Astronauts for Coming Missions Complete Familiarization Course

Nine astronauts preparing for the Apollo 15 mission in 1971 have just finished a series of lectures at the Space Division.

This latest series of lectures is a continuation of astronaut technical briefings, which began at the division in 1963. Every Apollo crew has benefited from these briefings, designed to familiarize them thoroughly with the most sophisticated machine ever built.

These technical briefings are presented by a staff of Customer Training specialists, of which Hugh McNeese is supervisor. The specialists are part of Systems Integration and Test, of which Ed Mims is director.

Apollo 15 astronauts who attended the division briefings earlier this month have been announced to include:

Prime Crew: Dave Scott, spacecraft commander, Al Worden, CSM pilot and Jim Irwin, LM pilot.

Backup Crew: Dick Gordon, commander; Harrison Schmitt, CSM pilot, and Vance Brand, LM pilot.

Support Crew: Joe Allen, Bob Parker and Karl Henize.

Scott, who previously served as CSM pilot for Apollo 9, commented, "It's just not possible to get to know the systems too well. These briefings have been a tremendous help. I consider them basic for mission preparation."

Gordon, CSM pilot for Apollo 12, put it another way: "You know, every so often the memory bank gets flushed. These briefings are invaluable to bring us up to date."

Lecturers include: Len Urbaniak, Gary Steinbeck, Buck Grover, Thoral Gilland, Clyde Steele, Bill Green, Bill Ruffin, Bob Matthews, Clair Steele, and Ed Jones.

Briefings are presented also by Craig Mott, of Honeywell, and Paul Olsen, of AiResearch.

Since the program began, Customer Training Specialists have received 26 Astronaut "Snoopy" awards, 25 " Outstanding Performance" Awards and more than 200 letters of commendation.

To give briefings in the field the staff of briefers have flown some 4-million air miles- equal to about eight round trips to the moon.