On February 17th we held a meeting in our continuing effort to reduce the program development demands on the Real Time Computing Complex. In this instance, a group of FCD, FSB and MPAD people reviewed requested modifications to the AS-501 RTCC program in preparation for the AS-502 mission. I could briefly summarize the results by…
Category: Apollo missions
Recommendation to retain the Two-Stage Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI) Maneuver
This memorandum documents the results of our review of the two-stage LOI maneuver which you requested as a result of a recent OMSF suggestion that it might be preferable to return to a single burn plan. Participation in this review involved all operational elements of MSC concerned in this matter. The conclusions are unanimous….
External Delta V for LOI
In a December 15 memo (67-PA-T-121A), I indicated that we were going to perform LOI using two maneuvers. I also stated that pending results of some studies then underway we expected to use the External Delta V guidance mode for these maneuvers rather than Lambert steering. The primary reason for doing this was to make…
Mission D Maneuver Monitoring Document
Included in the D mission are some special propulsion and guidance system tests. They consist of unique maneuvers which are not discussed in either the Rendezvous or Entry Mission Techniques Documents. They required development of special mission techniques which are documented in the attached book….
Invitation for an AAP spacecraft computer program requirements shindig
On April 20 we had our first meeting to establish spacecraft computer program requirements for the AAP missions. Sufficient time will soon have elapsed to permit substantial progress on the action items issued at that meeting making it worthwhile to gather again. Accordingly, you are invited to attend such a meeting at 9:00 a.m., May…
D Rendezvous Ground Rules and Working Agreements update
Attached are the ground rules and working agreements updated based on our September 9 Mission Techniques meeting. They reflect the new, simplified D Rendezvous exercise – primarily changes in the football trajectory and the “insertion maneuver” plus a bunch of things we were able to delete. As noted in my last report of this subject,…
Apollo 12 Descent – Final comments
There are a couple of new developments you should know about the Apollo 12 descent….
Some more trivia for the F mission
With regard to docked DPS burns we should remember that the LUMINARY program used on F is the same as the SUNDANCE program to be used on D, which due to scaling problems or something barely recognizes that the DPS is running when it is at only 10 percent thrust in the docked configuration. Accordingly,…
What can be done about the AOT?
One of the largest error sources affecting precision landing on the moon is the LM platform alignment accuracy at PDI. The AOT is adequate to fly an Apollo 11 type mission but it is simply not designed to support precise landings; AOT alignments, as currently carried out, leave something to be desired. The result is…
CSM Rescue Mission Techniques are complete and clean
On June 9 we had our final Mission Techniques meeting on CSM Rescue. I am pleased to report that this stuff appears to be in very good shape. After much hard work by many people, the CSM rescue rendezvous plans shake down to only two basic profiles. Each of these has minor modifications to account…