chapter 495

4/23/2018

Rocket Man

ready for those Koreans

I had the occasion to launch a Vanguard Rocket this week from the Empire State Aeronautical Museum (ESAM) I've visited numerous times. This well done display is an actual original control panel. You can go through the sequences of bringing on line the various mechanical functions as they light up and coordinate with the on screen video. They didn't actually launch the satellite carrying Vanguard (Cape Canaveral) from here but its first stage X405 rocket engine testing was done here in Saratoga County.

The museum has done a great job taking apart this test bunker from the Malta Rocket site and recreating a terrific hands on experience for visitors to ESAM. Awaiting authorized permission to enter the actual grounds legally.

Next to the test fire bunker is this the x405 liquid chemical rocket engine that was at the center of focus and the beginning of our space program.

Wish I had a nickel for every time I head about this Norden Bombsight from Dad's war stories. It greatly enhanced the accuracy of bombing in our B-24s and B-17s by allowing the bombardier to be actually flying the plane on the last moments of the bombing run over target as bombs were released. They were manufactured in Little Italy New York City. The TED video is quite revealing. Photographing of this bombsight was a violation of National Security. Hope that policy has changed from the time when the government's Norden budget was nearly half of what they spent on the Atomic Bomb project.

.