1960s NASA before PowerPoint and using ladders to do math - photos

[Toolmaker51]

It appears that, given the semi-major axis and eccentricity of an orbit, they're trying to construct the Hamiltonian and then differentiate that to obtain the equations of motion of the orbiter.

Why they need to do this on a billboard-sized blackboard is beyond me but I'm sure it's some sort of publicity stunt. I would use the portmanteau "matheater" to describe their efforts.

NASA before PowerPoint. Also; only known instances of employees in bow ties, argyle socks, wingtips, Windsor neckties, pocket protectors and two piece suits ascending ladders.

Marv's got more math than I! Math-theatre, lol.
I'd joke they're intent on a life size rendition.
Or this depicts work of first stage design team. . .second and third borrow 40' extension ladders of the window washers.

A group of children, marveled during performance, the endurance of ballerinas on their toes. Invited back stage after ballet, the very first question was "Why don't they get taller girls?"