Since we have not been able to get together this year, except for our short discussion prior to the George Mueller briefing, I thought it might be a good idea to send you a little informal Mission Techniques progress report. I guess our lack of contact is an implicit vote of confidence which I hope…
Category: Apollo 9
List of “D/E” Rendezvous open items
On April 8, we had our first weekly “D/E” Rendezvous Mission Techniques meeting. We spent the whole time going through the main flow charts. This memorandum is not really minutes of the meeting, but rather a list of questions and action items. We are assuming that both the “D” and “E” missions will utilize the…
Request to check some IMU alignment equations
The “D” mission flight crew has developed in detail the technique for aligning the LM platform while docked to the CSM which utilizes our knowledge of the relative alignment of the Nav bases on the CSM and LM. Part of the procedure is to establish the required LM IMU gimbal angles to be input into…
LM spacecraft assignments
This is just to make sure you all get the word in case it influences your work in some way. As I understand it, Mr. Low has directed that LM-2 be configured for unmanned flight only. It has been established that the first manned LM will be the LM-3 spacecraft. If it’s found unnecessary to…
“Final” review of Spacecraft (Mission “C”) Retrofire and Reentry Mission Techniques
On January 10 we had a “final” review of Spacecraft 101 (Mission “C”) Retrofire and Reentry Mission Techniques as documented in the logical flow charts prepared by TRW based on a series of meetings we have had here at MSC. These flow charts, which show the operations starting several hours prior to the retrofire maneuver…
Terminal phase transfer angle may be changed to 130°
Extensive analyses were carried out in preparation for Gemini rendezvous which led to our selection of a 130° terminal phase transfer angle. Entirely independent analyses on Apollo apparently have led to selection of 140° for the rendezvous transfer angle. More recently, however, people in the Flight Crew Operations Directorate have been re-examining this and, according…
PGNCS/AGS clock synchronization
During our “D/E” Rendezvous Data Priority meeting of April 29, Al Nathan reported that it is likely the PGNCS and AGS clock may not be synchronized to better than 3/4 of a second – at least if we use the procedures currently planned. This is probably okay for rendezvous, but I wonder what it does…
LM3 AGC will use Kearfott accelerometers
Bob Gardiner announced at George Low’s April 6 staff meeting that there are no Abort Sensor Assemblies available with Bell accelerometers. On the other hand, one is available with the Kearfott Group accelerometers – ahead of schedule. It is their intention to use this one on LM3….
Fourth Mission “D” Rendezvous Mission Techniques meeting
The first item discussed at this February 18 meeting really involved all Apollo rendezvous, which accounts for the long attendance list. The subject was whether or not to change the orbital travel between Terminal Phase Initiation (TPI) and theoretical braking from 140° to 130°. It was stated that this change would make necessary reworking the…
Fifth “D” Mission Rendezvous Mission Techniques meeting—don’t miss Paragraph 5; it’s great!
We spent just about the entire February 26 meeting discussion the way the AGS and PNGCS should be used during the “D” Mission rendezvous. I feel as though we have accomplished quite a lot in this area having reached agreement on how the AGS should be used throughout that mission phase, with one minor exception….