The Apollo vehicle and the CSM performed superbly. Durability was shown
for 10.8 days - longer than a journey to the Moon and back. With few
exceptions, the other systems in the spacecraft operated as they should.
Occasionally, one of the three fuel cells supplying electricity to the
craft developed some unwanted high temperatures, but load-sharing hookups
among the cells prevented any power shortage. The crew complained about noisy
fans in the environmental circuits and turned one of them off. That did not
help much, so the men switched off the other. The cabin stayed comfortable,
although the coolant lines sweated and water collected in little puddles on
the deck, which the crew expected after the Kerwin team's test in the
altitude chamber. Schirra's crew vacuumed the excess water out into space
with the urine dump hose.
A momentary shudder went through Mission Control when both AC buses dropped
out of the spacecraft's electrical system, coincident with automatic cycles
of the cryogenic oxygen tank fans and heaters; but manual resetting of the
AC bus breakers restored normal service.
Three of the five spacecraft windows fogged because of improperly cured
sealant compound (a condition that could not be fixed until Apollo 9).
Visibility from the spacecraft windows ranged from poor to good, during
the mission. Shortly after the launch escape tower jettisoned, two of the
windows had soot deposits and two others had water condensation. Two days
later, however, Cunningham reported that most of the windows were in fairly
good shape, although moisture was collecting between the inner panes of one
window. On the seventh day, Schirra described essentially the same conditions.
Even with these impediments, the windows were adequate. Those used for
observations during rendezvous and stationkeeping with the S-IVB remained
almost clear. Navigational sighting with a telescope and a sextant on any of
the 37 preselected "Apollo" stars was difficult if done too soon after a
waste-water dump. Sometimes they had to wait several minutes for the frozen
particles to disperse. Eisele reported that unless he could see at least 40
or 50 stars at a time he found it hard to decide what part of the sky he
was looking toward. On the whole, however, the windows were satisfactory for
general and landmark observations and for out-the-window photography.
Most components supported the operations and well-being of
the spacecraft and crew as planned, in spite of minor irritations
like smudging windows and puddling water. For example, the waste
management system for collecting solid body wastes was adequate,
though annoying. The defecation bags, containing a germicide to
prevent bacteria and gas formation, were easily sealed and stored
in empty food containers in the equipment bay. But the bags were
certainly not convenient and there were usually unpleasant odors.
Each time they were used, it took the crew member from 45 to 60
minutes, causing him to postpone it as long as possible, waiting
for a time when there was no work to do. The crew had a total of
only 12 defecations over a period of nearly 11 days. Urination
was much easier, as the crew did not have to remove clothing.
There was a collection service for both the pressure suits and
the inflight coveralls. Both devices could be attached to the
urine dump hose and emptied into space. They had half expected
the hose valve to freeze up in vacuum, but it never did.
Chargers for the batteries needed for reentry (after fuel cells departed
with the SM) returned 50 to 75 percent less energy than expected. Most
serious was the overheating of fuel cells, which might have failed when
the spacecraft was too far from Earth to return on batteries, even if
fully charged. But each of these anomalies was satisfactorily checked out
before Apollo 8 flew.
Some of the crew's grumpiness during the mission could be
attributed to physical discomfort. About 15 hours into the
flight, Schirra developed a bad cold, and Cunningham and Eisele
soon followed suit. A cold is uncomfortable enough on the ground;
in weightless space it presents a different problem. Mucus
accumulates, filling the nasal passages, and does not drain from
the head. The only relief is to blow hard, which is painful to
the ear drums. So the crewmen of Apollo 7 whirled through space
suffering from stopped up ears and noses. They took aspirin and
decongestant tablets and discussed their symptoms with the
doctors.
Several days before the mission ended, they began to worry
about wearing their suit helmets during reentry. which would
prevent them from blowing their noses. The buildup of pressure
might burst their eardrums. Slayton, in mission control, tried to
persuade them to wear the helmets, anyway, but Schirra was
adamant. They each took a decongestant pill about an hour before
reentry and made it through the acceleration zone without any
problems with their ears.
Apollo 7 accomplished what it set out to do- qualifying the
command and service module and clearing the way for the proposed
lunar-orbit mission to follow. And its activities were of
national interest. A special edition of NASA's news clipping
collection called "Current News" included front page stories from
32 major newspapers scattered over the length and breadth of the
nation. Although the postmission celebrations may not have
rivaled those for the first orbital flight of an American, John
Glenn in 1962, enthusiasm was high- and this fervor would build
to even greater heights each time the lunar landing goal drew one
step closer.
In retrospect it seems inconceivable, but serious debate
ensued in NASA councils on whether television should be broadcast
from Apollo missions, and the decision to carry the little 4 1/2-
pound camera was not made until just before this October flight.
Although these early pictures were crude, I think it was
informative for the public to see astronauts floating
weightlessly in their roomy spacecraft, snatching floating
objects, and eating the first hot food consumed in space. Like
the television pictures, the food improved in later missions.
Apollo 7's achievement led to a rapid review of Apollo 8's
options. The Apollo 7 astronauts went through six days of
debriefing for the benefit of Apollo 8, and on October 28 the
Manned Space Flight Management Council chaired by Mueller met at
MSC, investigating every phase of the forthcoming mission. Next
day came a lengthy systems review of Apollo 8's Spacecraft 103.
Paine made the go/no-go review of lunar orbit on November 11 at
NASA Headquarters in Washington. By this time nearly all the
skeptics had become converts.
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