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Brian's recollections on being a rocket scientist.
The best thing about being a rocket scientist is the name - any one can be a lawyer, doctor, but how many can say they are a rocket scientist! It's like being a member of royalty!
It's like being on the varsity football team. Everyone knows you are the BMOC.
Launch comics
One launch took 13 times. Myra made it to 8 of the "trys", and was actually there when the vehicle launched. The families were there to see the fruits of their loved ones labor at work. We started out being bused out in a government issue "no frills" bus. By the last launch, we were in the VIP bus and were served finger food as we journeyed out to the viewing site. The viewing site was 5 miles away from the launch pad. Brian would say that he never saw a "live launch" as he was always viewing it through the "TV screen." Myra did tho' - that last night when the vehicle actually launched. It was pretty spectacular.
Most of the aborted launches were due to upper altitude winds, as the upper winds are so strong that the steering capabilities of the vehicle can't counter balance the affect of the wind pushing the vehicle off course.
There was one aborted launch that was caused by a burnt out light bulb on the control panel.
On a separate launch, someone "accidently" pushed the button to flood the flame bucket while there were Generals touring it.
Another time the group of Generals got caught in the elevator and it took awhile to get them down.
Most of the work of the launch team is doing all the little jobs and all the small tests to make sure that all the individual tests are working. And then the thrill comes from putting everything together to see that it all works on launch day.
Morning launches were frequently followed by a launch party at the Elks Club in town.
Atlas E and F, or Atlas 2 were basically used as "semi-trucks" to take the satellite up into space and properly placed.
The electrical "wiring" becomes at "umbilical". It ends in a electrical plug {about 10 inches in diameter and 14 inches long}. The 3 electrical cables make up the umbilical adapter. Each cable is about 2 inches in diameter. Sometimes the umbilical connector was ripped away for the cables and blown out into a vacant field.
It takes us 80-90 days of all the small tests and operations to get ready for the larger integrated tests. The major integrated tests such as sym-flight- simulated flight - propellant loading; mission dress rehearsal, and then launch. Sym flight checks out the rocket's computer and guidance system, issues commands during the flight including when to start the engines, when to issue guidance [steering] commands, and other mechanical operations that need to be accomplished during the flight of the vehicle.
During the Sym-flight test, the rocket computer sends electrical signals that do things such as pressurizing the propellant tanks, jettisoning the Booster stage, and a short time later fire the explosive bolts that hold together the two halves of the payload fairing, and then the payload separation command.
Then when having passed through the thickest part of the atmosphere, the activated explosive bolts that hold the 2 halves of the payload fairing together. This permits separation from the rocket. or other devises that drop off the first state of the vehicle[rocket], and pressurizing upper stage engines systems.
At the appropriate altitude, direction and speed, the booster engines are shut down. The command to separate the payload from the rocket is sent, allowing the payload to coast away from the vehicle while at the same time the rocket is slowing down and falling back to earth.
After payload separation, the kick motor/engine fires to place the satellite into a circular orbit.
The biggest thrill comes from the major tests and of course the launch. You could liken a major test as checking your truck and vacation trailer out driving around town getting ready for a big trip.
Part of the fun is going down to the pad on launch night. You look up at the launch service tower that protects the rocket, are moved back by huge motors, leaving the rocket standing alone on the pad. You think to yourself that "Wow! I helped to do this!"
There is an Air Force tradition is to place a frozen turkey in the flame bucket prior to launch, and then look for it afterwards. They never find them."
Brian's work frequently required him to climb up within the Atlas rocket's thrust section (where the engines are) to staging disconnects and other components. He also conducted similar tests in the upper stage engine area, but only through access ports through the skin of the rocket.
Brian would also be sent to Florida maybe 2-3 times a year to assist with a launch at Cape Canaveral. He would stay in Coco Beach all expenses paid.
Copy and paste this URL to see launches including Atlas at Vandenburg Air Force Base, California, USA.
https://youtu.be/s51-8WO_xMw
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