On December 5 we had what I expect to be our last full-blown Mission Techniques meeting for Apollo 13. This memo is to tell you about it….
Category: Lunar descent
Descent phase to be added to your Apollo Mission Techniques document
TRW recently completed the attached chapter to be added into the appropriate vacancy in the Apollo Mission Techniques document I sent you recently. As was the case for the other mission phases, this section on Descent was done essentially without participation by other than TRW personnel. Accordingly, I expect it will be modified substantially before…
Apollo Spacecraft Software Configuration Control Board meeting number 32
On October 9 Chris Kraft convened the first Software Configuration Board meeting since June 5 at MIT. We had a real pot full of PCR’s to discuss, some of which were approved for Apollo 13, some for 14, and some were put in a category in which MIT was to continue development to a point…
Lunar landing lighting constraint change
I have been delinquent and I apologize for not sending this note around sooner. About a month ago I learned in a discussion with Joe Loftus that it is his recommendation, apparently based on considerable analysis and review, that the acceptable sun-angle-at-lunar-landing boundaries should be revised. As I understand it, the old sun elevation angle…
The LM can handle big Descent plane changes but required protection against APS abort fuel depletion
We have recently verified that the LM has a substantial capability to translate out of its initial orbital plane during powered Descent at very little cost. That is, whereas previously a limit of 0.3° had been quoted, it now appears that 1° or more is probably possible without effecting the performance of the guidance equations,…
Status report on the “P66” fix
There were some things about the terminal descent on the last mission that kind of spooked a lot of people. One of the things suggested as a result of this was to add a capability to the LM guidance and control system which would assist the crew during the last 100 feet or so of…
LM Descent abortability computation is proposed
Ed Copps of MIT attended one of our mission techniques meeting recently during which we discussed the use of the LM Descent Propulsion System low level sensor light. This is the light, you recall, which comes on when approximately 30 seconds worth of propellant is still available at full thrust or two minutes at 25%…
Invitation to an Apollo 13 Lunar Orbit Mission Techniques meeting
“The time has come” the walrus said, “to talk of many things.” This classic quotation apparently now applies to the Apollo 13 lunar orbit mission techniques and this walrus is suggesting Tuesday, September 23. Bob Lindsay has subjected his flight plan to three iterations already and it’s shaping up nicely; the FOD guys have a…
Descent Abort Mission Techniques
On February 13 we went over our Descent Abort Mission Techniques with the world. In general they were accepted as is. That isn’t to say we didn’t have some lengthy discussions resulting in some improvements and/or changes but we didn’t make any substantial changes to the basic ground rules, philosophy, or overall procedures. I would…
Data Priority meetings schedule
In order to get a little bit more orderly in our conduct of the Trajectory Control Data Priority business, it’s evident that we must schedule meetings on a pre-established, periodic basis. Accordingly, the Ascent and Descent meetings will take place on alternate Tuesday afternoons; Rendezvous meetings will be held of Wednesdays, one mission in the…