data show that engine 12's turbo pump suddenly started violently vibrating at 51 second,
followed by the turbo pumps of engine 11 snd 13.
The Soviet Academy of sciences independent investigation board had this theory:
That liquid oxygen line were too brittle because, they had use much cooler propellant than originally designed.
It ruptured under the harsh conditions of launch and the pogo oscillations produce by the engines.
The liquid oxygen poured out onto the running engine starting the fire.
Meanwhile the engine turbo pumps started running dry leading to violent vibrations, beginning the fatal chain reaction which lead to the destruction of N1-L3.
It was a bad surprise for OKB-1, before the launch of the next N1 they had to replace the Stage's liquid oxygen lines, overwork KORD and install better Pogo dampers.
The N1-L4 was pulled out production and scraped.
On November 9th 1967 the Saturn V successfully performed it's first flight,
But the rest of Program was not running good, the Apollo modification delay manned Test flight Apollo 7 to autumn 1968,
The Lunar Module was also facing considerable delays, threatening the 1970 deadline !
The First LM prototype was Tested in space with Apollo 5, but was not Manned ready do issues with flight computers.
April 4th, 1968. the Second test of Saturn V ended in problems: massive Pogo, failure of J-2 engines and failed restart of third stage !
While NASA start debug the Saturn V, The Soviets made another Launch attempt on July 1968 with the N1-L5.
The flight went good until the 104 second were engine 4 having trouble and a overzealous safety range officer activated, the N1 self-destruct mechanism.
The failure analyst Repot showed clearly that despite the failure of engine 4, the N1-L5 could have bring the payload in lower orbit, had safety range officer not acted.
On November 1968 the N1-L6 was launched despite problems with KROD and premature first stage separation, the payload reached Low Earth Orbit,
25 hours after it’s launch, the unmanned L3-Complex test model made the Trans Lunar Injection toward the Moon.
101 hours later the L3-Complex reach the moon where... nothing happened.
The Block-D failed to re-ignite as the L3-Complex passed by the moon and returned back to Earth on it's circumlunar trajectory.
In mean time the Americans notice a large number of Proton rocket launches to moon
There were heavy payload in two category: lunar fly by with return to Earth, the other lunar landings.
In June 1968 one of Heavy probes manage to land safely on the lunar surface.
That Probe transmitted signals on 130 and 190 kHz, much to surprise of CIA analysts, it was of TV Cameras.
Their new probe was a remotely controlled rover ! It was intriguing for CIA analysts and NASA engineers to secretly watch on their equipment,
The attempts by controllers in USSR to drive the Rover in search of... something.
After it reach a flat area it stop and turned its cameras off, switching to a 1000 kHz signal that repeated itself until it was interrupted by The lunar night.
The Soviet labeled this probe as Lunokhod 1, another Triumph of USSR.
NASA never had unmanned Lunar Rover program, there were proposal, but they were consider as contra productive for Apollo program.
Note:
L3-Complex is term for Soviet Lunar lander system
N1-L1 and N1-L2 were only used for Testing, building and integration on launch pad.
POGO is term for a dangerous self-excited combustion oscillation in liquid fuel rockets, causing in extrem situation the destruction of the vehicle during flight.
Last edited:
Part 10 - First Men around the Moon
NASA was in dilemma, the Saturn V underwent modification, Apollo 7 finally ready for manned flight for October 1968,
But Lunar Module was not ready for manned test flight, to heavy, electrical problems and issues with the flight computers.
Grumman believed the LM could be ready for manned Testing in begin 1969 with possible manned landing mid 1969 !
What to do ?
There were several option: wait until 1969 for Apollo 8 and test LM,
or launch Apollo 8 with Spy Sat Camera to moon, but that would take too much time and money, interfere in Lunar landing schedule.
Finally Frank Bormann proposed to NASA to launch Apollo 8 without LM to moon testing the Third Saturn V and manned Apollo CSM.
Marshall Space Flight Center schedule that Saturn V will ready for December 1968 launch of Apollo 8.
Meanwhile the CIA was keeping a close eye on the activities of the Soviets. they had series of failures,
The first N1 test flight endet in Disaster, their new Soyuz spacecraft seems had serious issue, also their Zond probes.
Also a explosion on Soyuz launch pad show the Soviets were in serious problems !
The CIA assessment was that USSR would unlikely send a Human to Moon in 1968, with high probability during 1969.
But Soviets catch up with success of Soyuz 1 to 4 with two docking, also successful unmanned testing of their Lunar lander Lunniy korabyl (LK) in orbit.
Now they planned another docking with Soyuz 5&6 this time with LK and Soyuz 7 the first cislunar flight !
Official the unmanned Zond 9, the preparation wenn secretly, the KGB found creative ways to fool the CIA with false information.
On September 14 launched Soyuz 5 and on October 11 Soyuz 6, they almost failed the rendezvous and docking LK by using too much propellants.
but manage their Mission conduct EVA, tested LK Manned and landed save in USSR.
Them on November 10, 1968 Zond 9 is launch with Aleksei Leonov and Oleg Makarov on a Proton rocket,
Once the Trans Lunar Injection was successful, the TASS announcement that Soyuz 7 is on way to Moon.
While world press went hysterical, the flight to Moon was quite uneventful for the Crew.
Their problem was to ware there spacesuit true there 7 days mission !
On 14 November 1968, Soyuz 7 passt the Moon at a minimum distance of 2420 km
As capsule return behind the moon, Leonov quote to the world the now famous phrase by the Russian father of the Space Age Konstantin Tsiolkovsky:
Man will not always stay on Earth; the pursuit of light and space will lead him to penetrate the bounds of the atmosphere,
Timidly at first, but in the end to conquer the whole of solar space.
The return trip show more and more problem with Soyuz craft, like the falling temperatures of the hydrogen peroxide tanks.
The Crew turn craft so that tanks got heated by sun, what damage the seals around the door of the re-entry cabin by cold.
The landing on 17 November went not well, the capsule depressurised, the crew survive that in there Space Suits,
Follow by malfunction of the automatic skip reentry, the crew endure over 15G but landed in Soviet union
Leonov and Makarov were hospitalised.
Despite all the sacrifice the entire mission accomplished almost nothing scientifically, much to the dismay of the Soviet Academy of Sciences.
Soyuz 7 was an engineering demonstration mission aimed at proven all the critical mission systems,
for a more ambitious goal of having the Soviet flag standing proudly on the lunar surface.
Designation Zond 9 was given to failed L-3 Complex of N1-L6 launch.
The Neck to Neck Race
In USA people were disappointed that Soviets beat them to manned lunar fly by.
James Webb resign from Office and January 1969, Thomas o. Paine became new Administrator of NASA.
And continue the Countdown for Apollo 8 and prepared Apollo 9 to 11.
At last Apollo 7 flight went well for Hardware, but not for Astronauts, who were in conflict with overeager Mission Control.
Werner Von Braun got the bugs out Saturn V, while Rocketdyne worked hard to find the Issue with J-2 engines,
Grumman completed LM-3 for Apollo 9 flight, but testing show new problems with electrical system.
On December 21, 1968 Apollo 8 was launch, the Saturn V worked as planned.
it's enter as first manned spacecraft Lunar orbit, something the Soyuz 7 was unable to do !
On 24 December the crew made a broadcast, were commander Bormann read out "Book of Genesis" from the Bible.
This was later maliciously commented in the Pravda: "The Americans begging their God to win the Moon Race"
On 27 December the crew of Apollo 8 made safe landing in pacific.
The Crew was welcome with ticker-tape parade in USA,
While the New York Times comment cynical "Were is the ticker-tape parade for moon Cosmonauts ?!"
In fact Leonov and Makarov were still hospitalised, confirmed by a teeth cursing Khrushchev.
The soviet space agency, because of issue with Soyuz 7, canceled all Soyuz cislunar flights and focus on manned lunar landing.
Despite that Apollo 8 entering Lunar Orbit and conduct far successful scientific exploration of Moon, compare to Soyuz 7.
The World press focus on Soviet success because there were first to do.
Thomas Paine had to face political problems by Capitol Hill and new US President Richard Nixon.
Those politician demanded a acceleration of Moon landing with Apollo 10.
But LM-3 and LM-4 were heavy test article and not able for moon landing,
Paine explains that Apollo 9 and 10 are needed test flight to qualified the LM-5 for Apollo 11.
On March 3, 1969 Apollo 9 was launched and Lunar Modul Spider was tested successful.
in mean time flow Soyuz 8 & 9 were Manned test of Soyuz LOK and Docking with LK in low earth orbit.
Also successful was the fourth Test launch of N1 in February.
N1-L7 manage to bring Zond 10, a unmanned Soyuz LOK and it's LK-lander in moon orbit and tested there remote.
This qualified the N1 Rocket for Manned Flight and got new designation: Luna
Then the CIA discovers that Soviet rollout TWO N1 rockets and installed them on launch pads !
USA counter with launch of Apollo 10 to Moon orbit and test LM Snoopy, on May 18, 1969.
That test became almost a Disaster, the descent went well until the LM reached 14 km over lunar surface.
As the descent stage is separated, the LM ascent stage start to react violently and to rotate,
Stafford and Cernam fought hard to stabilize the LM.
The two uttered several expletives until gaining control over Snoopy, close to the moment before the rotation became unrecoverable,
After docking with Charlie Brown, they return to Earth and splash down in Pacific on May 26.
Since January 1969 run the Countdown for Apollo 11, in May the Saturn V was fully assembled, tested, and rollout to Launch pad.
The Rocket was check and undergoes flight readiness test and on June 26 the Countdown Demonstration Test
Now only wait until Moon is right position for launch and that is July 16, 1969;
Only question was how far are the soviets ready to launch ?
NASA was in dilemma, the Saturn V underwent modification, Apollo 7 finally ready for manned flight for October 1968,
But Lunar Module was not ready for manned test flight, to heavy, electrical problems and issues with the flight computers.
Grumman believed the LM could be ready for manned Testing in begin 1969 with possible manned landing mid 1969 !
What to do ?
There were several option: wait until 1969 for Apollo 8 and test LM,
or launch Apollo 8 with Spy Sat Camera to moon, but that would take too much time and money, interfere in Lunar landing schedule.
Finally Frank Bormann proposed to NASA to launch Apollo 8 without LM to moon testing the Third Saturn V and manned Apollo CSM.
Marshall Space Flight Center schedule that Saturn V will ready for December 1968 launch of Apollo 8.
Meanwhile the CIA was keeping a close eye on the activities of the Soviets. they had series of failures,
The first N1 test flight endet in Disaster, their new Soyuz spacecraft seems had serious issue, also their Zond probes.
Also a explosion on Soyuz launch pad show the Soviets were in serious problems !
The CIA assessment was that USSR would unlikely send a Human to Moon in 1968, with high probability during 1969.
But Soviets catch up with success of Soyuz 1 to 4 with two docking, also successful unmanned testing of their Lunar lander Lunniy korabyl (LK) in orbit.
Now they planned another docking with Soyuz 5&6 this time with LK and Soyuz 7 the first cislunar flight !
Official the unmanned Zond 9, the preparation wenn secretly, the KGB found creative ways to fool the CIA with false information.
On September 14 launched Soyuz 5 and on October 11 Soyuz 6, they almost failed the rendezvous and docking LK by using too much propellants.
but manage their Mission conduct EVA, tested LK Manned and landed save in USSR.
Them on November 10, 1968 Zond 9 is launch with Aleksei Leonov and Oleg Makarov on a Proton rocket,
Once the Trans Lunar Injection was successful, the TASS announcement that Soyuz 7 is on way to Moon.
While world press went hysterical, the flight to Moon was quite uneventful for the Crew.
Their problem was to ware there spacesuit true there 7 days mission !
On 14 November 1968, Soyuz 7 passt the Moon at a minimum distance of 2420 km
As capsule return behind the moon, Leonov quote to the world the now famous phrase by the Russian father of the Space Age Konstantin Tsiolkovsky:
Man will not always stay on Earth; the pursuit of light and space will lead him to penetrate the bounds of the atmosphere,
Timidly at first, but in the end to conquer the whole of solar space.
The return trip show more and more problem with Soyuz craft, like the falling temperatures of the hydrogen peroxide tanks.
The Crew turn craft so that tanks got heated by sun, what damage the seals around the door of the re-entry cabin by cold.
The landing on 17 November went not well, the capsule depressurised, the crew survive that in there Space Suits,
Follow by malfunction of the automatic skip reentry, the crew endure over 15G but landed in Soviet union
Leonov and Makarov were hospitalised.
Despite all the sacrifice the entire mission accomplished almost nothing scientifically, much to the dismay of the Soviet Academy of Sciences.
Soyuz 7 was an engineering demonstration mission aimed at proven all the critical mission systems,
for a more ambitious goal of having the Soviet flag standing proudly on the lunar surface.
Designation Zond 9 was given to failed L-3 Complex of N1-L6 launch.
The Neck to Neck Race
In USA people were disappointed that Soviets beat them to manned lunar fly by.
James Webb resign from Office and January 1969, Thomas o. Paine became new Administrator of NASA.
And continue the Countdown for Apollo 8 and prepared Apollo 9 to 11.
At last Apollo 7 flight went well for Hardware, but not for Astronauts, who were in conflict with overeager Mission Control.
Werner Von Braun got the bugs out Saturn V, while Rocketdyne worked hard to find the Issue with J-2 engines,
Grumman completed LM-3 for Apollo 9 flight, but testing show new problems with electrical system.
On December 21, 1968 Apollo 8 was launch, the Saturn V worked as planned.
it's enter as first manned spacecraft Lunar orbit, something the Soyuz 7 was unable to do !
On 24 December the crew made a broadcast, were commander Bormann read out "Book of Genesis" from the Bible.
This was later maliciously commented in the Pravda: "The Americans begging their God to win the Moon Race"
On 27 December the crew of Apollo 8 made safe landing in pacific.
The Crew was welcome with ticker-tape parade in USA,
While the New York Times comment cynical "Were is the ticker-tape parade for moon Cosmonauts ?!"
In fact Leonov and Makarov were still hospitalised, confirmed by a teeth cursing Khrushchev.
The soviet space agency, because of issue with Soyuz 7, canceled all Soyuz cislunar flights and focus on manned lunar landing.
Despite that Apollo 8 entering Lunar Orbit and conduct far successful scientific exploration of Moon, compare to Soyuz 7.
The World press focus on Soviet success because there were first to do.
Thomas Paine had to face political problems by Capitol Hill and new US President Richard Nixon.
Those politician demanded a acceleration of Moon landing with Apollo 10.
But LM-3 and LM-4 were heavy test article and not able for moon landing,
Paine explains that Apollo 9 and 10 are needed test flight to qualified the LM-5 for Apollo 11.
On March 3, 1969 Apollo 9 was launched and Lunar Modul Spider was tested successful.
in mean time flow Soyuz 8 & 9 were Manned test of Soyuz LOK and Docking with LK in low earth orbit.
Also successful was the fourth Test launch of N1 in February.
N1-L7 manage to bring Zond 10, a unmanned Soyuz LOK and it's LK-lander in moon orbit and tested there remote.
This qualified the N1 Rocket for Manned Flight and got new designation: Luna
Then the CIA discovers that Soviet rollout TWO N1 rockets and installed them on launch pads !
USA counter with launch of Apollo 10 to Moon orbit and test LM Snoopy, on May 18, 1969.
That test became almost a Disaster, the descent went well until the LM reached 14 km over lunar surface.
As the descent stage is separated, the LM ascent stage start to react violently and to rotate,
Stafford and Cernam fought hard to stabilize the LM.
The two uttered several expletives until gaining control over Snoopy, close to the moment before the rotation became unrecoverable,
After docking with Charlie Brown, they return to Earth and splash down in Pacific on May 26.
Since January 1969 run the Countdown for Apollo 11, in May the Saturn V was fully assembled, tested, and rollout to Launch pad.
The Rocket was check and undergoes flight readiness test and on June 26 the Countdown Demonstration Test
Now only wait until Moon is right position for launch and that is July 16, 1969;
Only question was how far are the soviets ready to launch ?
Last edited:
Part 11 - A Man on the Moon
This post is dedicated to a man, who off all, had the right to be first on the Moon.
During 1967 and 1969 the Soviet tested there L3-complex in low orbit.
First unmanned as Kosmos satellites, then manned Rendezvous with Soyuz, follow by Rendezvous with Lunniy korabl
all went good (with some problems).
Soyuz 10 was another thing is was analog to Apollo 10, to bring the Lunniy korabl to moon and land it automatic on moon.
On June, 1969 the First Manned N1-L8 was launched, on board was Vladislav Volkov and Viktor Gorbatko.
nearly perfect flight except that Block-D use almost too much fuel for Lunar orbit injection.
But they were able to ready the LK and send it to way to the surface, guides by a 1000 kHz signal emit by Lunokhod 3.
While the CIA and NASA believed that Soyuz 10 was Soviet version Apollo 10, follow end of year by manned landing
and Apollo 11 Launch was scheduled launch on 16 July, 1969.
But Soviet ministry of Space was cautious, they wasn't confident in the LK lander's reliability.
and weren't about to risk the life of their heroic lunar cosmonaut without redundancy.
So Soyuz 10 mission was to bring the Backup Lunniy korabl to it destination for flight of Soyuz 11
At 27 June as the Americans did the Countdown Demonstration Test with Apollo 11
The Soyuz-11 blasted off with Pavel Popovich and Vladimir Komarov.
After it entered into a 200 km low earth orbit it remained there for 25 hours, checking the systems and uploaded new information for TLI
28 June Soyuz 11 made it Trans Lunar Injection burn. It will need over 5 days to reach the Moon
until Soyuz 11 entered an elliptical lunar orbit (150x50 km) at afternoon of the 2 July.
On 3 July the Crew located the Lunokhod 3 and LK-backup landing site.
LOK pilot Pavel Popovich and Flight Engineer Vladimir Komarov prepared the landing procedure,
the L-3 complex lowered its orbit to 100 km by 20 km
Vladimir Komarov enter his Kerchet Spacesuit and began to EVA to the LK craft,
He entered it and started up its systems then detached the LK with its Block-D from the Load-baring structure cover and LOK
Komarov used the Block-D last propellants reserves to brake out of Lunar orbit descending toward the surface,
Guided by 1000 kHz signal radio beacon from Lunokhod 3.
4000 meter over lunar surface Komarov jettison the Empty block-D and ignite the LK engines.
On July 4 1969 Vladimir Milhaylovich Komarov landed as First human in history on the Moon.
Only 177 meter near Lunokod 3 and 360 meter near LK-backup
While Komarov prepared his EVA, Lunokhod 3 was reactivated and rolled toward the LK
Film by it’s TV cameras, Komarov exit the LK, erecting the Flag of USSR and saluting it,
Televised world wide by TASS with background music, the Soviet national anthem.
For a moment Komarov looked up at the Earth and said:
"Планета есть колыбель разума, но нельзя вечно жить в колыбели"
Translation: "Earth is the cradle of humanity, but one cannot stay in the cradle forever"
After that Komarov pulled the Scientific equipment package out the LK and deployed that near by, then he collected samples of Lunar soil and rocks.
He made several photos of his LK, the Lunokhod 3 which followed him via remote control and the LK-Backup at lunar horizon.
After 3 hours of exhausting EVA, he made a report over TV camera outside LK and return into in for the first meal on the Moon and resting.
While he was eating something happened as he heard a loud BANG follow by hissing sound, lucky Komarov was inside his Spacesuit with faceplate up, which he close very fast.
It was not the Pressurized cosmonaut compartment, but the pressurized avionic container which depressurized !
and that was even worse, the avionic was cooled by nitrogen gas which ventilated through containers, now that it was depressurised,
The electronics started to overheat fast and was now failing, Komarov report what happen before the LK radios went dead.
Mission Control in Kaliningrad, react in turmoil and consternation at the news,
Now everything lies on the flight control crew of the Lunakhod 3 in getting Komarov to backup LK.
But the question was whether his LK-backup had a similar problem?
Komarov inspected his LK, took photos of the depressurized avionic container and took the Sample container to Lunokhod 3.
and hold tight on Rover, which was driven as fast as they could toward the LK-Backup.
Komarov radioed home with the backup LK and without hesitation initiated the ascent order and took off a mere 4 hours after initially arriving on the Moon.
Now it was the turn of LOK Pilot Pavel Popovich, because the LK had a passive rolle in Rendezvous and docking,
it was the task of Popovich to manage to catch up the LK and dockt with it,
Komarov made his final EVA with his samples and Photos back to the LOK.
On 5 July at 10:59 the LOK jettison it’s Utility module with it dockt LK and return to Earth.
at 8 July around 10:00 the Descent Module entered the Earth's atmosphere for a skip maneuver and re-entered for landing on USSR.
Vladimir Milhaylovich Komarov was awarded a second time with "The Hero of The Soviet Union“ and "order of Lenin“.
The flight control crew of Lunokhod 3 was awarded with "The Hero of The Soviet Union“ and "order of Lenin“ for rescue of Komarov.
The LK malfunction was do to a faulty seal on the pressurized avionic container, which caused the depressuring,
reason was a faulty acceptance test at the point of manufacture.
Acting General Sectary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union,
Alexei Kosygin announced the official Soviet program of manned Exploration of Solar system called: Galaktika (Russian for Galaxy)
Comprised of further Moon expeditions and a Soviet Space Station program beginning in the 1970s.
In USA the disappointment was great, on their National holiday,
the commies landed on Moon first and made spectacularly heroic events wordy of a Hollywood Movie.
Nixon's first reaction was to fire NASA Administrator Thomas O. Paine and and looking for New Administrator
Now the responsibility lay on Nixon to react to the Soviet victory and challenge.
On 16 July Apollo 11 lifted off to the Moon.
NOTE:
This was original written in July 2015
For All Mankind was broadcast November 1, 2019
This post is dedicated to a man, who off all, had the right to be first on the Moon.
During 1967 and 1969 the Soviet tested there L3-complex in low orbit.
First unmanned as Kosmos satellites, then manned Rendezvous with Soyuz, follow by Rendezvous with Lunniy korabl
all went good (with some problems).
Soyuz 10 was another thing is was analog to Apollo 10, to bring the Lunniy korabl to moon and land it automatic on moon.
On June, 1969 the First Manned N1-L8 was launched, on board was Vladislav Volkov and Viktor Gorbatko.
nearly perfect flight except that Block-D use almost too much fuel for Lunar orbit injection.
But they were able to ready the LK and send it to way to the surface, guides by a 1000 kHz signal emit by Lunokhod 3.
While the CIA and NASA believed that Soyuz 10 was Soviet version Apollo 10, follow end of year by manned landing
and Apollo 11 Launch was scheduled launch on 16 July, 1969.
But Soviet ministry of Space was cautious, they wasn't confident in the LK lander's reliability.
and weren't about to risk the life of their heroic lunar cosmonaut without redundancy.
So Soyuz 10 mission was to bring the Backup Lunniy korabl to it destination for flight of Soyuz 11
At 27 June as the Americans did the Countdown Demonstration Test with Apollo 11
The Soyuz-11 blasted off with Pavel Popovich and Vladimir Komarov.
After it entered into a 200 km low earth orbit it remained there for 25 hours, checking the systems and uploaded new information for TLI
28 June Soyuz 11 made it Trans Lunar Injection burn. It will need over 5 days to reach the Moon
until Soyuz 11 entered an elliptical lunar orbit (150x50 km) at afternoon of the 2 July.
On 3 July the Crew located the Lunokhod 3 and LK-backup landing site.
LOK pilot Pavel Popovich and Flight Engineer Vladimir Komarov prepared the landing procedure,
the L-3 complex lowered its orbit to 100 km by 20 km
Vladimir Komarov enter his Kerchet Spacesuit and began to EVA to the LK craft,
He entered it and started up its systems then detached the LK with its Block-D from the Load-baring structure cover and LOK
Komarov used the Block-D last propellants reserves to brake out of Lunar orbit descending toward the surface,
Guided by 1000 kHz signal radio beacon from Lunokhod 3.
4000 meter over lunar surface Komarov jettison the Empty block-D and ignite the LK engines.
On July 4 1969 Vladimir Milhaylovich Komarov landed as First human in history on the Moon.
Only 177 meter near Lunokod 3 and 360 meter near LK-backup
While Komarov prepared his EVA, Lunokhod 3 was reactivated and rolled toward the LK
Film by it’s TV cameras, Komarov exit the LK, erecting the Flag of USSR and saluting it,
Televised world wide by TASS with background music, the Soviet national anthem.
For a moment Komarov looked up at the Earth and said:
"Планета есть колыбель разума, но нельзя вечно жить в колыбели"
Translation: "Earth is the cradle of humanity, but one cannot stay in the cradle forever"
After that Komarov pulled the Scientific equipment package out the LK and deployed that near by, then he collected samples of Lunar soil and rocks.
He made several photos of his LK, the Lunokhod 3 which followed him via remote control and the LK-Backup at lunar horizon.
After 3 hours of exhausting EVA, he made a report over TV camera outside LK and return into in for the first meal on the Moon and resting.
While he was eating something happened as he heard a loud BANG follow by hissing sound, lucky Komarov was inside his Spacesuit with faceplate up, which he close very fast.
It was not the Pressurized cosmonaut compartment, but the pressurized avionic container which depressurized !
and that was even worse, the avionic was cooled by nitrogen gas which ventilated through containers, now that it was depressurised,
The electronics started to overheat fast and was now failing, Komarov report what happen before the LK radios went dead.
Mission Control in Kaliningrad, react in turmoil and consternation at the news,
Now everything lies on the flight control crew of the Lunakhod 3 in getting Komarov to backup LK.
But the question was whether his LK-backup had a similar problem?
Komarov inspected his LK, took photos of the depressurized avionic container and took the Sample container to Lunokhod 3.
and hold tight on Rover, which was driven as fast as they could toward the LK-Backup.
Komarov radioed home with the backup LK and without hesitation initiated the ascent order and took off a mere 4 hours after initially arriving on the Moon.
Now it was the turn of LOK Pilot Pavel Popovich, because the LK had a passive rolle in Rendezvous and docking,
it was the task of Popovich to manage to catch up the LK and dockt with it,
Komarov made his final EVA with his samples and Photos back to the LOK.
On 5 July at 10:59 the LOK jettison it’s Utility module with it dockt LK and return to Earth.
at 8 July around 10:00 the Descent Module entered the Earth's atmosphere for a skip maneuver and re-entered for landing on USSR.
Vladimir Milhaylovich Komarov was awarded a second time with "The Hero of The Soviet Union“ and "order of Lenin“.
The flight control crew of Lunokhod 3 was awarded with "The Hero of The Soviet Union“ and "order of Lenin“ for rescue of Komarov.
The LK malfunction was do to a faulty seal on the pressurized avionic container, which caused the depressuring,
reason was a faulty acceptance test at the point of manufacture.
Acting General Sectary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union,
Alexei Kosygin announced the official Soviet program of manned Exploration of Solar system called: Galaktika (Russian for Galaxy)
Comprised of further Moon expeditions and a Soviet Space Station program beginning in the 1970s.
In USA the disappointment was great, on their National holiday,
the commies landed on Moon first and made spectacularly heroic events wordy of a Hollywood Movie.
Nixon's first reaction was to fire NASA Administrator Thomas O. Paine and and looking for New Administrator
Now the responsibility lay on Nixon to react to the Soviet victory and challenge.
On 16 July Apollo 11 lifted off to the Moon.
NOTE:
This was original written in July 2015
For All Mankind was broadcast November 1, 2019
Last edited:
Is this OTL? Are the two phrases in Russian similar?
Hmmm... A quick check of Google translate doesn't show any obvious similarities in either Russian or Chinese.
Which, of course, suggests that a different translation was used for one or both phrases.
Similarities No
So far the story goes (source is German literature and TV Dokumentation).
Khrushchev used metaphor “you need to change old shoes”,
its unclear to me what happen exactly.
Either it was translated literally or Mao Zedong miss understand as the Chinese metaphor,
To get rid of old prostitute depicted als old shoes.
So far the story goes, after that Mao Zedong refuse to talk with Khrushchev
Part 12 - The Political Fallout
Nixon Reaction on what happened...
He not only fired NASA Administrator Thomas O. Paine, Nixon throw him to the wolves in Capitol Hill.
follow by now former CIA director Richard Helms
And look for way to counter Soviet success in the Space Race, but for that he needed the right man to run NASA,
A man he could trust and is a Republican!
Congressman George H. W. Bush endorsed Nixon in the 1968 Republican Party presidential primaries,
Nixon considered selecting Bush as his running mate in the 1968 presidential election, but he chose Spiro Agnew instead.
Now he offers Bush the post of NASA Administrator !
NASA react baffled on the News, but they got a experience politician who was determent to his job.
In mean time Apollo 11 made it moon landing, Neil Armstrong became first American on Moon follow by Edwin Aldrin,
They return save to Earth and got a ticker-tape parade in Washington D.C. but like Aldrin say much later in Interview:
To be the second, is not like to be number one...
In September 1969, Vice president Spiro Agnew presented the Space Task Group result on Study what NASA had to do next.
There called it, The Intergraded Program Plan short IPP proposed in three different program options,
They mostly involved the same hardware set, but with a different timetable and annual development/operating cost overtime.
Option A like a for "Ambitiously", is $500 Billion Space program spent over next 30 years.
it would have include six Space Station, 1983 first manned Mars landing, a Moon base and Mars base in 1990s, with hundreds of Astronauts working in space.
Option C like c for "Cheap" with $25 billion, over next 10 years.
It would after Apollo program is ended, focus on a Reusable Space Shuttle and a low orbit Space station, that launch by the Shuttle.
This however could not fulfilling the national needs to beat the Soviets in Space.
The Option B as being the obvious choice that balances both cost and capability: $50 Billion over 20 years.
Reusable Space Shuttle with Space Tug, Two workshops, a Space Station, with option for Nuclear Shuttle if Approved.
a Lunar Orbit station and as option 2 Mars Expedition end of 1980s if Approved.
In total would work 36 to 48 men in space in 1990s
The only person who believed that Option A would be taken was Spiro Agnew.
Nixon took Option B because gave the USA the option to counter the Soviets in Space,
NASA Administrator Bush proposed that Apollo program should continue so long Soviets made Lunar landings.
and demanded to restart the Saturn V and Apollo hardware production so fast as possibly for 1973 use.
Nixon authorised that together with Apollo Orbital Workshops.
NASA was looking for Name for IPP option B and the naming rules were straightforward.
Candidate names were to be simple and easily pronounced, not refer to living persons,
neither duplicate nor closely resemble other NASA or non-NASA space program names,
be translatable into the languages of the International Partners,
and have neither ambiguous nor offensive meanings in the International Partner languages.
In addition, acronyms were to be avoided. So the name "Odyssey" was chosen.
Odyssey through the US House of Representatives
The news of NASA's Odyssey program hit the US media like a bomb.
Some journalist remembering Stanley Kubrick science fiction movie "2001: A Space Odyssey"
compared the program to the similarly, named film while other point out the gigantic cost of $50 billion something similar to the ongoing Vietnam War !
And labeled Odyssey as Megalomaniac madness, even speaking of a NASA Empire.
In the latest Gallup Poll 53% of US citizens were against the Apollo program !
While Spiro Agnew was booed when he spoke of the Odyssey program in public.
With the media hype the House of Representatives started to react.
They cut down NASA 1970 budget 17.31% lower compare to year 1969, stop by Nixon Veto.
Joseph Karth (Dem) member of House committee on Science, Space and Technology,
Started to criticizes NASA in public "for miss-using Odyssey for getting to Mars only".
In the spring of 1971 Krath tried several times to issue a bill to block the financing of the program,
the votings ended in a stalemate.
Walter Mondale (Dem) tried in July, to past a more radical bill.
He proposed to shut down NASA manned Space Flight activity and close Marshall Space Flight Center and Johnson Space Center !
With the argument that USA had lose the Moon Race, and that it better to spend the money on social welfare programs.
His proposal was rejected with narrow majority.
Caspar Weinberger (Rep), newly responsible for the US federal budget, tried unsuccessful to cancel the Apollo and Odyssey program.
At NASA rang the alarm bells, Odyssey was in danger of getting canceled by US politicians !
Administrator Bush deal with new hostile situation.
Luckily the planned NASA budget cuts by Representatives were stop by Nixon's vetos.
NASA started to Lobby for the program, focusing on Space shuttle, Space Station and Manned lunar missions, not mention future manned Mars missions.
In same time the USAF look into a joint venture in the Shuttle program which would reduce NASA's portion of the costs of Odyssey.
Bush made harsh cut in NASA programs like Apollo Application Program, scaling it down to just two Skylabs.
while canceling the Apollo-Soyuz program all together, and put Grand tour and Viking under revision.
At the same time the US Aerospace Industry acquired the best Lobbyists in Washington D.C.
Because even the scaled down version of proposed Odyssey program would bring them even more revenue than the Apollo program !
In Mean time Administrator Bush contacted Henry Kissinger, he ask the Diplomat for Helping him to secure foreign partners for Odyssey Program.
What protect the program against cancelation, Kissinger went on good will tour under Allies of USA and found interested partners,
Under conditions that Partner Aerospace Industry can produce for Odyssey program.
Then came the news the Soviet would increase their manned space efforts under the Galaktika program.
Finally Congress react, instead of immediately accepting Odyssey in the beginning, they pushed for more Apollo missions.
NASA could restart the Saturn V and IB production.
In the Senate the battle restart, Walter Mondale claimed that Odyssey was a waste of money.
Congress voted for Odyssey in march 1972, after China stunt in Space !
with an eventual lunar orbital base in the early 1980s (utilising the Shuttle's chemical "Space Tug" and a reusable orbit to orbit Nuclear Shuttle and space station backup)
For Von Braun and his colleagues this decision was a secret victory. With the nuclear shuttle, space tug, space shuttle, space station and Saturn booster,
the option would be available to any future president who wished to send humans to Mars.
The only item not funded would be the Mars Excursion Module (MEM). If funding for the MEM were approved in FY 1976,
the first landing would be in 1983. If the MEM were approved in 1978, the first landing would be in 1985 and so on.
This wasn't publically discussed as spending even more money on an MEM wasn't politically viable at the time.
Some Representatives even Democrats began considering Walter Mondale as "treacherous",
A simple majority shared opinion the USA had to counter the Soviet Space activity,
after nearly losing every space milestone to the Soviets from Sputnik to the Moon.
Despite warning of his colleagues and allies, Mondale issued until 1973 several bills to stop the financing of Odyssey,
They were each rejected with a narrow majority, Because US House of Representatives had other problems:
FBI director John Edgar Hoover died, Mark Felt become his successor, Spiro Agnew resigned,
President Nixon took Gerald Ford as Vice President,
For 1971 to 1976 the financing of Odyssey was save for moment, again thanks to Nixon's Vetos.
He not only fired NASA Administrator Thomas O. Paine, Nixon throw him to the wolves in Capitol Hill.
follow by now former CIA director Richard Helms
And look for way to counter Soviet success in the Space Race, but for that he needed the right man to run NASA,
A man he could trust and is a Republican!
Congressman George H. W. Bush endorsed Nixon in the 1968 Republican Party presidential primaries,
Nixon considered selecting Bush as his running mate in the 1968 presidential election, but he chose Spiro Agnew instead.
Now he offers Bush the post of NASA Administrator !
NASA react baffled on the News, but they got a experience politician who was determent to his job.
In mean time Apollo 11 made it moon landing, Neil Armstrong became first American on Moon follow by Edwin Aldrin,
They return save to Earth and got a ticker-tape parade in Washington D.C. but like Aldrin say much later in Interview:
To be the second, is not like to be number one...
In September 1969, Vice president Spiro Agnew presented the Space Task Group result on Study what NASA had to do next.
There called it, The Intergraded Program Plan short IPP proposed in three different program options,
They mostly involved the same hardware set, but with a different timetable and annual development/operating cost overtime.
Option A like a for "Ambitiously", is $500 Billion Space program spent over next 30 years.
it would have include six Space Station, 1983 first manned Mars landing, a Moon base and Mars base in 1990s, with hundreds of Astronauts working in space.
Option C like c for "Cheap" with $25 billion, over next 10 years.
It would after Apollo program is ended, focus on a Reusable Space Shuttle and a low orbit Space station, that launch by the Shuttle.
This however could not fulfilling the national needs to beat the Soviets in Space.
The Option B as being the obvious choice that balances both cost and capability: $50 Billion over 20 years.
Reusable Space Shuttle with Space Tug, Two workshops, a Space Station, with option for Nuclear Shuttle if Approved.
a Lunar Orbit station and as option 2 Mars Expedition end of 1980s if Approved.
In total would work 36 to 48 men in space in 1990s
The only person who believed that Option A would be taken was Spiro Agnew.
Nixon took Option B because gave the USA the option to counter the Soviets in Space,
NASA Administrator Bush proposed that Apollo program should continue so long Soviets made Lunar landings.
and demanded to restart the Saturn V and Apollo hardware production so fast as possibly for 1973 use.
Nixon authorised that together with Apollo Orbital Workshops.
NASA was looking for Name for IPP option B and the naming rules were straightforward.
Candidate names were to be simple and easily pronounced, not refer to living persons,
neither duplicate nor closely resemble other NASA or non-NASA space program names,
be translatable into the languages of the International Partners,
and have neither ambiguous nor offensive meanings in the International Partner languages.
In addition, acronyms were to be avoided. So the name "Odyssey" was chosen.
Odyssey through the US House of Representatives
The news of NASA's Odyssey program hit the US media like a bomb.
Some journalist remembering Stanley Kubrick science fiction movie "2001: A Space Odyssey"
compared the program to the similarly, named film while other point out the gigantic cost of $50 billion something similar to the ongoing Vietnam War !
And labeled Odyssey as Megalomaniac madness, even speaking of a NASA Empire.
In the latest Gallup Poll 53% of US citizens were against the Apollo program !
While Spiro Agnew was booed when he spoke of the Odyssey program in public.
With the media hype the House of Representatives started to react.
They cut down NASA 1970 budget 17.31% lower compare to year 1969, stop by Nixon Veto.
Joseph Karth (Dem) member of House committee on Science, Space and Technology,
Started to criticizes NASA in public "for miss-using Odyssey for getting to Mars only".
In the spring of 1971 Krath tried several times to issue a bill to block the financing of the program,
the votings ended in a stalemate.
Walter Mondale (Dem) tried in July, to past a more radical bill.
He proposed to shut down NASA manned Space Flight activity and close Marshall Space Flight Center and Johnson Space Center !
With the argument that USA had lose the Moon Race, and that it better to spend the money on social welfare programs.
His proposal was rejected with narrow majority.
Caspar Weinberger (Rep), newly responsible for the US federal budget, tried unsuccessful to cancel the Apollo and Odyssey program.
At NASA rang the alarm bells, Odyssey was in danger of getting canceled by US politicians !
Administrator Bush deal with new hostile situation.
Luckily the planned NASA budget cuts by Representatives were stop by Nixon's vetos.
NASA started to Lobby for the program, focusing on Space shuttle, Space Station and Manned lunar missions, not mention future manned Mars missions.
In same time the USAF look into a joint venture in the Shuttle program which would reduce NASA's portion of the costs of Odyssey.
Bush made harsh cut in NASA programs like Apollo Application Program, scaling it down to just two Skylabs.
while canceling the Apollo-Soyuz program all together, and put Grand tour and Viking under revision.
At the same time the US Aerospace Industry acquired the best Lobbyists in Washington D.C.
Because even the scaled down version of proposed Odyssey program would bring them even more revenue than the Apollo program !
In Mean time Administrator Bush contacted Henry Kissinger, he ask the Diplomat for Helping him to secure foreign partners for Odyssey Program.
What protect the program against cancelation, Kissinger went on good will tour under Allies of USA and found interested partners,
Under conditions that Partner Aerospace Industry can produce for Odyssey program.
Then came the news the Soviet would increase their manned space efforts under the Galaktika program.
Finally Congress react, instead of immediately accepting Odyssey in the beginning, they pushed for more Apollo missions.
NASA could restart the Saturn V and IB production.
In the Senate the battle restart, Walter Mondale claimed that Odyssey was a waste of money.
Congress voted for Odyssey in march 1972, after China stunt in Space !
with an eventual lunar orbital base in the early 1980s (utilising the Shuttle's chemical "Space Tug" and a reusable orbit to orbit Nuclear Shuttle and space station backup)
For Von Braun and his colleagues this decision was a secret victory. With the nuclear shuttle, space tug, space shuttle, space station and Saturn booster,
the option would be available to any future president who wished to send humans to Mars.
The only item not funded would be the Mars Excursion Module (MEM). If funding for the MEM were approved in FY 1976,
the first landing would be in 1983. If the MEM were approved in 1978, the first landing would be in 1985 and so on.
This wasn't publically discussed as spending even more money on an MEM wasn't politically viable at the time.
Some Representatives even Democrats began considering Walter Mondale as "treacherous",
A simple majority shared opinion the USA had to counter the Soviet Space activity,
after nearly losing every space milestone to the Soviets from Sputnik to the Moon.
Despite warning of his colleagues and allies, Mondale issued until 1973 several bills to stop the financing of Odyssey,
They were each rejected with a narrow majority, Because US House of Representatives had other problems:
FBI director John Edgar Hoover died, Mark Felt become his successor, Spiro Agnew resigned,
President Nixon took Gerald Ford as Vice President,
For 1971 to 1976 the financing of Odyssey was save for moment, again thanks to Nixon's Vetos.
Last edited:
