Page 34 - InterPilot 2019 Issue 4

THE RIGHT STUFF PAGE 34

TECHNICAL DETAILS MATTER:
A PILOT NTTEDS TO KNOW HIS AIRCRAFT VERY WELL
The astronauts involved themselves in every technical detail in the
design and development of their spacecraft. Visiting and consulting
with the engineering teams and the folks who actually built them
was as much a part of their routine as the heavy training demands
for space flight.

The book described how these astronauts ensured they were a part
of the decision-making team together with the NASA administrators
and the engineering teams. In fact, for some time, it was engineering
which asserted their authority in the project, because of the signifi-
cant role of new technology.

L-R: Alan Shepard, John Glenn, Scott Carpenter

Their involvement allowed them to know their spacecraft and the
technology intimately. They knew and understood their procedures
and also the rationale for each step of every procedure.

In the end, the astronauts became more and more influential,
especially with each successive “win,” including the first American
launched into space (Alan Shepard), and the first to orbit Earth (John
Glenn).

NEVER FORGET YOUR PRIORITIES
After the euphoria of Shepard and Glenn’s success, subsequent
flights spent more and more time in orbit. The engineers and scien-
tists drew up a slew of tests and experiments which the solo astro-
naut was required to perform. All part of the process of learning as
the nascent space program had to test boundaries and technologies.

However, controversy arose with the second orbital flight. It was
suggested that astronaut Scott Carpenter had overly focused on the
science and engineering experiments. This resulted in over-depletion
of his hydrogen-peroxide fuel and missing his retrofire cue. Whilst
the experiments and procedures were important, the priority must
always remain the control of your vehicle.

So it’s back to my first point. May we never take our eyes off that.