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Digging Apollo

MIT was informed to change the DPS engine start sequence to 10% thrust rather than 30% thrust. This change is beneficial to program development and to the engine people - a rare occurrence.

Category: Mission types

“D” Rendezvous Mission Techniques meeting of July 22

July 26, 1968 - Howard W. Tindall, Jr. Posted on by flight

We cleaned up a lot of stuff at the subject meeting. Attached are updated “Ground Rules, Working Agreements, and other things,” and another list of open items to be discussed at our next meeting currently scheduled for September 6, 1968, or whenever the crew is available after that….

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Requirement for pre-PDI IMU alignment has been deleted

September 27, 1968 - Howard W. Tindall, Jr. Posted on by flight

After extensive Mission Techniques Panel review, it has been established that a PGNCS IMU alignment immediately prior to Powered Descent is not required for any reason. It is, in fact, undesirable at this critical time in the mission when lighting conditions couldn’t be worse (local high noon!)…

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What’s descent all about?

April 30, 1969 - Howard W. Tindall, Jr. Posted on by flight

As a result of some stirring around within NASA on how the various guidance and control systems are used during descent, George Cherry of MIT took it upon himself to write a complete description of the capabilities that exist and how they may be used. Without doubt, this is the finest, briefest, most readable description…

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“C” Mission Clean Up

July 10, 1968 - Howard W. Tindall, Jr. Posted on by flight

We’ll try to clean up the rest of the “C” mission open items at a meeting on Friday, July 19, in Room 2032B of Building 30. Retrofire and Reentry will be discussed in the morning, starting at 9 a.m., and Rendezvous in the afternoon – or as soon as we finish the Retrofire session. Attached…

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