Early Lunar Research Vehicles

[shun]

I do not know if this belongs here, but I replied to Govt. Conspiracy board.

Maybe it goes here!

The actual Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) required around 11.5 minutes to

descend from the Lunar Module (mothership), to the surface of the moon.

From an orbit of 60 nauticle miles, they throttled the rockets to move closer in.

Next is the braking phase. It is gradual, and saves on fuel.

They then approached the surface like an airport. That is called a

"highgate" position.

Then, they correct for landing, pilot visibilty, and manual control, if needed.

That is the "lowgate" phase.

The rockets had around 10,000 pounds of thrust, but I do not know what the various missions carried, with Lunar Rovers, but that figure might cover it.

The control was computerized, but could be flown manually.

The actual LEMs had what is called "hypergolic" propellant. DiNitrogen Tetroxide and AeroZine 50 (50% Hydrazine, 50% Unsymmetrical Dimethyl Hydrazine) were kept in helium pressurized tanks.

If you combine them, stand back! They feed into a chamber, and generate

a thrust exhaust. No ignition mechanism to fail.

LEMs had to ascend, go into orbital insertion, and dock with the main ship,

back up at 60 n. miles.

Gyroscopes and hydraulic servos kept the LEM's gimbaled rockets

correcting despite attitude. If the vehicle pitched, the engines kept

firing vertically.

The test vehicles had H2O2 thrust rockets.

Something like 5 test vehicles, 3 crashes. Back up rockets for emergency included.

Research vehicle could go into VTOL mode (verticle), attain 200 ft.

while moving forward 400 ft. in eight seconds.

Training the astronauts in these vehicles reminds me of the saying

"flying by the seat of your pants".

http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Movie/LLR.../EM-0019-01.mpg

http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Movie/LLR.../EM-0019-02.mpg

Edited March 17, 2004 by shun

[shun]

This was because Nethius said he liked the response about the Lunar Lander.

So here is a general view of the events as they unfolded.

First, a little clip. Launched on July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 was the third U.S. manned mission to the Moon.

They carried a plaque on the leg of the LEM- "We Came In Peace For All Mankind".

On the way- Buzz Aldrin

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/...BuzzInEagle.mov

Buzz Aldrin, day before descent, in lunar command module.

He wears a fire proof suit.

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/...s11-36-5390.jpg

Panning the shot

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/...s11-5389-90.jpg

Want to hold the monitor unit together really well?

Use duck tape! Niel Armstrong.

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/...S11-36-5385.jpg

View from lunar orbit, west of crater 308.

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/...S11-41-6121.jpg

Looking up, they caught an earthrise. This was after a dozen orbits, in the

control module.

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/...S11-44-6547.jpg

Some neat math. As seen from the Moon, the angular diameter of Earth,

in the first picture is about 1.9 degrees (width of index finger is one degree,

your fist held out is about 10*, your fingers spread are around 20*).

Between the times these pictures are taken, the Earth rises about

0.37 diameters (about 0.7 degrees) and, with lunar orbital period of two hours

for the Apollo 11 control module, the interval between these can be estimated

as 14 seconds.

Second image.

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/...S11-44-6549.jpg

Finally. Can you guess where the North Pole is?

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/...S11-44-6559.jpg

This is where you undock, and your landing gear is looked at

by your friend back in the main ship, and he says, "You are all set!

Your landing gear is down and locked in position."

The wrap on the landing quads prevents thermal damage from the

exahust plume, upon touchdown.

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/...s11-44-6574.jpg

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/...S11-44-6581.jpg

Lander in descent.

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/...S11-37-5445.jpg

Over Sea of Tranquility. They eventually landed in the middle of this area.

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/...S11-37-5447.jpg

Closing in, over craters known as 216 and 217.

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/...s11-40-5844.jpg

Circling from above, waiting for rendevoux from surface.

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/...S11-44-6609.jpg

Returning after 22 hours, with about two hours actual time working outside the

on the surface. Approach of "Eagle".

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/...s11-44-6626.jpg

Closing.

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/...s11-44-6642.jpg

Neil Armstrong back inside.

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/...s11-37-5528.jpg

Goin' Home.

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/...s11-44-6667.jpg

Edited March 18, 2004 by shun