“The third quarter of 1968 was marked by an increasing rate of vigorous and intensive testing preparing the way for an accelerated early schedule of resuming manned flight operations after two years.”
At this point in the Apollo program, we are one year away from putting astronauts on the Moon, and just a month away from the first manned Apollo mission—Apollo 7, scheduled for launch in October 1968. Thus, this film begins with a recap of the ground testing of astronauts and launch rehearsals for Apollo 7. Given that technical problems were discovered during the Apollo 6 mission, the report discusses the main issue, the POGO effect, and the solution NASA instituted for Apollo 7. Another type of astronaut training, egress, is covered in this quarterly report. Both launch tower (via slide wire) and water egress training are shown. We even get to see astronaut Rusty Schweickart practice a water egress technique he “borrowed from a mallard duck” at Perrin Air Force Base outside of Sherman, Texas. The film concludes with the Identification of MASCONS on the Moon, their significance to the lunar missions, and the solution to working with their effect on navigation systems.
Date Released: 1968
File #: N/A
Produced By: NASA/MSC
Program Duration: 15:04
Media: 16mm Film
Reel Length: 556 ft
Audio: Optical, Variable Area
Film Stock: Eastman
Film Stock Edge Code Date: 1968