September 29th shall probably go down in history, at least in my diary, as the day of a major breakthrough at MIT. On that date we had an all day meeting attended by all key MIT management personnel involved in spacecraft computer program development. I expect it to be the first of similar weekly sessions…
Category: Translunar injection
Procedures needed for the AS-503 TLI maneuver
This note is to back up our telephone conversation (2/5/67) in which I requested you to prepare our recommendation as to how the AGC should be used during the simulated translunar injection maneuver on AS-503. It’s certain the crew will want to monitor the progress of this large SIVB maneuver, even though it’s controlled by…
No special spacecraft computer programs are to be developed for AS-208B and AS-503
The decision has bean made by the Apollo Program Manager that unique computer programs need not be developed for missions AS-208B (LM) and AS-503 (CM). This decision was brought about due to concern that effort on these programs would affect development of the main line programs. It is certainly consistent with numerous other actions taken…
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…
Prelaunch DAP initialization
During our review of the lunar landing GSOP’s, the question of prelaunch DAP initialization was brought up. As far as I can see, there is no use for the DAP until after TLI, isn’t that right? For example, the contingency orbit insertion maneuver does not use the DAP nor does CSM guidance of the S-IVB….
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…
Crew familiarization and training for TLI
During our many discussions on the need for command module steering of the S-IVB during TLI, a potential crew familiarization. training problem became apparent. Specifically, even if the P-15 CSM TLI Steering is retained, it is not obvious that it will be possible to make the AMS faithfully reproduce the attitude excursions which may be…
Latest on TLI
It looks like all we need now is Headquarter’s concurrence to eliminate command module steering of the S-IVB during the TLI maneuver. Unbeknownst to me, MIT was directed to stop work on this program (P-15) shortly before Christmas. They estimated that P-15 would become pacing if they did not start working again by January 15…
Deletion of TLI steering by the spacecraft
You did better than you thought. The request for the change was prepared by ASPO, concurred on by Slayton, Kraft and yourself, and forwarded to Headquarters over the Director’s signature in the middle of January. My Headquarters spies tell me Phillips is only awaiting Mueller’s concurrence before issuing the directive, and it is my understanding…
TLI platform alignment
Something came out of Ron Berry’s Midcourse Mission Techniques meeting of February 7 that I think should be advertised widely. Apparently, we now have agreement among all parties, including FCOD and FOD, that the proper platform orientation for the TLI maneuver on a lunar mission is the one established prelaunch on the pad for use…