NASA Network aids

Over the years, a number of simple aids were developed to help the falr-flung network stations.

Here’s the start of section –

Not surprisingly, a most important aid was for time conversion!

NASA Networks “Tel-a-Time”

This first aid was produced by the Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 821 – i.e. Manned Flight Operations Division, Operations Control Branch –

The NASA Networks “Tel-a-Time” was a simple slide-rule style affair – a flexible plastic sheath with cutouts to show the hour insert.

Along the top is the “Time Zone Designator” – e.g. Z (Zulu) for GMT, and K (Kilo) for GMT+10 (which includes AEST).

The MSFN and STADAN stations covered, and their abbreviations, are listed on the left hand side of the converter –

ACN – ASCENSION IS.
AGO – SANTIAGO
AVE – MOJAVE
BDA – BERMUDA
BUR – JOBURG
CRO – CARNARVON
CYI – CANARY IS.
ETC – NTTF
GDS – GOLDSTONE
GWM – GUAM
HAW – HAWAII
HSK – HONEYSUCKLE CREEK
MAD – MADRID
MIL – MERRITT IS.
ORR – ORRORAL
QUI – QUITO
ROS – ROSMAN
TAN – TANANARIVE
TEX – TEXAS
ULA – ALASKA
WNK – WINKFIELD
YRS – FORT MYERS

This example preserved by Hamish Lindsay.
2026 scan by Colin Mackellar.

This shows the hour insert extended to the left.

In this example, it is 1600 at Goldstone, 1900 at Goddard’s Network Test and Training Facility, and 1000 the next day at Guam, Honeysuckle Creek and Orroral Valley.

The hour insert.

The back of the sheath, with instructions.

Mike Dinn, Honeysuckle Creek Deputy Director, has a “Tel-a-Time” in front of him in this May 1968 photo by Hamish Lindsay.
Scan: Colin Mackellar.

More to come.