The question of using LM propulsion in a LM/CSM configuration has recently been the subject of detailed review. Control system studies, both inhouse and at GAEC, have contributed to that review. Because of the current interest in the LM propelled docked configuration and its guidance and control systems, a review of the studies performed in support of the system development effort has been made. The present memorandum is intended to summarize the results of those studies….
Category: Docked DPS burn
LGC computer requirements to provide DPS backup of SPS
During our discussion at MIT last week, the question came up as to whether it is necessary to have trajectory integration techniques in the LCG for the trans-earth phase of the mission as well as the lunar phase. The argument is that if we are serious about using the LM descent propulsion system to back…
D Rendezvous Open Items, Action Items or whatever you call them
I’ve reviewed my notes of the D Rendezvous meetings over the last couple of months and have found the following open/action items. I guess most, if not all, are being worked on. But time grows short and so I’m sending this list around to make sure of it. If you know of others, please give…
Relative orientation of the LM and CSM navigation bases
Unless some unexpected problem arises, it is currently planned to align the LM platform on the “D” mission for the docked DPS burns without AOT star observations. The primary reason for this is to save LM RCS fuel, although it is anticipated that overall crew procedures may also be simplified. The proposed technique involves taking…
D Rendezvous Mission Techniques
This memo is to tell you about the results of the November 25 D Rendezvous Mission Techniques meeting. Except for a number of small clean up items, we spent most of our time talking about how to handle slippage of TPI time and incomplete Insertion and Phasing maneuvers. After an exhausting discussion, I think we…
Some Mission D contingency plans
During a recent D mission rules review a couple of interesting things came up that I hadn’t heard of before. You probably ought to know about:…
Should LM RCS jet #10 be disabled for the “D” mission docked DPS burn?
The following paragraph is extracted from MIT’s Spacecraft Autopilot Development Memo #11-68, dated July 24, 1968, by William S. Widnall….
F/G Mission Techniques – except for the lunar orbit phase – are ready to eat
Some of the decisions and open items that came out of our F/G Mission Techniques meetings in late January are listed in this memo. Basically, I would say that all mission phases aside from the lunar orbit activity are very well understood at this time – primarily as a result of the C’ mission -…
Use of DPS for lunar mission aborts
The other day Carl Huss and some of the flight Analysis Branch people gave an internal briefing on Apollo aborting procedures for the lunar landing mission starting with the translunar injection (TLI) maneuver. One thing that impressed me was the large number of situations in which dependence is given to using the Descent Propulsion System…
Spacecraft computer program newsletter
I learned some things at MIT last week that seemed interesting enough to justify this note. Of course, it deals primarily with the spacecraft computer programs and their influence on the mission techniques we are developing….