“In this one room is the greatest computer capacity in the free world.”
In January 1967, astronauts Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Edward White, and Roger Chaffee were killed in a cabin fire during a launch rehearsal for AS-204 (later named Apollo 1). This progress report details some of the findings of the 204 Accident Review Board and covers the corrective steps taken to ensure the safety of the Apollo spacecraft, most of which are described by the astronauts who will be flying aboard Apollo 7. This film also surveys the various Apollo simulators—many of which were located at the Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC)—used to train the Apollo 7 crew. Simulators featured here include those for the Command and Lunar Modules, as well as the launch simulator, target and docking simulator, water immersion facility, partial gravity simulator, and mission procedures simulator. We also get a look at the state-of-the-art computer technology used to run the simulators and the communications, command, and telemetry systems. We round out this progress report with a tour of the MSC’s newly completed Lunar Receiving Laboratory, including an explanation of the quarantining procedures for returning astronauts and lunar samples.
Date Released: 1967
File #: MSC-67-442
Produced By: NASA/MSC
Program Duration: 26:42
Media: 16mm Film
Reel Length: 975 ft
Audio: Optical, Variable Area
Film Stock: Ektachrome
Film Stock Edge Code Date: 1966