Jim, this is just a reminder of conversations with you and Emil about a job I’d like your people to do. In thinking more about this orbit determination task wherein the LEM determines the CSM orbit while sitting on the lunar surface, I wonder if perhaps MIT has lost sight of our primary objectives, thus…
Category: Lunar orbit
LEM radar angle bias correction
As you know, the rendezvous orbit navigation process involves updating the spacecraft state vector based on the spacecraft radar data. However, the radar apparently has unacceptably large angular bias errors for some reason. Instead of fixing the damn radar, someone decided to include in the LEM spacecraft computer program the capability of computing these radar…
LM S-band antenna boresight change presents no LGC problem
This memo is in confirmation of our telephone conversation March 30, 1967 regarding LM S-band antenna acquisition. As you are aware, some months ago we reinstated to MIT the requirement for providing DSKY displays of pointing angles compatible with the astronaut’s S-band antenna controls to assist him in acquiring the MSFN while in lunar orbit….
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…
Goodies affecting the RTCC gleaned from the 504 GSOP meeting
I am writing this memorandum to you in your position as RTCC program coordinator for MPAD. During the lunar landing GSOP review of August 16 and 17, I noted a number of items discussed which had some bearing on the RTCC program. I would sure appreciate it if you would look them over and see…
Analysis of LM rendezvous navigation is needed
This memorandum is just a reminder for a couple of action items I discussed with you coming from the lunar landing GSOP review August 17. I think it is very important that you really get on with analyzing the performance of the rendezvous navigation in the LM using the radar. Two items you should specifically…
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…
Spacecraft computer program orbital integration
This is just another little golden nugget for your files….
Some lunar landmark tracking questions
Associated with lunar landmark tracking with the command module optics, I have two comments and/or questions. First, I talked over our decision to delete this activity with Chris Kraft and he was relatively noncommittal. However, with regard to my comment that landmarks to the west of the landing site would be in darkness, thus invisible,…
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…