🐰🌷
Happy Easter Everyone
I know it is a little surreal compared to where we all thought we’d be, but I hope everyone had a particularly good weekend, and continue to do so before work tomorrow, in whatever form that takes.
I think this story is especially interesting given the circumstances we find ourselves in at the moment,
😋
And there’s lots of pictures for those who just want to glance
Anyway, C’mere to me…
The Moon Quarantine of 1969
21 days in isolation
So the term Quarantine has been in the news…
I never thought it would find it’s way into my life quite like it has.
Although I was aware of the quarantine that the astronauts of Apollo 11 underwent, it’s a tiny part of history that has naturally been overlooked by the grand success of putting a man on the moon.
The reason for the quarantine was because it was believed that there was a real risk that the astronauts, or their equipment, could bring back some sort of lunar plague, an extraterrestrial virus, completely novel to humankind that could potentially cause a lot of harm.
Having established this threat as a real possibility, NASA was faced with the logistics of achieving such an operation.
Upon returning safely to Earth, the quarantine mission began, they had to get the 3 men from the middle of the Ocean back to US soil without any contamination to the Earth's environment.
The first solution was the B.I.G. suits, Biological Isolation Garments.
“Rescue divers jumping down to the sea from a helicopter became the first line of biological defense as well. After securing the Command Module with a flotation ring, the divers, clad in protective gear of their own, would pass biohazard gear to the crew inside the Command Module. Chemicals would be used to disinfect the exterior of the Command Module.”
(read more - NASA Apollo Flight Journal)
The crew of Apollo 11 being helped out of the Command Module, wearing the B.I.G. suits.
Wearing the Biological Isolation Garments, they were then taken by helicopter to a nearby aircraft carrier.
Apollo 11 crew on the deck of the aircraft carrier, entering the MQF.
The second part of the journey took place in what was know as the Mobile Quarantine Facility.
The MQF was essentially one of those retro American ‘airstream trailers’, albeit a very modified one, that had been sealed airtight.
It was pressurised with a slightly lower pressure than the outside air, so even in the unlikely event of a leak, air would flow in rather than out.
Nikon speaking to the Apollo 11 astronauts through a window.
In the photo above, President Nixon can famously be seen congratulating Neil, Buzz and Mike through the airtight window of the MQF.
With the astronauts unable to step out, the Mobile Quarantine Facility had to be easily transported by road, sea and air.
It was designed to fit inside a military cargo plane.
The MQF being uploaded from a military plane.
The team spent almost 4 days (88 hours), in the MQF, as it was flown and towed across the world to the ‘LRL’ in Houston, Texas.
The Lunar Receiving Lab was a large purpose-built complex, specifically designed to be the point where everything from the Moon would end up. At the time it was absolutely state of the art, with UV showers and clean rooms.
The Lunar Receiving Lab, Houston, Texas.
It was to this facility that they carefully shipped everything that had come from the Moon, all items in specially design sealed cases, eventually also the command module itself.
Inventory such as rock samples were examined in purpose-built labs, both for scientific interest & bio classification but also looking for possible chemical hazards.
Although, it is important to note that Apollo 11’s mission was to put a man on the moon, not to collect rocks, so they had far less than future endeavours returned with.
People working in the LRL, due to the quarantine, we’re unable to leave, so there were beds and catering departments, almost like a hotel, yet filled with labs.
In fact, everyone working inside had to sign waivers, at the risk of having to remain inside indefinitely, upon the possible discovery of something deadly that had returned from the lunar surface.
The media room in the LRL.
This photo is of Neil Armstrong, celebrating his 39th birthday party in the media room of the Lunar Receiving Lab.
You can see his wife and family on the media side, behind the glass.
This photo was taken during re-entry training, rehearsing putting on the bio suits and more.
As if getting to the Moon, on to the surface and then back in one piece wasn’t enough to be thinking about…
Imagine preparing to go to the Moon, but one of the training exercises beforehand is to practice putting on your bio suits and rehearsing the whole procedure.
In hindsight it makes perfect sense, but put yourself in their shoes, it must have been bizarre knowing how much is still ahead before you get close to thinking about the quarantine phase.
It is remarkable how prepared NASA and the astronauts had to be, space travel really was and still is, an unprecedented logistical effort.
“In retrospect, it is possible to suggest that these concerns were overblown, but we only know that this is the case due to the careful preparations and the execution of the protective plans that evolved over several years in the build up to the Apollo lunar landings. There were genuine concerns that the Earth's biosphere could be damaged by foreign life forms or the lunar material itself with its chemical composition yet unknown.
(read more - NASA Apollo Flight Journal)
Evidence soon proved that the Moon was sterile and proved no harm to life on Earth, but the quarantine was still enlisted for the Apollo 12 and 14 crews, whose crews followed the same procedure.
It’s still good to know that NASA not only thought about the possibility of some sort of lunar infection but also executed remarkably to try and prevent it.
Mike on the left, sporting the moustache, and Buzz being greeted by NASA administrator Gilruth, taken when they first opened the door to mark the end of quarantine in the LRL.
Had the astronauts actually brought back a deadly biohazard never before seen by mankind…
And if Corona is anything to go by…
If you want to read more, or simply just look at really cool pictures of the LRL, take a look at the Apollo Flight Journal
and this
NASA Article
.
Smile 😊
BBC sports commentator Andrew Cotter, a well-known voice to most in Ireland, couldn’t help but narrate his dogs whilst in isolation, and it is fantastic.
Photos I Saved 📷
Think 🤔🤯🌊
Whoever put 2 L's in 'parallel' was a genius
That’s all for now 🤙🏽
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Until next week,
Guy