Jason Thompson
@jasonjtt.bsky.social
Biochemist, Doctor Who fan, astronomer, model-maker... these are just some of the nicer terms used to describe me. Co-host of @robotsineyes podcast.
A big papery thing tied up with string, I believe…
November 13, 2025 at 8:54 AM
A big papery thing tied up with string, I believe…
The events of Apollo 1 were dramatised in the HBO miniseries 'From The Earth To The Moon'. The second episode covers it very well, in my view, and is well worth a watch if you can find it.
November 12, 2025 at 9:56 PM
The events of Apollo 1 were dramatised in the HBO miniseries 'From The Earth To The Moon'. The second episode covers it very well, in my view, and is well worth a watch if you can find it.
The Apollo programme did continue, as we know, but this was a pivotal moment and redefined attitudes to safety for the rest of the programme. Sadly, these lessons would apparently be forgotten in later years, as these would not be the last astronaut fatalities.
November 12, 2025 at 9:56 PM
The Apollo programme did continue, as we know, but this was a pivotal moment and redefined attitudes to safety for the rest of the programme. Sadly, these lessons would apparently be forgotten in later years, as these would not be the last astronaut fatalities.
Even the astronauts had jokingly expressed concern over some of the problems with the spacecraft, giving manager Joe Shea a spoof of their official crew portrait picture on which they wrote: "It isn't that we don't trust you, Joe, but this time we've decided to go over your head."
November 12, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Even the astronauts had jokingly expressed concern over some of the problems with the spacecraft, giving manager Joe Shea a spoof of their official crew portrait picture on which they wrote: "It isn't that we don't trust you, Joe, but this time we've decided to go over your head."
A full congressional enquiry found issues with spacecraft design, testing procedures and 'go-fever' that overlooked many issues. Managers were fired or reassigned. A safety inspector committed suicide. Critics were harsh. Apollo was nearly ended before it got off the ground.
November 12, 2025 at 9:56 PM
A full congressional enquiry found issues with spacecraft design, testing procedures and 'go-fever' that overlooked many issues. Managers were fired or reassigned. A safety inspector committed suicide. Critics were harsh. Apollo was nearly ended before it got off the ground.
The heat and smoke prevented rescue teams from getting near the spacecraft until it was too late. NASA was in shock after the accident. Gus Grissom, a veteran of Mercury and Gemini, Ed White, NASA's first spacewalker, and Roger Chaffee, a rookie, were gone.
November 12, 2025 at 9:56 PM
The heat and smoke prevented rescue teams from getting near the spacecraft until it was too late. NASA was in shock after the accident. Gus Grissom, a veteran of Mercury and Gemini, Ed White, NASA's first spacewalker, and Roger Chaffee, a rookie, were gone.
The inward-opening hatch, a design chosen because in space it's fail-safe, with interior pressure holding it shut even if the latch fails, now trapped them as the high pressure meant it was impossible for any human to open. The spacesuited astronauts perished when their oxygen lines burned through.
November 12, 2025 at 9:56 PM
The inward-opening hatch, a design chosen because in space it's fail-safe, with interior pressure holding it shut even if the latch fails, now trapped them as the high pressure meant it was impossible for any human to open. The spacesuited astronauts perished when their oxygen lines burned through.
The pure oxygen atmosphere inside the spacecraft, a design decision dating back to Mercury to simplify the environmental systems, and a lot of flammable material in the cabin, was a lethal combination. It took only 15 seconds for the heat and pressure to rupture the spacecraft hull.
November 12, 2025 at 9:56 PM
The pure oxygen atmosphere inside the spacecraft, a design decision dating back to Mercury to simplify the environmental systems, and a lot of flammable material in the cabin, was a lethal combination. It took only 15 seconds for the heat and pressure to rupture the spacecraft hull.
Human Spaceflight: 27 Jan 1967. Apollo 1. At 6.31pm during a routine ground test, an electrical fault ignites a fire that quickly spreads across the spacecraft interior. Unable to escape due to the inward-opening hatch, the crew of Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffe are dead 30 seconds later.
November 12, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Human Spaceflight: 27 Jan 1967. Apollo 1. At 6.31pm during a routine ground test, an electrical fault ignites a fire that quickly spreads across the spacecraft interior. Unable to escape due to the inward-opening hatch, the crew of Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffe are dead 30 seconds later.
The coolant pumps were not deactivated so just kept pumping coolant through the pipes, spreading burning liquid further down until the fuel tanks of the rocket exploded. Most people had time to escape but one man was found afterwards asphyxiated after hiding behind a wall.
November 11, 2025 at 9:32 PM
The coolant pumps were not deactivated so just kept pumping coolant through the pipes, spreading burning liquid further down until the fuel tanks of the rocket exploded. Most people had time to escape but one man was found afterwards asphyxiated after hiding behind a wall.
After the engines shut down, crews had headed to the launchpad to begin the work of securing and de-erecting the rocket when, 27 minutes after the shutdown, the escape system fired and carried the re-entry module into the air. The pyrotechnics severed coolant lines and ignited the coolant.
November 11, 2025 at 9:32 PM
After the engines shut down, crews had headed to the launchpad to begin the work of securing and de-erecting the rocket when, 27 minutes after the shutdown, the escape system fired and carried the re-entry module into the air. The pyrotechnics severed coolant lines and ignited the coolant.
Human Spaceflight: 14 Dec 1966. A second attempt at an uncrewed Soyuz launch goes badly wrong. At ignition the engines shut down. Just under half an hour later the automatic escape rockets fired, which led to a fire on the rocket that eventually blew it up. Three men lost their lives as a result.
November 11, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Human Spaceflight: 14 Dec 1966. A second attempt at an uncrewed Soyuz launch goes badly wrong. At ignition the engines shut down. Just under half an hour later the automatic escape rockets fired, which led to a fire on the rocket that eventually blew it up. Three men lost their lives as a result.
They struggled to regain control and the re-entry capsule was destroyed, probably by the onboard self-destruct when the systems detected it was off course after re-entry. Not an auspicious start for the Soyuz programme...
November 10, 2025 at 9:24 PM
They struggled to regain control and the re-entry capsule was destroyed, probably by the onboard self-destruct when the systems detected it was off course after re-entry. Not an auspicious start for the Soyuz programme...
This was the first launch of a Soyuz spacecraft in an uncrewed test flight. The plan was to launch two and conduct automated rendezvous and docking in orbit, but once this one reached orbit telemetry indicated it was not stable and had used far too much fuel to do so. The second launch was scrubbed.
November 10, 2025 at 9:24 PM
This was the first launch of a Soyuz spacecraft in an uncrewed test flight. The plan was to launch two and conduct automated rendezvous and docking in orbit, but once this one reached orbit telemetry indicated it was not stable and had used far too much fuel to do so. The second launch was scrubbed.
Human Spaceflight: 28 Nov 1966. If you've been following these posts you may have noticed things have been quiet on the Russian front. While NASA forged ahead with Gemini, not a single Soviet launch occurred. On this day Kosmos 133 was launched, the significance of which was not known for decades.
November 10, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Human Spaceflight: 28 Nov 1966. If you've been following these posts you may have noticed things have been quiet on the Russian front. While NASA forged ahead with Gemini, not a single Soviet launch occurred. On this day Kosmos 133 was launched, the significance of which was not known for decades.
So, Project Gemini was a crucial stage of the development of space flight, and deserves to be celebrated. All of the Gemini astronauts would go on to Project Apollo, but only one, Gordon Cooper, never got a prime crew assignment again and left NASA, making Gemini 5 his last spacecflight.
November 9, 2025 at 9:32 PM
So, Project Gemini was a crucial stage of the development of space flight, and deserves to be celebrated. All of the Gemini astronauts would go on to Project Apollo, but only one, Gordon Cooper, never got a prime crew assignment again and left NASA, making Gemini 5 his last spacecflight.
It was anything but smooth sailing, with the quick re-working of Gemini 6 when the target vehicle was lost, the near-disaster of Gemini 8, the tragic deaths of See and Bassett, the 'angry alligator' of Gemini 9A and the many difficulties experienced with EVA. Nonetheless, all objectives were met.
November 9, 2025 at 9:32 PM
It was anything but smooth sailing, with the quick re-working of Gemini 6 when the target vehicle was lost, the near-disaster of Gemini 8, the tragic deaths of See and Bassett, the 'angry alligator' of Gemini 9A and the many difficulties experienced with EVA. Nonetheless, all objectives were met.
With ten crewed flights, and despite numerous setbacks, NASA had demonstrated humans could work in space for weeks at a time, that rendezvous and docking were possible, tracking and communicating with multiple spacecraft could be done, developed the means for working outside the spacecraft and more.
November 9, 2025 at 9:32 PM
With ten crewed flights, and despite numerous setbacks, NASA had demonstrated humans could work in space for weeks at a time, that rendezvous and docking were possible, tracking and communicating with multiple spacecraft could be done, developed the means for working outside the spacecraft and more.
Human Spaceflight: 15 Nov 1966. Project Gemini comes to an end as Gemini 12 splashes down. Often overlooked, this was an absolutely vital part of NASA's goal of landing men on the Moon in Project Apollo, and for spaceflight in general. The tools, techniques and technology were proved here.
November 9, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Human Spaceflight: 15 Nov 1966. Project Gemini comes to an end as Gemini 12 splashes down. Often overlooked, this was an absolutely vital part of NASA's goal of landing men on the Moon in Project Apollo, and for spaceflight in general. The tools, techniques and technology were proved here.
That allowed him to spend much more time assessing methods of restraint, tools, and how to move effectively. Underwater training for spacewalks is still the favoured technique to this day. With much better restraints and specially designed tools, Aldrin showed that NASA had finally cracked EVA.
November 7, 2025 at 8:56 PM
That allowed him to spend much more time assessing methods of restraint, tools, and how to move effectively. Underwater training for spacewalks is still the favoured technique to this day. With much better restraints and specially designed tools, Aldrin showed that NASA had finally cracked EVA.
NASA has learned the lessons. Aldrin has been working with them to develop not only new tools but new training techniques. Previous EVA training was done in NASA's 'vomit comet', which could only provide a few seconds of weightlessness. Aldrin trained in a pool, allowing him hours of it.
November 7, 2025 at 8:56 PM
NASA has learned the lessons. Aldrin has been working with them to develop not only new tools but new training techniques. Previous EVA training was done in NASA's 'vomit comet', which could only provide a few seconds of weightlessness. Aldrin trained in a pool, allowing him hours of it.
Human Spaceflight: 13 Nov 1966. Buzz Aldrin climbs out of Gemini 12 and spends over two hours testing tools, restraints and techniques for EVA. In contrast to the previous attempts, he manages a highly successful set of activities and does not get excessively fatigued or have to cut the EVA short.
November 7, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Human Spaceflight: 13 Nov 1966. Buzz Aldrin climbs out of Gemini 12 and spends over two hours testing tools, restraints and techniques for EVA. In contrast to the previous attempts, he manages a highly successful set of activities and does not get excessively fatigued or have to cut the EVA short.
"Durkhim, no-one knows where Star One is. No-one at all!"
According to our interrogation teams it's at the BFI, Supreme Commander. The fans can be there tomorrow at 11:00 hours.
Very well. Interrogate Justin Johnson and Dick Fiddy just to make sure, and try not to kill them!
According to our interrogation teams it's at the BFI, Supreme Commander. The fans can be there tomorrow at 11:00 hours.
Very well. Interrogate Justin Johnson and Dick Fiddy just to make sure, and try not to kill them!
November 7, 2025 at 12:26 PM
"Durkhim, no-one knows where Star One is. No-one at all!"
According to our interrogation teams it's at the BFI, Supreme Commander. The fans can be there tomorrow at 11:00 hours.
Very well. Interrogate Justin Johnson and Dick Fiddy just to make sure, and try not to kill them!
According to our interrogation teams it's at the BFI, Supreme Commander. The fans can be there tomorrow at 11:00 hours.
Very well. Interrogate Justin Johnson and Dick Fiddy just to make sure, and try not to kill them!
A small surprise occurs when the rendezvous radar fails, but Buzz Aldrin, who wrote his PhD thesis on orbital rendezvous back when it was purely a theoretical exercise, used manual techniques and a sextant to carry out the manoeuvre and dock with the Agena target vehicle.
November 6, 2025 at 9:09 PM
A small surprise occurs when the rendezvous radar fails, but Buzz Aldrin, who wrote his PhD thesis on orbital rendezvous back when it was purely a theoretical exercise, used manual techniques and a sextant to carry out the manoeuvre and dock with the Agena target vehicle.
Human Spaceflight: 11 Nov 1966. Astronauts Jim Lovell and Buzz Aldrin climb aboard Gemini 12 to undertake the last crewed flight of the Gemini programme. Rendezvous and docking is old hat now, but EVA remains a concern, with all previous astronauts who tried it finding it excessively exhausting.
November 6, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Human Spaceflight: 11 Nov 1966. Astronauts Jim Lovell and Buzz Aldrin climb aboard Gemini 12 to undertake the last crewed flight of the Gemini programme. Rendezvous and docking is old hat now, but EVA remains a concern, with all previous astronauts who tried it finding it excessively exhausting.