>>>>Jerry;
>>>>
>>>>I often think how Amateur Radio was so popular during the sun spot cycle of 1957 and the large number of teenagers that became "Hams" during that period. Many of us went into electronics - I ended up working on the Apollo and LEM projects and did my part to help put men on the Moon. Electronic
>>>>Engineering seemed to be interesting.
>>>>
>>>>Today, computers are the thing that teenagers have an interest in and I cannot guess how that will impact the future. I am just glad I build my first S-100 Bus Computer in 1975 - I always liked such things.
>>>>
>>>>Looking back I wish I had gone into teaching History as I had planned. Funny how things turn out.
>>>>
>>>>Personally, I have had little satisfaction from technology (electronic engineering or programming). It has allowed me to pay the bills which is most important but there is more to life than surviving. However, for those of us who have been able to survive – we have accomplished a most commendable task. Some of us have raised families and contributed something to society in one way or another. That should give a feeling of satisfaction to many.
>>>>
>>>>I never encouraged our children to enter the field of technology. Each child began using computers at about age 4 and can do many things with a computer – except program. Our son has his sights on a Ph.D. in History, and our daughter’s major is English. With luck our children will have the skill set to survive and enjoy a good retirement.
>>>>
>>>>I think of all the things my grandfather had to endure and consider him to be my hero as well as a most remarkable man.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>Tom,
>>>
>>>My Dad was a Ham and that was kind of what got me interested in electronics. When I was a kid I used to help him build "rigs" from the ground up. I've said that I knew how to read a schemata before I knew how to read words, and got my share of "220 surprises" along the way.:-)
>>>
>>>Your involvement with Apollo also provides some interest (and something of a connection too). Before we landed on the moon, on Christmas Eve 1968 Apollo IX (or maybe X) was orbiting the moon.
>>
>>That was Apollo 8. :)
>>http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apollo8_xmas.html
>
>
>Thanks for the info, Nick.

George;

I worked for Dalmo Victor in Belmont, California. We had the contract for the Antenna Systems for the Apollo and LEM Project. Many years ago (pre WWII) a Dalmo Victor engineer invented the parabolic antenna so important in radar and satellite communications today. The Apollo antennas (4 parabolic reflectors on one mast) were retracted into the Apollo until it reached a predetermined point at which time they were deployed. There were three earth stations that sent up a specific frequency and when the Apollo antennas were deployed they would search for this frequency. When acquisition was made telemetry, voice, etc. would begin. As the earth rotated on its axis and moved through space and the Apollo moved towards its objective the Apollo antennas would maintain a search mode to retain connection. When the Apollo went around the Dark Side of the Moon, it would loose tracking and no communications was possible.

Rather a neat concept and I enjoyed being a part of the team. We build all the Antenna systems for all the flights.

When testing the search mode on the ground we had to very careful as the servo/motor system had enough power to injure anyone who got it the way. It was very unforgiving as it was a mechanical/electronic device that had been programmed to do a specific job.

We used chemicals in the soldering process that today are known to cause cancer. This is where I became NASA Certified to solder – everyone had to be come certified. Watch out for engineers who solder! Anyway, the NASA Inspectors would put a 20 X eye loop over each connection to insure it was “perfect”. After all work had been done the NASA Inspectors would come test and certify the Antenna assembly. In the presence of the NASA Inspectors, the unit would be sealed in a special “bubble” and the Air Force would load the package on a 6-By (An Air Force version of a semi – also used as a missile launcher). The rig would be driven by Air Force personnel to the Cape in Florida.

We took great pride in what we did and it is one of those jobs that left you with a feeling of satisfaction! So many people and companies participated in this venture. Just think – we used slide rules to put men on the Moon! I still have mine in fact – a special electronics slide rule that had a scale on the back for LC, frequency, tank circuits – etc. Young engineers would laugh at my slide rule in the 1980’s but I could calculate any required values for electronics within seconds. They could not understand how – as it was not a “calculator”.

Remember the Apollo (13?) that almost did not make it back? I do not remember the member’s name but he had to calculate the entry angle himself – without so much as a calculus table. Differential calculus is not an easy subject when you are on the ground with the proper tools to solve a problem. I am sure most people have no concept of the mental power that man had to exhibit in order to save the mission and all lives on board! Too steep and the Apollo would burn up too shallow and the Apollo would skip on the Earth’s atmosphere and go flying into deep space. As I recall there was about a 6 degree window – unbelievable!

Calculators and computers have their place but somehow seem to remove the necessity to think and fully understand and solve a problem. Our son and daughter took calculus and had to use calculators. Such is life! By the way I have proven many times that calculators have built in errors in all too many cases. That can be very important in design and implementation.

Tom