by Stacy H.
I am a Lockheed Martin retiree, having worked
18 of over 39 years in the Vibration and Acoustic Test Facility at the Johnson
Space Center in Houston, Texas. We tested the Apollo and Shuttle components
above the primary rocket and most of the experiments and crew gear that went up
in space. We developed special electronic test support equipment and computer
support software for the test facilities at the Johnson Space Center. Highlights
were testing the separation of the Apollo lunar modules lander and ascent
craft, testing astronauts working capabilities as we vibrated the spacecraft,
testing the Shuttle escape pole (after the loss of the first Shuttle) at
Edwards Air Force Base with the Shuttle escape hatch mounted in a C-141
Starlifter and testing Space Station components in our world-class acoustic
test laboratory. Also, our lift-off and sound barrier environmental testing of
the flight components often caused a "return to the drawing board"
by the builders to correct discovered over-stressed area in the prototypes. They
failed!! That's why the final product was good to go!
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