Need help digitizing NASA tapes

[dsd13]

Dear forum members,

I am a dutch space memorabilia collecting enthusiast, especially when it comes to digital and analog tapes.

Last year I have been busy digitizing NASA magnetic tapes. I buy the tapes myself and then look for people who can read them. Most of the tapes are 7 and 9-track computer tapes, digitized by Chuck in America. There are many people who help, and everyone does it on a voluntary basis. Without the help of others we would never have come this far.

So for a new project, I need YOUR help.

First an introduction to a number of ongoing projects:

See here a computer tape used for Apollo 16 in one of our drives:



A sample of the data:

Code:

R/L 40M17360-11 E/O 8S-0412 REV L D/I 10/27/71 ECP 10-3216 E

Block 12:

R/L 40M17360-11 E/O 8S-0413 REV M D/I 10/28/71 ECP 10-3206 E 511 FRT-1
S 01 03 L DI 0003 SIC SPARE M DO 0003 ON C I

Block 20:

S 01 04 L DI 0004 SIC THRUST CHAMB JKTS LOW M DO 0004 ON C I

Block 21:

S 01 05 L DI 0005 SIC HYDRAULIC SYSTEM START M DO 0005 ON C I

S 26 15 L DO 0615 EDS ENG NO 5 THRUST OK NO 3 NONE C G

Block 5329:

S 26 16 L DO 0616 EDS S/C CUTOFF ENABLE A NONE C G

Block 5330:

S 26 17 L DO 0617 EDS S/C CUTOFF ENABLE B NONE C G

S 27 19 M DI 2155 SII CMD R S NO 2 ENG CO ON NONE R F

Block 10515:

S 27 20 M DI 2156 SII CMD R S NO 1 ENG CO ON NONE R F

Block 10517:

S 27 21 M DI 2157 SII LOW LEVEL SENS CONT ON NONE R F


D D EE 4301 SII CMD LOX FILL + DRAIN V OP

Block 20990:

D D EE 4302 SII CMD LH FILL + DRAIN V OP

Block 20991:

D D EE 4303 SII 1250PSI SPIN ST BTL PRES

43 09 L DO 1017 SII LOX PRES SUP LINE VENT OP NONE C F

S 43 20 L DO 1028 SII BF1 ON COMMAND IND NONE C F

Block 5933:

S 43 21 L DO 1029 SII RF COUPLER COAX NONE C F

Block 5935:

S 43 22 L DO 1030 SII TM CAL PREFLIGHT NONE C F

Block 5936:

S 43 23 L DO 1031 SII TM CAL INFLIGHT NONE C F

Block 5918:

S 43 10 L DO 1018 SII PD STATUS S+A ARMED NONE C F

Block 5920:

S 43 11 L DO 1019 SII EBW 1 ON INTERNAL POWER NONE C F

Block 5921:

S 43 12 L DO 1020 SII EBW 2 ON INTERNAL POWER NONE C F

After some research we suspect this tape was used to diagnose the Saturn-V after it was assembled at the VAB. With a computer at Launch Control.

Another project was with magnetic tapes with Pioneer 11 space probe data. The American has been able to read most of the tapes, and from 1 we have now converted photographic data to PNGs:




Three B/W photos from the tape:


1 of the 3 color photos:


So we have already saved and processed data from two projects. These projects are still running, but are on hold because we are waiting for documents from NASA.

The current digitized data can be found here: https://archive.org/details/SpaceData

Furthermore, I have digitized hours of Apollo broadcasts recorded on 1/4 inch tape recorder tapes. In Dutch, German and English.

These can be found here:https://archive.org/details/thirdpartyaudiotapes

For this I have an Akai X-201D and Revox A-77 IV

I have also digitized NASA S-VHS tapes, and uploaded some tape recordings of the Apollo missions. See links below:
https://archive.org/details/apollo16uvc_gmail_FPSV
https://archive.org/details/thirdpartyspacevideos

Nice, but what do you want now?

Since last week I have bought 4 NASA tapes from Ebay. It is 1/2 inch tape on a 10.5 inch reel and has 7 tracks. The tapes are recorded with Ampex FR-100 and Ampex FR-600 instrumental recorders. On the tapes are analog telemetry signals from satellites, recorded at NASA stations in 1963.





It seems that there are 6 telemetry tracks, and 1 voice track.

I do not have have Ampex FR-100 or FR-600, and they are very scarce. Nor do I have a 1/2 inch 8-track recorder.

What now? There are 8-track 1/2 sound recorders. The height difference between 8 and 7-track is so small, I think you can play a 7-track tape on an 8-track recorder.

If you adjust the 8-track head up and down, to align it with 1 track at a time I think we can pick up a good signal. I have talked with someone, and he says the tracks are just analog waveforms. I once played a 9-track 1/2 tape on a 1/4 4-track recorder, and I received an unusable but stable signal.

So far I have received 4 tapes, and more and on the way.

As you can see in the photos, the reels and tape are in good condition. All reels were carefully packed with original documentation in an aluminum holder. This holder was in two layers of cardboard. The cardboard seems to have a bit of water damage, but the tape has remained protected in the holder, which also has no rust. The reel has no scratches and dents.

The tape does not smell and looks good. I do not notice any mold or rotting. Optically, the tape is clean with little scratching on the playback side.

I have unspooled part of the tape and I do not notice any Sticky Shed Syndrome, although of course I could only check the beginning.

Now then, I dared to attempt to play the tape on my Akai X201D 1/4 4-track tape recorder. I did this by unwinding a piece of the tape and guiding the tape through the tape path guides and capstan. The tape gets pulled through the capstan in another box. With clean gloves, I make sure that the tape runs over the heads at the right pressure.

This was a success in itself because I received a number of signals. By carefully moving the tape up and down, I can try to focus on 1 track. Further than this I did not come.


The bottom sound file are the interesting pieces from a few minutes of play on 7-1/2 I.P.S

https://www.dropbox.com/s/k2jbyoka6n50yh....flac?dl=0

The tapenumber on the boxes and documentation is 3141/2N003
The number on the reel itself is 10786-16-8
Satellite: 1963-014A & B (ERS5)
Recorder: FR-100
Speed: 15 I.P.S
Station Name: GFORKS

With this we have proven that something is on the tape, and it can be picked up with a sound head.

I've been talking with a dutch reel to reel recorder enthusiast, and he has several 8-track 1/2 inch recorders. He has Teac 80-8, Tascam 38 and Otari units. Unfortunately, he is very busy with work and doesn't have much free time.

His Otari MX-5050 8 unit is most interesting to me since it can play two speeds, 7/1-2 and 15 I.P.S which is what I need.

After taking a look, all mechanical functions appear to be working. Playback, fastforward/rewind. When he sends a sound from the build-in tone generator to the recording input, all VU meters register correctly and there is sound.

But...there is no sound on playback! its possible there is nothing on the tape, he will try and find an other one to test once he has the time.

Neither of us have the parts, equipment and time to repair and calibrate such a machine. So its likely we have to hand it over to a company for repairs and calibration.

I will keep you guys updated on the process. I'll be happy to answer any questions.

And if you got any NASA related tapes, be sure to let me know and i'll look into digitizing them for you!

Best regards,
Niels