Guest: David Woods. Topics: Gemini manned missions, Apollo, space capsule technology and more. Please direct all comments and questions regarding Space Show programs/guest(s) to the Space Show blog, http://thespaceshow.wordpress.com. Comments and questions should be relevant to the specific Space Show program. Written Transcripts of Space Show programs are a violation of our copyright and are not permitted without prior written consent, even if for your own use. We do not permit the commercial use of Space Show programs or any part thereof, nor do we permit editing, YouTube clips, or clips placed on other private channels & websites. Space Show programs can be quoted, but the quote must be cited or referenced using the proper citation format. Contact The Space Show for further information. In addition, please remember that your Amazon purchases can help support The Space Show/OGLF. See www.onegiantleapfoundation.org/amazon.htm. For those listening to archives using live365.com and rating the programs, please email me as to why you assign a specific rating to the show. This will help me bring better programming to the audience. We welcomed David Woods to the program to discuss his new book "NASA Gemini 1965-1966: Owners Workshop Manual co-authored with David Harland. During the first segment of our 1 hour 28 minute show, Mr. Woods told us why he focused on Gemini plus he talked about launching ten manned mission within a 20 month period. He spoke to the early space program with NASA and the US as like being on a war footing (Mr. Woods is Scottish), a fact he mentioned frequently during our discussion because doing things on a rapid time table when on a war footing (the Cold War) and in normal peace times can be very different. We talked Gemini capsule technology and from time to time we compared it to both the Mercury and the Apollo capsule technology. He said that Gemini was orders of magnitude more advanced that Mercury and that Apollo was more of a refinement in technology. He reported that Gemini used fuel cells plus other advanced technology and that it was an absolutely essential program for Apollo and our lunar flights. Mr. Woods talked about the book and that fact that it was an Owners Workshop Manual with the Haynes Manual series which is mostly about autos in the UK. In talking about Apollo, he said it was an anomaly. The use of 21st century technology in the 1960's. He cited several examples of th is including the fact that global TV was not even close to the level of technology as was Apollo and this was evident when people around the world saw the landings from the Moon. David also pointed out that Gemini missions were the first to address the space sickness issue. Don't miss what he had to say about this. Other topics in this segment included the Gemini budget, navigation issues, & public awareness of Gemini. In the second segment, David was asked about the Gemini Blue Mission and the Gemini Manned Orbital Lab. We then switched topics to David's Apollo book, "How Apollo Flew To The Moon." Not only did we discuss this book and how we flew to the Moon, I asked our guest about returning to the Moon. He indicated we have no will to do so even though we know how to do it and have the technology to do it. We also talked about his book, "The Lunar Rover Manual." John from Ft. Worth called and said that during the Gemini period, we were actually behind the Soviet Union and playing catch-up with them in the space race. Both David and John said that not only did we play catch-up, we passed the Soviet Union during the 20 month Gemini period of manned launches. Toward the end, David was asked to compare the recent Orion test flight with Gemini, then he was asked for lessons learned from Gemini moving forward. Please post your comments/questions on TSS blog above. You can reach David Woods through his website, www.wdwoods.com or through me.
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