Subject: Re: Greatest inspiration..
Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2001 21:18:32 -0400
From: dan@demillar.com (DanB)
Newsgroups: sci.space.history
References: 1 , 2 , 3
> What; in fact, fiction, books, movies, or any other art form, do you
> consider the greatest source of your interest in space?
(1) The day I discovered Astounding Science Fiction in September 1947 (at age 13)
(2) The day I reported to work at Rocketdyne Canoga Park in
August 1956, not at all sure
about what I was getting into
(3) The day I ran the first static firing of a 150K thrust
chamber ever witnessed at
Rocketdyne test facilities by the newly chosen seven astronauts (sometime in '59 or '60, I
forget exactly when, on the horizontal test stand Bravo-1B)
(4) The day I was appointed Design Engineer (along with Lou
Bononi) of the F-1 combustion
chamber, regen nozzle and manifolds (all initially designed by Al Bokstellar)
(5) Christmas eve (?) 1968 lying in front of the TV watching
the moon roll by.
(6) And, of course, July 20, 1969 when my dream of twenty
years came true.
Dan Brevik
Subject: Re: Greatest inspiration..
Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2001 00:54:28 -0400
From: dan@demillar.com (DanB)
Newsgroups: sci.space.history
References: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5
I put my pants on one leg at a time, wear them unpressed and occasionally piss in them.
I, sir, am no god, just a lucky stiff who was at the right place at the right time.
If we were to meet all you would see is a 67 year old balding man who loves to laugh, has
an occasionally nasty case of rosesea and sometimes becomes morose. Just another human
being. My kids ignore me most of the time and my grandchildren figure I'm kind of a funny
old nut. My 95 year old mother still tries to boss me around and my relatives think of me
as just another family duty. Just another member of an American family.
At 15 I had a dream. Under the stars one night in Royal Oak, Michigan, (you could see the stars near the big cities in those days) I had a passionate moment where I solemnly vowed to help put man on the moon some day. The moment passed and a shudder passed over me. Really. But after all, it was 1949 and Buck Rogers was about all the mass of people comprehended. I figured I was kind of nuts to aspire to something so obviously unatainable and let go of it. But I kept plugging away, becoming a Chemical Engineer. Imagine my surprise when an interviewer showed up from some place called Rocketdyne (who?) and announced he was looking for people who wanted to work on rockets. I was the only man in the class who went to interview him. The moment he said that Rocketdyne was in Los Angeles I knew I wanted a job. The alternative was working for one of the Big Three in Detroit. Yuck. I joined Rocketdyne and thru another very strange coincidence they found out I had excellent analytic ability and they needed that talent for the F-1 which was just gearing up. I ran the test for the astronauts because I was Development Engineer on Bravo 1-B which was the favorite test stand to which to bring visiting firemen.
I'm no god. I would like to think of myself as a welcome member of this group who has been thru the mill and could occasionally offer a comment or two. Especially about 'ancient history', i.e., the 1950's. Back when we cruised the driveins for girls in our pre-war jalopies and the girls cruised the driveins for guys, only driving their father's new Buicks. Back when newly developed Hydrogen bombs hung over us like great lead weights, enlivening us to speed up our lives lest they be far too short. The 'Good Old Days'.
If you have questions, ask. I may have answers. Maybe not. Probably not. I also have opinions. You know, yet another guy with opinions.
Regards,
Dan
Subject:
Recollections
Date: Sat, 28 Jul
2001 00:21:21 -0400
From:
dan@demillar.com (DanB)
Newsgroups: sci.space.history
To the Group-
I have been asked to comment on some topics concerning the F-1 and will gladly do so. Please let me proceed at my own pace and I promise I will try and cover all questions.
Actually, I think I will first answer some unasked questions like what was it like working a Rocketdyne in the 50's and especially on The Hill and some human interest stuff like that. I'll get into technical issues when I think the groundwork is laid. This is, after all is said and done, a human story involving real people confronting confusing and sometimes frightening realities. The technical issues are part of the story, but just a part.
I'd really like to get you kind of emotionally involved and try to transmit to you what it was like and get you to feel like you were there. I think it's important for an older generation to pass along what things felt like because then the newer generation can relate much more readily. I will feel like I have succeeded if I can just get even one of you to think to yourself, "My God, I understand what they went through. And it could have been me. It could have been me."
You understand what I'm getting at? I hope.
Any comments?
Regards,
Dan Brevik
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