Apollo boilerplates Boilerplate (spaceflight)

1 apollo boilerplates

1.1 launch escape system tests (les)
1.2 boilerplate tests
1.3 specific apollo bp units

1.3.1 bp-1101a
1.3.2 bp-1102a
1.3.3 bp-1220/1228 series

apollo boilerplates

nasa created variety of apollo boilerplates. list of them can found in apollo section of field guide american spacecraft.

launch escape system tests (les)

apollo boilerplates used in launch escape system (les) tests of jettison tower rockets , procedures:

bp-6 pad abort test-1 - les pad abort test launch pad; photo.
bp-23a pad abort test-2 - les pad abort test of near block-i cm; photo.
bp-23 mission a-002 test flight - les test of canards, oct.29-nov.5, 1964.
bp-27 les-015 - dynamic tests.

boilerplate tests

bp-1 - water impact tests
bp-2 - flotation tests storage
bp-3 - parachute tests
bp-6,-6b, - pa-1, later parachute drop test vehicle, , les pad abort flight test demonstrate launch escape system s (les) pad abort(pa) performance @ white sands missile range.
bp-9 mission a-105(sa-10) test flight, micro meteoroid dynamic test; not recovered.
bp-12 mission a-001 test flight, @ former nasa facility, downey, ca test les transonic abort flight performance @ white sands missile range.
bp-13 mission a-101(sa-6) test flight, not recovered
bp-14 environmental control system tests, oct. 22-29, 1964, consisted of command module 14, service module 3, launch escape system 14, , saturn launch adapters.
bp-15 mission a-102(sa-7) test flight, not recovered.
bp-16 mission a-103 test flight, micro meteoroid test, not recovered.
bp-19a - vhf antenna, parachute drop tests; @ columbia memorial space center (former nasa facility, downey, ca)
bp-22 mission a-003 test flight; boilerplate on display @ johnson space center, houston, tx
bp-23 - les high-dynamic-pressure abort flight performance tests @ white sands missile range.
bp-23a - les pad abort flight performance tests canard, bpc, , major sequencing changes @ white sands missile range, displayed sa-500d @ u.s. space & rocket center, huntsville, alabama.


bp-29 @ barringer crater (used flotation tests)



bp-25 command module (cm) - water recovery test, @ fort worth museum of transportationsee bp-25 photo
bp-26 mission a-104(sa-8) test flight - micro meterioid test.
bp-27 cm , service module les-16 - stack , engine gimbal test. on display atop vertical saturn v @ u.s. space & rocket center, huntsville, alabama.
bp-28a - impact tests
bp-29 - uprighting drop tests @ downey, ca, oct. 30, 1964, on display @ barringer crater, arizona
bp-30 - swing arm tests; on display @ kennedy space center s apollo/saturn v center

specific apollo bp units
bp-1101a

bp-1101a used in numerous tests develop spacecraft recovery equipment , procedures. specifically, 1101a tested air bags part of up-righting procedure when apollo lands upside down in water. sequence of bags inflating caused capsule roll , up-right itself.

this mcdonnell boilerplate on loan wings on rockies air , space museum, denver, colorado, smithsonian. bp-1101a has external painted marking of ap.5. examination of interior in 2006 revealed large heavy steel ingots. after further research, new paint scheme applied in june 2007.

bp-1102a

bp-1102 used water egress trainer apollo flights, including crew of apollo 11, first lunar landing mission. adapted mock-up interior components , used astronauts practice routine , emergency exits spacecraft.

it modified again interior set configured either apollo/soyuz or proposed five-man skylab rescue vehicle. these 2 conversions, astronauts train special missions. transferred nasa smithsonian in 1977, , displayed @ hazy center flotation collar , bags attached columbia @ end of historic mission.

bp-1220/1228 series

the purpose of series design simulate weight , other external physical characteristics of apollo command module. these prototypes in 9000 lb range both laboratory water tanks , ocean tests. experiments tested floatation collars, collar installations, , buoyancy characteristics. navy trained recovery personnel ocean collar installation , shipboard retrieval procedures. these boilerplates had internal equipment. see bp-1220 photo.

bp-1224

bp-1224 component level flammability test program test design decisions on selection , application of nonmetallic materials. boilerplate configuration comparisons command service module 2tv-1 , 101 performed north american. nasa review board decided on february 5, 1967, boilerplate configuration had determined reasonable worst case configuration, after more 1,000 tests performed. see bp-1224 photo set.

bp-1227

details regarding test capsule not clear, lost @ sea somewhere between azores , bay of biscay in 1969, , recovered in june 1969 off gibraltar soviet fishing trawler apatit (possibly soviet spy ship disguised such, commonplace during cold war), transferred port of murmansk in soviet union, , returned in september 1970 uscgc southwind (wagb-280). located in grand rapids, michigan time capsule. see bp-1227 photo or google street view image.

the certainties capsule returned united states @ murmansk in september 1970 during visit uscg southwind returned naval air station, norfolk, virginia. there remained until title passed smithsonian in april 1976 when passed on grand rapids, michigan serve time capsule. 2 official sources – navy , coastguard – both lost arrs (aerospace rescue , recovery squadron) unit training in recovery procedures. contemporary account of return quotes nasa spokesman saying, “ … far nasa can determine object… navy lost 2 years ago.”. when bp-1227 lost ranges 1968 1970 depending on account 1 reads. uncertainty may due russian account claims there agreement between russians , keep details secret until 2021.