Lloyd Bott - Houston 1968

Lloyd Bott – Houston February 1968

In February 1968, Lloyd Bott and the Minister for Supply, Senator Denham Henty, travelled to meetings at Kennedy Space Center, Patrick Air Force Base in Florida, and the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Ray I. Garrod, who accompanied them, was the Defence Research and Development Attache at the Australian Embassy in Washington, D.C. (His professional background was in metallurgy.*)

Denham Henty (later Sir Denham Henty) was Minister for Supply 26 January 1966 – 28 February 1968.

Here are some official NASA photos and, where available, the descriptions printed on the back.

NASA photo description:

“5-6 FEB 1968
MANNED SPACECRAFT CENTER, HOUSTON, TEXAS.
AUSTRALIAN VISITORS.

Three notable Australian visitors and four MSC officials stand in front of Chamber A, Space Environment Simulation Laboratory, during a tour of the Manned Spacecraft Center.

Left to right, are
Richard J. Plotrowski, Chief, Space Environment Simulation Branch, Structures and Mechanics Division;
Scientist-Astronaut Philip K. Chapman, who is a native of Australia;
Dr. R. l. Garrod, Defence Research and Development Attache, Australian Embassy, Washington, D.C.;
Lloyd Bott, Deputy Secretary, Department of Supply, Australia;:
Dr. Christopher C. Kraft Jr., MSC Director of Flight Operations:
Senator Denham Henty, Minister of State for Supply, Australia:
and Jesse C. Jones, Chief, Laboratory Operations Office.
Engineering and Development Directorate.”

NASA photo S-68-21448. Courtesy Michael Bott.
Image copy: Ken Sheridan. Image repair: Colin Mackellar.

NASA photo description:

“5-6 FEB 1968
MANNED SPACECRAFT CENTER, HOUSTON, TEXAS.
AUSTRALIAN VISITORS.

Astronaut James A. Lovell Jr. (center) explains the operation of the Apollo Mission Simulator to two distinguished Australian visitors who get a close look at astronaut training facilities during a tour of the Manned Spacecraft Center. On the right is Senator Denham Henty, Minister of State for Supply, Australia; and on the left is Lloyd F. Bott, Deputy Secretary, Department of Supply, Australia.”

NASA photo S-68-21450. Courtesy Michael Bott.
Image copy: Ken Sheridan. Image repair: Colin Mackellar.

The Australian visitors, apparently with one of the Apollo spacecraft simulators.

Left to right: Chris Kraft, Jim Lovell, Ray Garrod, Lloyd Bott, Denham Henty, Philip Chapman.

NASA photo S-68-21454. Courtesy Michael Bott.
Image copy: Ken Sheridan. Image repair: Colin Mackellar.

Left to right: Jim Lovell, Denham Henty, Lloyd Bott, Ray Garrod.

NASA photo S-68-21464. Courtesy Michael Bott.
Image copy: Ken Sheridan. Image repair: Colin Mackellar.

NASA photo description:

“5-6 FEB 1968
MANNED SPACECRAFT CENTER, HOUSTON, TEXAS.
AUSTRALIAN VISITORS

Dr. P. R. Bell (left arm extended), Chief, Lunar and Earth Sciences Division, briefs a group of distinguished Australian visitors on operation of the Lunar Receiving Iaboratory, Building 37, during a tour of the Manned Spacecraft Center.

In center foreground is Dr. R. I. [Ray] Garrod, Defence, Reserch and Development Attache, Australian Embassy, Washington, D.C. Scientist-Astronaut Philip K. Chapman, a native of Australia, is on the left.

In center left background is Lloyd Bott, Deputy Secretary, Department of Supply, Australia. On Mr. Bott’s left is Senator Denham Henty, Minister of State for Supply, Australia.”

NASA photo S-68-21467. Courtesy Michael Bott.
Image copy: Ken Sheridan. Image repair: Colin Mackellar.

Lloyd Bott (left), with Dr. Christopher C. Kraft Jr., MSC Director of Flight Operations.

NASA photo S-68-21470. Courtesy Michael Bott.
Image copy: Ken Sheridan. Image repair: Colin Mackellar.

NASA photo description:

“5-6 FEB 1968
MANNED SPACECRAFT CENTER, HOUSTON, TEXAS.
AUSTRALIAN VISITORS.

Senator Denham Menty (with hammer), Minister of State for Supply, Australia, tests the strength and stability of a piece of material during a tour of the Manned Spacecraft Center.

Looking on in center is Lloyd Bott, Deputy Secretary, Department of Supply. Australia.

On the right is Dr. Christopher C. Kraft Jr., MSC Director of Flight Operations.”

NASA photo S-68-21473. Courtesy Michael Bott.
Image copy: Ken Sheridan. Image repair: Colin Mackellar.

NASA photo description:

“5-6 FEB 1968
MANNED SPACECRAFT CENTER, HOUSTON, TEXAS.
AUSTRALIAN VISITORS

Edward L. Hays (right. holding umbilical tether), Deputy Chief, Crew Systems DIvision, briefs two distinguished Australian visitors on astronaut gear and equipment durIng a tour of the Manned Spacecraft Center.

On left is Senator Denham Henty, Minister of State for Supply, Australia. Lloyd Bott, Deputy Secretary Department of Supply, Australia, is in center.

On Mr. Bott’s left is Dr. Christopher C. Kraft Jr. , MSC Director of Flight Operations.”

NASA photo S-68-21457. Courtesy Michael Bott.
Image copy: Ken Sheridan. Image repair: Colin Mackellar.

NASA photo description:

“5-6 FEB 1968
MANNED SPACECRAFT CENTER, HOUSTON, TEXAS.
AUSTRALIAN VISITORS.

Edward L. Hays (on left), Deputy Chief, Crew Systems Division, briefs two distinguished Australian visitors on astronaut gear and equipment during a tour of the Manned Spacecraft Center. On right is Senator Denham Henty, Minister of State for Supply, Australia; and in center is Lloyd F. Bott, Deputy Secretary. Department of Supply, Australia.”

Being examined is a space suit intended to be worn by astronaut Roger Chafee who lost his life a year earlier in the tragic Apollo 1 fire.

NASA photo S-68-21476. Courtesy Michael Bott.
Image copy: Ken Sheridan. Image repair: Colin Mackellar.

NASA photo description:

“5-6 FEB 1968
MANNED SPACECRAFT CENTER, HOUSTON, TEXAS.
AUSTRALIAN VISITORS.

Two distinguished Australian visitors meet with three key MSC officials during a tour of the Manned Spacecraft Center.

Left to right, are
George S. Trimble, MSC Deputy Director;
Dr. Christopher C. Kraft Jr., MSC Director of Flight Operations;
Lloyd Bott, Deputy Secretary, Department of Supply, Australia:
Senator Denham Henty, Minister of State for Supply, Australia;
and Dr. Robert R. Gilruth, MSC Director.”

NASA photo S-68-21487. Courtesy Michael Bott.
Image copy: Ken Sheridan. Image repair: Colin Mackellar.

Senator Denham Henty, shakes hands with an “Astronaut” at the Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, February 1968.

Left to right:
(Likely) Australian-born Astronaut Philip Chapman;
the dummy;
Dr. R. I. Garrod, Defence Research and Development Attache, Australian Embassy, Washington;
Lloyd Bott, Deputy Secretary Department of Supply;
Senator Denham Henty.

NASA photo S-68-21488. Courtesy Michael Bott.
Image copy: Ken Sheridan. Image repair: Colin Mackellar.

* Tom Lawrence, former Deputy Secretary for Research and Engineering in the Dept. of Supply, from a 1990 interview with DSN contract historian Craig Waff.