Here is another Mission Techniques Documentation Schedule, since the last one is three months old and barely reflects real life any more. The Lunar Orbit Activities Document will almost certainly have to be updated to reflect whatever we learn on the F mission. A June 30 release date for that update will be kinda late,…
Category: Lunar ascent
No need to perform lunar landmark orbit determination
A number of Trajectory Control Data Priority meetings have been held on the Descent phase of the lunar landing mission. A basic question arose early in these meetings regarding lunar orbit landmark tracking with the command module sextant and/or telescope. It was necessary to decide whether or not such observations are required for use in…
Tweak burns
If you can stand it I would like for you to hear the latest on tweak burns – the trim maneuvers made after LM insertion from a descent abort. I thought we had this settled and on ice a couple of months ago but some things have happened which probably make it logical to revise…
AGS alignments in lunar orbit and operations on the lunar surface
On April 2 we finally got around to establishing how to operate the AGS on the lunar landing mission. The two basic subjects for discussion were how to handle CDU transient problems when aligning the AGS to the PGNCS in lunar orbit and how to operate the AGS in total while on the lunar surface….
APS and DPS operational constraints clarification is needed
Procedures for descent abort (and nominal ascent, too) can be made significantly simpler if we assume it is possible to operate the DPS and APS engines to propellant depletion. You have indicated this is an acceptable way to operate the engines both verbally and in writing, and mission techniques have been developed based on that….
First meeting of the Ascent Phase Mission Techniques Working Group
This memo is in confirmation of our telephone conversation requesting your participation in a continuing working group to discuss the Ascent phase of the lunar landing mission. The overall composition of this Ascent Phase Mission Techniques Working Group is as follows:…
Some thoughts about Lunar Ascent procedures
Charley, please excuse this memo. It’s to help me remember and let some others know what we’re considering….
LM Ascent lift-off time can be determined by the crew
Some months ago we submitted a PCR to remove the pre-Ascent targeting program (P10) from Luminary and this was done. This action was based on an assumption that a simple crew procedure could be developed for doing the same job, in the event of loss of communications, making the rather complicated computer program unnecessary. The…
Apollo 12 Mission Techniques
On September 15 and 16 we had the second (and last) Mission Techniques meeting for Apollo 12. It was advertised to be a “catchall” and it was. It all went smoothly enough considering how many people were there – the place was stuffed (even the projection room!) – and the exhaustion and emotion these things…
Lunar Ascent preparation
At the July 3 Lunar Ascent Mission Techniques meeting we cleaned up the last of the main open items for the phase of the lunar landing mission from LM touchdown to liftoff. We are now ready to go to press for that part of the mission and will hold a world-wide review of it before…