Spruce Goose Space Museum update...
This is an email updating our Titan launch simulation.
Doug
I would like to elaborate a bit on the Titan II exhibit, specifically the launch room as it will be presented to our museum guests.
There will be two scenarios that the launch room will operate under. One is the continuous daily exhibit where the visitors can walk through the gallery area and view an untended short countdown complete with missile launch, noise and vibration. The other will be a class room situation where students/adults will initiate and complete a simulated 20 minute missile launch.
Keep in mind the launch room exhibit is not a play ground and should not be treated as such. The launch room will have historical significance as it is a room full of artifacts that go back 50 years and represents the entire Titan program. The actual consoles, their placement as best we can and the crew staffing is how it actually was at the Vandenberg AFB in California beginning in 1955 and lasting until 2005 when the Titan program was decommissioned.
Terry Murdock, a retired Lockheed-Martin Launch Manager has volunteered his time and expertise to bring our exhibit as close to reality as possible. Thru his involvement we were able to obtain the majority of the physical artifacts from Vandenberg AFB that comprise the Titan exhibit. He also has authored the launch countdown script compressing a typical 26 hour countdown to 20 minutes.
The thirteen crew stations as our exhibit will have are those positions that were needed in a typical missile launch. Our goal is to create an exhibit as authentic as possible so that one can get the feel and experience the drama that transpires during the countdown phase of a missile launch. In association with Lockheed-Martin personnel we will have obtained something no other museum can offer.
During the countdown, ten of the thirteen launch crew positions will have direct interaction with the console they sit at while all positions will have voice communication. The three crew positions without console interaction are launch directors and have voice control authority over the conduct of the launch. Under the control of the launch conductor, the countdown will follow a descending numerical checklist which each crew station will follow.
In the simulation, sometime during the countdown we will have a problem occur in the program that will cause the launch director to stop the countdown. The problem will have to be resolved by the crew thru interaction with their console(s) before the countdown can resume. Upon reaching zero seconds, the Titan II missile visible on the 60 inch central TV monitor will liftoff and within several seconds thunder and vibration will fill the launch room lending realism.
A local company, Primisys, has been awarded the contract to provide the computer programming and hardware for the launch simulation following the launch script. The entire simulation is scheduled to be completed by the end of March, 08.
Our Titan II exhibit will be a tribute to the many thousands of employees of the Lockheed-Martin Company, Aero-Jet General Company and the military personnel, as well as many others who participated in the Titan Program over the years. Our exhibit will be their legacy and a telling of the success of a great program that not only protected our country during the cold war years but provided a very reliable vehicle for manned space flight and satellite launches.
Doug
I would like to elaborate a bit on the Titan II exhibit, specifically the launch room as it will be presented to our museum guests.
There will be two scenarios that the launch room will operate under. One is the continuous daily exhibit where the visitors can walk through the gallery area and view an untended short countdown complete with missile launch, noise and vibration. The other will be a class room situation where students/adults will initiate and complete a simulated 20 minute missile launch.
Keep in mind the launch room exhibit is not a play ground and should not be treated as such. The launch room will have historical significance as it is a room full of artifacts that go back 50 years and represents the entire Titan program. The actual consoles, their placement as best we can and the crew staffing is how it actually was at the Vandenberg AFB in California beginning in 1955 and lasting until 2005 when the Titan program was decommissioned.
Terry Murdock, a retired Lockheed-Martin Launch Manager has volunteered his time and expertise to bring our exhibit as close to reality as possible. Thru his involvement we were able to obtain the majority of the physical artifacts from Vandenberg AFB that comprise the Titan exhibit. He also has authored the launch countdown script compressing a typical 26 hour countdown to 20 minutes.
The thirteen crew stations as our exhibit will have are those positions that were needed in a typical missile launch. Our goal is to create an exhibit as authentic as possible so that one can get the feel and experience the drama that transpires during the countdown phase of a missile launch. In association with Lockheed-Martin personnel we will have obtained something no other museum can offer.
During the countdown, ten of the thirteen launch crew positions will have direct interaction with the console they sit at while all positions will have voice communication. The three crew positions without console interaction are launch directors and have voice control authority over the conduct of the launch. Under the control of the launch conductor, the countdown will follow a descending numerical checklist which each crew station will follow.
In the simulation, sometime during the countdown we will have a problem occur in the program that will cause the launch director to stop the countdown. The problem will have to be resolved by the crew thru interaction with their console(s) before the countdown can resume. Upon reaching zero seconds, the Titan II missile visible on the 60 inch central TV monitor will liftoff and within several seconds thunder and vibration will fill the launch room lending realism.
A local company, Primisys, has been awarded the contract to provide the computer programming and hardware for the launch simulation following the launch script. The entire simulation is scheduled to be completed by the end of March, 08.
Our Titan II exhibit will be a tribute to the many thousands of employees of the Lockheed-Martin Company, Aero-Jet General Company and the military personnel, as well as many others who participated in the Titan Program over the years. Our exhibit will be their legacy and a telling of the success of a great program that not only protected our country during the cold war years but provided a very reliable vehicle for manned space flight and satellite launches.
0
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you know howard hughes despised the name "spruce goose" as it was given by media people who deemed the plane a failure. the real name of the aircraft is Hercules. 0 -
I'm sorry.
Doug0 -
ooops, i didnt read the article. you werent talking about the airplane, were you ? my bad.
however, howard hughes still hated the name haha0 -
No one interested ??
Doug0 -
Doug: givette here. The article is very interesting. But I think I'm missing some key element here. Is there more to this than just the article? Thanks, Joe 0 -
There is a possibility that Allan, my two sons and I may be that way early next summer - they are 22 & 33 - and we may squeeze in a fishing trip over at Gold Beach/or on The Rogue - depends on what their schedules are - I'd like to see it myself. We see the vapor trails from Vandenburg from time to time as many of their tests take place at/just after the sun is on the horizon. Makes for some spectacular contrail tracks across the sky over the Pacific (even though it's almost 280 miles from here - usually headed West out over the Pacific towards Hawaii.
Allan has mentioned that he'd like to see the Birch Goose, as well. So, we may take you to Hotel Oregon again, if you are free. That place kinda draws you back, doesn't it?
[:D]
http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm0 -
Sounds like a very $$$ simulation to me. [:0] 0 -
givette -
I work there and we are opening a new building which is devoted to the exploration of space. It will be of identical shape and size as the one we now have that houses the Spruce Goose.
In that building will be our Titan II Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, as well as our SR-71 with drone, our X-15 - the fastest aircraft ever built(which kinda complements the Goose - the biggest ever built), a few space ships and a bunch of other stuff related to space exploration and the Cold War.
Take a look at: www.sprucegoose.org
Doug0 -
Thanks for the heads-up, Doug. It's all very interesting. I always love to read about what is going on in the S.G. museum. Joe 0 -
Were you able to use those 8x10 Spruce Goose under construction sepias I sent you?
I suspect Hughes would have given that plane a decent demo flight if it felt right.0 -
v35 -
I framed the photos, and they are waiting for an archivist to catalog, caption, and place them in the museum. They are great photos and were enthusiastically received. Thank you very much, again.
Huntermag -
VERY EXPENSIVE. But, my invitation to all my friendly GB members continues. I will be happy to host GB members and their friends - up to four or so - to the museum at no charge, and also to the flight deck of the Goose for free. This last is a recently added perk to the volunteer package - everyone else is charged $50 a head plus the $14 a person General Admission.
I just need a few days notice.
zip -
I look forward to your visit. It'll be nice to see you again as well as to meeting your Sons. Are you going to bring your prettier half, again ??
Doug0 -
quote:zip -
I look forward to your visit. It'll be nice to see you again as well as to meeting your Sons. Are you going to bring your prettier half, again ??
... depends - Allan just built his first wife a house on the Eel River
not the Rogue, my mistake - and he was up there with Midge last week fishing salmon (huge salmon) with a guide. We ate part of Saturday -BBQ'd and it was still fantastic! Midge went with him but isn't the driftboat type and I doubt she will be going up with us - Allan has two sons, as well - I know Gale's not the fisherwoman she used to be and there will be just too much testosterone powered gruntin and scratchin goin on for her - so, off the top of my head, I'd say no. The guys have all voiced an interest in meeting 'Uncle Doug' - the automotive deer slayer - you're already a legend down here![:D]0 -
I've always been a legend in my own mind.
Doug0 -
Then add eight more to your tally, then.
[:o)][:o)][:o)][:o)][:o)][:o)][:o)][:o)]0
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