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Preparations Intensify for Historic Apollo-Soyuz Test Project

As the first international docking mission approaches in six months, ground preparations for the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) are in full swing. At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, workers diligently assembled the final Saturn rocket destined for this mission in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). In the nearby Manned Spacecraft Operations Building (MSOB), the prime crew—which includes Commander Thomas Stafford, Command Module Pilot Vance Brand, and Docking Module Pilot Donald “Deke” Slayton—along with their backups Alan Bean, Ronald Evans, and Jack Lousma, engaged in critical vacuum tests of the Command Module (CM), marking a significant step toward flight readiness.

The Saturn IB rocket, designated SA-210 for the ASTP mission, has a rich history that reflects the evolution of NASA’s goals. Initially constructed in 1967, its two stages were designed during a period of ambitious plans for numerous Saturn IB flights, aimed at conducting tests of the Apollo spacecraft in Earth orbit prior to the Moon landing. However, by 1968, the mission landscape shifted significantly. Following four successful uncrewed launches, only Apollo 7 had flown with a crew. Consequently, four Saturn IB rockets were left on standby for future crewed missions under the Apollo Applications Program, which eventually became known as Skylab. The two stages of SA-210 were placed into long-term storage, awaiting refurbishment for ASTP, a process that culminated with their arrival at KSC—first the second stage in November 1972, followed by the first stage in April 1974.

On January 13, 1975, workers began assembling the rocket inside the massive VAB, placing the first stage atop Mobile Launcher-1 (ML-1), which was adapted from its original use with Saturn V rockets. The addition of a “milk stool” pedestal allowed the Saturn IB to collaborate with the Launch Umbilical Tower initially designed for the larger Saturn V. The following day, the second stage was secured onto the first, with the Instrument Unit added shortly after. By January 17, the assembly was completed with the addition of a boilerplate Apollo spacecraft, all while engineers continued their tests in the MSOB.

The Command and Service Modules—designated CSM-111—were delivered to KSC from Rockwell International’s facility in Downey, California, on September 8, 1974. Originally completed in March 1970, the spacecraft underwent modifications for the ASTP from August 1972 until its eventual transport to KSC. Notably, the shipping container bore the phrase “From A to Soyuz – Apollo/Soyuz – Last and the Best,” reflecting the significance of this mission. Upon arrival, the modules were meticulously inspected and combined before being placed in a vacuum chamber for further tests.

Inside the MSOB, both the prime and backup crews participated in extensive testing within an altitude chamber. After successful simulations in December 1974, the prime crew conducted a critical altitude test on January 14, 1975, simulating conditions at elevations reaching 220,000 feet. Their counterparts followed suit with a similar test just two days later.

To address challenges posed by the differing atmospheric pressures and docking systems of the Apollo and Soyuz spacecraft, engineers devised a Docking Module (DM) that would act as a bridge between the two vehicles. This DM served as both an airlock and a transfer corridor, equipped at one end with the Apollo docking mechanism and at the other with an androgynous system designed to interface with the modified Soyuz. The DM rested atop the rocket’s upper stage during launch, mimicking the configuration used for the Lunar Modules during Apollo missions. Once in orbit, the astronauts separated their spacecraft, repositioned for docking, and extracted the DM for subsequent operations.

After thorough vacuum testing at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, the flight DM was shipped to KSC on October 29, 1974, where it underwent additional preparations. The Docking System (DS) followed on January 3, 1975, and two weeks later, workers integrated it with the DM. A key milestone occurred on January 27, when engineers executed a mechanical docking test in the altitude chamber, complemented by ten days of joint testing focused on ensuring compatibility of audio and video systems.

To be continued…

Global Events of January 1975

Significant occurrences around the world during January 1975:

January 5 – The musical The Wiz makes its Broadway debut, eventually completing 1,672 performances.

January 6 – The game show Wheel of Fortune premieres on NBC, becoming a TV staple.

January 8 – Ella Grasso breaks ground as the first elected female governor in the United States, representing Connecticut.

January 11 – The S-II second stage of the Saturn V rocket, which was utilized for the Skylab launch, reenters the Earth’s atmosphere over the Indian Ocean.

January 12 – The Pittsburgh Steelers claim victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX, hosted at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans.

January 15 – Space Mountain, a renowned theme park attraction, opens at Disney World in Orlando, capturing the imagination of visitors.

January 18 – The Jeffersons, a notable television sitcom, debuts on CBS.

January 22 – The launch of the Landsat-2 satellite marks a milestone in Earth resources monitoring.

January 30 – Ernő Rubik files a patent in Hungary for the Magic Cube, which will later gain worldwide fame as the Rubik’s Cube.

Source
www.nasa.gov