The purpose of this memorandum is to inform you of two special features of the Apollo spacecraft rendezvous guidance computer programs you may not be aware of since we just added them to the system….
Category: CSM rescue
Rendezvous terminal phase guidance program in the Apollo spacecraft computer
On July 7, 1966, a team of MSC and MIT “experts in rendezvous” (including Paul Kramer, Ed Lineberry, John Dablen, and Norm Sears) met at MIT to discuss and review the preliminary Guidance System Operation Plan (GSOP)which MIT has unofficially distributed, covering the terminal phase and External ΔV programs for the AS-207/208 mission. This meeting…
LM rendezvous radar during Ascent is about to go over the brink.
It turns out providing justification for obtaining LM rendezvous radar data during Ascent from the lunar surface is as difficult as getting the data itself. This memorandum is to let you know that unless some sharp cookie comes along with sufficient justification we ain’t gonna get it!…
Third “D” Mission Rendezvous Mission Techniques meeting
We had our third “D” Mission Rendezvous Mission Techniques meeting on January 29. I am afraid it was a rather frustrating meeting for everyone. But on second thought—what’s new?…
Lunar Rendezvous Abort Mission Techniques meeting
As you know, a great deal of work had been done on lunar abort rendezvous throughout the Center. This note is to inform you of a Data Priority Coordination meeting on this subject on March 28, 1968, in Building 3, Room 966. I expect it will take most of the day….
Guidance system oriented ground rules for TLI Go/No Go
This memo is to document the guidance system oriented ground rules we intend to apply in the development of mission techniques for making the Translunar Injection (TLI) Go/No Go decision, unless directed otherwise. Effective immediately, it is intended that all RTCC computer programs, MCC displays and decision limit lines, crew and ground procedures and timelines,…
Lunar rendezvous abort summary
A great deal of work has gone on over the years on the subject of lunar abort rendezvous, spearheaded by Morris Jenkins, Ed Lineberry, Buzz Aldrin and others. The results of some of this work have already been documented and more detailed reports are in the works. The primary reason I’m writing this note is…
Seventh “D” Mission Rendezvous Mission Techniques meeting
At the seventh “D” Mission Rendezvous Mission Techniques meeting on March 25, we spent most of our time discussing activity in the football rendezvous, specifically, under what circumstances and how to abort. It turned out that the same ground rules and techniques probably apply equally well to the pseudo-TPI maneuver halfway through the rendezvous exercise….
Mission “E” Rendezvous Data Priority meetings
This memorandum is to report the meager accomplishments of the Second and Third “E” Rendezvous Mission Techniques meetings of March 18 and April 1, 1968….
“Any time” LM lift off is an unnecessary constraint
No big deal, but I’d just like to point out that I don’t agree with something in the memorandum to TA/Director of Science and Applications, dated March 19, 1968, subject: Operational constraints for the fourth lunar landing mission, which you signed. It stated in part, “It is the opinion of the Flight Operations Directorate that…