I'm haggling with another Apollo denier and he keeps bringing up "1/2 inch of steel" as inadequate shielding against the (presumably) VAB. I say presumably because he isn't clear in his mind between heat & radiation or distinguishing between a Saturn V and the Apollo craft. It's possible he's referring to the thermal shielding on the CM base but I was explicit in explaining that was heat shield and what actually was used as shielding. Can anyone tell me where this 1/2" steel originates and whether it does refer to some aspect of Saturn V or Apollo?
Also, he keeps referring to an interview with Alan Bean that indicates Bean didn't know where the VAB were. I understand it's a questions about Apollo spliced together with an answer about Skylab (whether it passed through the VAB?). Can someone enlighten me about this interview?