Why I suspect Apollo was a hoax.

[bknight]

His "observers" (if actually honest) would look at him and say, "Yup, no question: the Sublimator works as advertised." At which point he'd simply claim that the infamous NASA DEATH SQUADS had obviously gotten to his observers to keep them from confirming his idea.

Conjures up guys toting Thompson sub machine guns, silencing those who blab.

[gillianren]

I still can't figure out what he thinks he'd see.  It's got to be something visible, because otherwise, what's the point of video?

[Abaddon]

I still can't figure out what he thinks he'd see.  It's got to be something visible, because otherwise, what's the point of video?

I would have to go look it up to confirm, but I think it was Ralph Rene who first claimed that there should be visible puffs of steam coming from the PLSS periodically.

[Peter B]

I still can't figure out what he thinks he'd see.  It's got to be something visible, because otherwise, what's the point of video?

I would have to go look it up to confirm, but I think it was Ralph Rene who first claimed that there should be visible puffs of steam coming from the PLSS periodically.

I'm pretty sure "Cosmic" Dave Cosnette made a similar claim on his page of claims, though he may have got it from Rene.

[smartcooky]

I still can't figure out what he thinks he'd see.  It's got to be something visible, because otherwise, what's the point of video?

I would have to go look it up to confirm, but I think it was Ralph Rene who first claimed that there should be visible puffs of steam coming from the PLSS periodically.

I still can't figure out what he thinks he'd see.  It's got to be something visible, because otherwise, what's the point of video?

I would have to go look it up to confirm, but I think it was Ralph Rene who first claimed that there should be visible puffs of steam coming from the PLSS periodically.

I'm pretty sure "Cosmic" Dave Cosnette made a similar claim on his page of claims, though he may have got it from Rene.

Did either of them say why they expected to see puffs of steam?

[Abaddon]

I still can't figure out what he thinks he'd see.  It's got to be something visible, because otherwise, what's the point of video?

I would have to go look it up to confirm, but I think it was Ralph Rene who first claimed that there should be visible puffs of steam coming from the PLSS periodically.

I still can't figure out what he thinks he'd see.  It's got to be something visible, because otherwise, what's the point of video?

I would have to go look it up to confirm, but I think it was Ralph Rene who first claimed that there should be visible puffs of steam coming from the PLSS periodically.

I'm pretty sure "Cosmic" Dave Cosnette made a similar claim on his page of claims, though he may have got it from Rene.

Did either of them say why they expected to see puffs of steam?

P102 of Rene's book

"NASA claims that rotation kept the command ship cool. Maybe the astronauts should
have pirouetted like ballerinas as they went their merry way. But then would this have
seemed less than masculine? In the end the only thing that could have preserved their lives
for all those hours in that Sun was air-conditioning, which they didn't have. If they had really
had suit air-conditioners that worked, every time the suit was vented into the high vacuum of
space the rocket-effect should have been spectacular. A rapidly expanding fog of ice crystals
would have reflected the brilliant unfiltered sun light; spraying millions of tiny diamond-like
crystals about and producing a brilliant, dazzling and unforgettable display.
We can be sure our astronauts never released water in this manner, since, not one of the
thousands of pictures taken on the Moon, or during the space walks, has ever shown such a
display. NASA would hardly pass up a spectacular photo opportunity like that!"

Although the antipodean who shall not be named is still selling it on Rene's site, the PDF is freely available.

http://www.checktheevidence.com/pdf/Ralph%20Rene%20-%20NASA_mooned_america.pdf

[bknight]

P102 of Rene's book

"NASA claims that rotation kept the command ship cool. Maybe the astronauts should
have pirouetted like ballerinas as they went their merry way. But then would this have
seemed less than masculine? In the end the only thing that could have preserved their lives
for all those hours in that Sun was air-conditioning, which they didn't have. If they had really
had suit air-conditioners that worked, every time the suit was vented into the high vacuum of
space the rocket-effect should have been spectacular. A rapidly expanding fog of ice crystals
would have reflected the brilliant unfiltered sun light; spraying millions of tiny diamond-like
crystals about and producing a brilliant, dazzling and unforgettable display.
We can be sure our astronauts never released water in this manner, since, not one of the
thousands of pictures taken on the Moon, or during the space walks, has ever shown such a
display. NASA would hardly pass up a spectacular photo opportunity like that!"

Although the antipodean who shall not be named is still selling it on Rene's site, the PDF is freely available.

http://www.checktheevidence.com/pdf/Ralph%20Rene%20-%20NASA_mooned_america.pdf

It is clear that Rene did not understand the physics of the sublimators either.  But then I'm not surprised as everything I have read/seen concerning the "self" taught engineer is wrong.  Perhaps he should have invested a few thousand dollars to get some real education.

Oh wait he had disgust for the "gas bag" scientists didn't he?  M impression is he was a bitter old man that wanted recognition for his self worth very much.

[nomuse]

Say, I wonder if that's where Dan O'Bannon got the idea from (or who ever thought of having those Moebius-designed space suits on "Alien" visibly vent every now and then).

[Count Zero]

Well, remember that the planet had an atmosphere, and the type of sublimators we're talking about do not work in an atmosphere.  I wonder if they would work on Mars?

I recall the incident on Apollo 12 when Al Bean accidentally let the LM door close, and the out-gassing from his suit pressurized the LM just enough  that the sublimator stopped working.  When he realized what had happened, he opened the door (incidentally causing a visible burst of vapor) and it started working again.

[JayUtah]

John Mollo, and he did the venting effect "because he could."  That sort of thing drives a lot of fictional design.  You do what looks cool and then invent a reason for it later.

[Ishkabibble]

But wait, aren't there photos of the crews on the lunar surface with halos of gas around their heads? I seem to recall one of the later missions, seeing a photo of a perfect sphere of light blue glow around one of the astronaut's heads. I can't remember whether it was John Young or Jack Schmitt who was in the photo.

I've gone through the ALSJ a couple of times, and I can't find the photo, but I know I've seen it.

Man, it's no fun getting old. It's terrible that your memory is the second thing to go.

[JayUtah]

I know the photo you mean, and while it was once speculated that the halo effect was due to sublimation outgassing, it was eventually shown that lens contamination was a more likely explanation.

[bknight]

I don't know if this is the image you are referring, from A12. 
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a12/AS12-48-7071HR.jpg

Al's picture of Pete taking Al's picture. Pete is holding the extension handle in his left hand.

[ajv]

Two images on Apollo 12 magazine 46 are good examples of the blue smudge:

• http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a12/AS12-46-6818HR.jpg
• http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a12/AS12-46-6826HR.jpg

[Allan F]

I don't know if this is the image you are referring, from A12. 
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a12/AS12-48-7071HR.jpg

Al's picture of Pete taking Al's picture. Pete is holding the extension handle in his left hand.

Looks more like the lens was hit by direct sunlight.