The Apollo program evolved from projects Mercury and Gemini, successfully setting the feet of human beings on the moon six times and a total of 12 astronauts between 1961 and 1972. Here are some of the more offbeat photos NASA has released from those golden years of the space program.
Just a Test
Test subject wearing the pressurized “space” suit for the Reduced Gravity Walking Simulator located at the Lunar Landing Facility.
Does it Fit?
Engineer Bill Peterson fits test pilot Bob Smyth in spacesuit A-3H-024 with the LEM Astronaut restraint harness.
Apollo 1
Astronauts Virgil “Gus” I. Grissom, Edward H. White II, and Roger B. Chaffee were to pilot the first manned Apollo mission. Tragically, during launch pad testing, a fire would asphyxiate the team. The mission was originally designated the Apollo 204, but was renamed Apollo 1 in their recognition.
In the Tunnel
The MORL-Saturn IB launch combination undergoes aerodynamic testing in the 8-Foot Transonic Tunnel.
LOLA Simulator
A 20-foot sphere which simulated for the astronauts what the surface of the moon would look like from 200 miles up.
Mission Control
Drop Testing
Drop testing for the Apollo capsule’s return to earth.
Daleks?
Something that looks like a Dalek but is actually a RL-10 engine with Miss NASA 1968.
Apollo Crew Relaxing
Prime crew for the Apollo VII mission practice water egress procedures with full-scale boilerplate model of their spacecraft.
Manned Apollo Prep
The Apollo 7 crew in suiting room.
Recovery
Recovery activities of the Apollo 7 crew, in the water and onboard the prime recovery ship aircraft carrier USS Essex.
In Space
The view of the docked Apollo 9 Command and Service Modules CSM and Lunar Module LM.
Simulation
Apollo 10 astronauts Cernan, Stafford, Young and Kerwin at the Apollo C/M mission simulator.
Buzz
Astronaut Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin, lunar module pilot, walks on the surface of the moon near the leg of the Lunar Module “Eagle” during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity.
Apollo 11 Celebrations
Apollo 12
The Apollo 12 crew after deploying the S-band antenna and the solar-wind experiment and after erecting the flag.
Alan Bean (Apollo 12)
Apollo 15 Launch
Lightning flashes in the sky behind the Saturn V rocket that will propel Apollo 15 to the moon.
Lunar Rover Simulation
Two members of the prime crew of the Apollo 15 lunar landing mission collect soil samples during a simulation of lunar surface extravehicular activity in New Mexico.
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