LaRC aircraft in front of hangar, building 1244

The NASA Langley's twin-engine turboprop, Beechcraft King Air B200 aircraft is towed through the large doors and inside the hangar of the Research Center, Building 1244.

Reduced Gravity Walking Simulator located in the hangar at Langley Research Center. The initial version of this simulator was located inside the hangar. Later a larger version would be located at the Lunar Landing Facility. The purpose of this simulator was to study the subject while walking, jumping or running. Researchers conducted studies of various factors such as fatigue limit, energy expenditure, and speed of locomotion. A.W. Vigil wrote in his paper Discussion of Existing and Planned Simulators for Space Research, When the astronauts land on the moon they will be in an unfamiliar environment involving, particularly, a gravitational field only one-sixth as strong as on earth. A novel method of simulating lunar gravity has been developed and is supported by a puppet-type suspension system at the end of a long pendulum. A floor is provided at the proper angle so that one-sixth of the subject' s weight is supported by the floor with the remainder being supported by the suspension system. This simulator allows almost complete freedom in vertical translation and pitch and is considered to be a very realistic simulation of the lunar walking problem. For this problem this simulator suffers only slightly from the restrictions in lateral movement it puts on the test subject. This is not considered a strong disadvantage for ordinary walking problems since most of the motions do, in fact, occur in the vertical plane. However, this simulation technique would be severely restrictive if applied to the study of the extra-vehicular locomotion problem, for example, because in this situation complete six degrees of freedom are rather necessary. This technique, in effect, automatically introduces a two-axis attitude stabilization system into the problem. The technique could, however, be used in preliminary studies of extra-vehicular locomotion where, for example, it might be assumed that one axis of the attitude control system on the astronaut maneuvering unit may have failed. -- Published in James R. Hansen, Spaceflight Revolution: NASA Langley Research Center From Sputnik to Apollo, NASA SP-4308, p. 377 A.W. Vigil, Discussion of Existing and Planned Simulators for Space Research, Paper presented at Conference on the Role of Simulation in Space Technology, Blacksburg, VA, August 17-21, 1964.

NASA Langley Research Science Directorate (RSD) Aircraft outside the hangar in Hampton Va in black white.

Astronaut Neil Armstrong (left) was one of 14 astronauts, 8 NASA test pilots, and 2 McDonnell test pilots who took part in simulator studies. Armstrong was the first astronaut to participate (November 6, 1963). A.W. Vogeley described the simulator in his paper "Discussion of Existing and Planned Simulators For Space Research," "Many of the astronauts have flown this simulator in support of the Gemini studies and they, without exception, appreciated the realism of the visual scene. The simulator has also been used in the development of pilot techniques to handle certain jet malfunctions in order that aborts could be avoided. In these situations large attitude changes are sometimes necessary and the false motion cues that were generated due to earth gravity were somewhat objectionable; however, the pilots were readily able to overlook these false motion cues in favor of the visual realism." Roy F. Brissenden, noted in his paper "Initial Operations with Langley's Rendezvous Docking Facility," "The basic Gemini control studies developed the necessary techniques and demonstrated the ability of human pilots to perform final space docking with the specified Gemini-Agena systems using only visual references. ... Results... showed that trained astronauts can effect the docking with direct acceleration control and even with jet malfunctions as long as good visual conditions exist.... Probably more important than data results was the early confidence that the astronauts themselves gained in their ability to perform the maneuver in the ultimate flight mission." Francis B. Smith, noted in his paper "Simulators for Manned Space Research," "Some major areas of interest in these flights were fuel requirements, docking accuracies, the development of visual aids to assist alignment of the vehicles, and investigation of alternate control techniques with partial failure modes. However, the familiarization and confidence developed by the astronaut through flying and safely docking the simulator during these tests was one of the major contributions. For example, it was found that fuel used in docking from 200 feet typically dropped from about 20 pounds to 7 pounds after an astronaut had made a few training flights." -- Published in Barton C. Hacker and James M. Grimwood, On the Shoulders of Titans: A History of Project Gemini, NASA SP-4203; A.W. Vogeley, "Discussion of Existing and Planned Simulators For Space Research," Paper presented at the Conference on the Role of Simulation in Space Technology, August 17-21, 1964; Roy F. Brissenden, "Initial Operations with Langley's Rendezvous Docking Facility," Langley Working Paper, LWP-21, 1964; Francis B. Smith, "Simulators for Manned Space Research," Paper presented at the 1966 IEEE International convention, March 21-25, 1966.

Gemini Rendezvous Docking Simulator suspended from the roof of the Langley Research Center s aircraft hangar. Francis B. Smith wrote: The rendezvous and docking operation of the Gemini spacecraft with the Agena and of the Apollo Command Module with the Lunar Excursion Module have been the subject of simulator studies for several years. This figure illustrates the Gemini-Agena rendezvous docking simulator at Langley. The Gemini spacecraft was supported in a gimbal system by an overhead crane and gantry arrangement which provided 6 degrees of freedom - roll, pitch, yaw, and translation in any direction - all controllable by the astronaut in the spacecraft. Here again the controls fed into a computer which in turn provided an input to the servos driving the spacecraft so that it responded to control motions in a manner which accurately simulated the Gemini spacecraft. -- Published in Barton C. Hacker and James M. Grimwood, On the Shoulders of Titans: A History of Project Gemini, NASA SP-4203 Francis B. Smith, Simulators for Manned Space Research, Paper presented at the 1966 IEEE International convention, March 21-25, 1966.

Robert Quinn (middle) and Lindsay Rogers (R) seen with NASA Langley’s pilot Pat Bookey, are recipients of the Administrator’s Flight Experience Awards, a ride-along program to recognize and reward members of the workforce for their dedication to accomplishing agency priorities at Langley Research Center, Hampton Va. (Photo Credit: NASA, Ryan Hill)

Lindsay Rogers (L), and Robert Quinn (R) were presented the Administrator’s Flight Experience Award by Dr. Trina Dyal, Acting Center Director, The awards is apart of a ride-along program to recognize and reward members of the workforce for their dedication to accomplishing agency priorities. Langley Research Center, Hampton Va. (Photo Credit: NASA, Mark Knopp)

Robert E Quinn, Supervisory Information Technology Specialist, Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), poses with NASA Langley’s pilot Pat Bookey after receiving the Administrator's Flight Experience Award under Administrator Jared Isaacman initiated employee incentive program at NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton Va. (Photo Credit: NASA, Mark Knopp)

Lindsay Rogers and Robert Quinn participants in Administrator Jared Isaacman’s initiated employee incentive program, received the Administrator's Flight Experience Award, presented by Acting Center Director Trina M. Dyal at NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton Va. (Photo Credit: NASA, Ryan Hill)

Lindsay Rogers, Principal Deputy Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), poses with NASA Langley’s pilot Taylor Thorson after receiving the Administrator's Flight Experience Award under Administrator Jared Isaacman initiated employee incentive program at NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton Va. (Photo Credit: NASA, Mark Knopp)

Lindsay Rogers, Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), and Robert Quinn, Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) participate in an employee incentive flying event with NASA Langley pilots Taylor Thorson and Pat Bookey. Rogers and Quinn flew in NASA Langley’s aircraft as part of the Administrator’s Flight Experience Awards, a ride-along program to recognize and reward members of the workforce for their dedication to accomplishing agency priorities. NASA Langley Research Center aircraft in Hampton Va. (Photo Credit: NASA, Ryan Hill)

Robert E Quinn, Supervisory Information Technology Specialist, an Administrator's Flight Experience Award recipient getting out of NASA Langley's aircraft. The Administrator’s Flight Experience Awards, is a ride-along program to recognize and reward members of the workforce for their dedication to accomplishing agency priorities. Langley Research Center, Hampton Va. (Photo Credit: NASA, Mark Knopp)

Lindsay Rogers Principal Deputy Chief Financial Officer (CFO), an Administrator's Flight Experience Award recipient inside NASA Langley aircraft. The Administrator’s Flight Experience Awards, is a ride-along program to recognize and reward members of the workforce for their dedication to accomplishing agency priorities. Langley Research Center, Hampton Va. (Photo Credit: NASA, Ryan Hill)