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Mystery Photo – February 2012

This photo shows an early version of a planetary rover.  Although technical reports have been found that describe a triple cab rover, none include this particular configuration.  If you worked on this rover or can provide any details about it, please log in with your JPL username at left (if you have one) and post a comment.

Mystery Photo – January 2012 Solution

Photograph number P-10063A

On August 13, 1969 six Apollo astronauts (Bean, Carr, Conrad, Gibson, Irwin, and Scott) visited JPL  and were briefed in building 179 about the Surveyor 3 lander that would be found on the surface of the Moon.  In preparation for removing the camera and other spacecraft parts, several of them attempted to cut a piece of structural aluminum tubing and found that tin snips were inadequate for the job.   Online photo albums contain more photos taken during this visit.  (JPL Internal Access only.  Log in with JPL user name and password.)

The consensus among people who commented on this photo:  the astronauts are, from left to right, Pete Conrad, David Scott, and Alan Bean.  Conway Snyder is in the background wearing a bowtie.

Mystery Photo – January 2012

Can you identify these men and explain what they are doing?  Log in with JPL username if you have one (at left) and post your comment.

Mystery Photo – December 2011 Solution

This July 1967 photo (375-937B) shows the ultra-high vacuum Molsink (Molecular Sink) chamber in building 82. It was designed to provide a nearly ideal simulation of the vacuum and cold sink of space for surface effects testing. The Molsink is partly disassembled, so you can see the liner bulkhead, Moltrap, inner liner, and the lower part of the external pressure vessel.  The 1970 cutaway drawing below is photograph number 357-1321B.

For more information about the Molsink, see JPL TM 33-540 or TR 32-1446.

 

Mystery Photo – December 2011

Do you know what is shown in this illustration, or have any details about when it was used and where it was located?  Log in with JPL username if you have one (at left) and post your comment.

Mystery Photo – November 2011 Solution

Lunar surface rendezvous

Photograph Number P-1994B
7/9/1962
Lunar Surface Rendezvous

In the early 1960s, JPL and other NASA centers were involved in studies about a variety of manned lunar landing and return mission systems and concepts.  This illustration shows one option for a lunar surface rendezvous technique.  More information about this study can be found in JPL Technical Memoranda 33-52 and 33-53.

Mystery Photo – November 2011

Can you guess when this artist’s conception was created, and identify the proposed mission concepts?

Log in with JPL username if you have one (at left) and post your comment.

Mystery Photo – October 2011 Solution

Photograph number P-9002B
Taken in about 1940

This photo looks west from the arroyo to the JPL site, near the spot where the east gate bridge now crosses the arroyo.  The small buildings seen in the photo housed a workshop, office and laboratories.

Mystery Photo – October 2011

Mystery Photo October 2011

Do you know when and where this photo was taken?  Hint: The sign reads, “Bridle path, DANGER, do not pass beyond this point.  C.I.T.”

Log in with JPL username if you have one (at left) and post your comment.

Mystery Photo – September 2011 Solution

High Speed Kerr Cell
Photograph Number 371-581A
5/16/1951

A Kerr-cell electro-optical shutter was developed at JPL as the first step in the design of a high-speed camera capable of shutter speeds up to 50,000 frames per second on 70-mm film.  R.B. Bowersox, shown in this photo, wrote several technical reports about the project, and in September 1965 he became the manager of Section 9, Instrument Development.  Contact the JPL Archives for more information.