On February 27 we held a Mission Techniques meeting which I thought was going to simply edit the “final” version of the Lunar Surface Document prior to its release. To my chagrin we discovered that there are at least two areas requiring much more thought and analysis. We will probably meet again to resolve these…
Category: Mission types
F/G Rendezvous Mission Techniques – mostly F
As part of F/G Torture Week, we spent Thursday, January 30 on the rendezvous. Overall, I would say this mission phase is in pretty good shape with only a few unresolved items that we know about right now. I would like to tabulate here a bunch of odds and ends we agreed to at this…
Post Insertion CSM P52 is optional
Dick Gordon and Pete Conrad called the other day to ask how important we feel the CSM platform alignment is just after LM insertion into orbit. As I recall, this alignment is a carry-over from the time we planned to do the CSM plane change just prior to lift-off rather than just after landing as…
Terminal phase transfer angle may be changed to 130°
Extensive analyses were carried out in preparation for Gemini rendezvous which led to our selection of a 130° terminal phase transfer angle. Entirely independent analyses on Apollo apparently have led to selection of 140° for the rendezvous transfer angle. More recently, however, people in the Flight Crew Operations Directorate have been re-examining this and, according…
Sixth “C” Mission Rendezvous Mission Techniques meeting
This March 1 meeting conflicted with the President’s speech but a few of us dedicated jokers pressed on as follows….
Why is it everyone who loves radar wears a white hat?
In one of these notes eight or ten months ago, I commented that it seems to me the Apollo command module really does not have an operational rendezvous capability. In response to that, I was told to “think positive” and that’s what I’m doing for main line Apollo. However, it would be unfortunate if we…
Some “improvements” in the Descent preparation procedures
As we wade deeper and deeper into Descent Mission Techniques, one thing coming into focus is that, of all IMU error sources, the two that hurt the most are accelerometer bias and y-axis (pitch) misalignment at PDI. Having recognized this, we are now proposing some specific procedures to minimize them. This memo is to tell…
PGNCS/AGS clock synchronization
During our “D/E” Rendezvous Data Priority meeting of April 29, Al Nathan reported that it is likely the PGNCS and AGS clock may not be synchronized to better than 3/4 of a second – at least if we use the procedures currently planned. This is probably okay for rendezvous, but I wonder what it does…
LM3 AGC will use Kearfott accelerometers
Bob Gardiner announced at George Low’s April 6 staff meeting that there are no Abort Sensor Assemblies available with Bell accelerometers. On the other hand, one is available with the Kearfott Group accelerometers – ahead of schedule. It is their intention to use this one on LM3….
Fourth Mission “D” Rendezvous Mission Techniques meeting
The first item discussed at this February 18 meeting really involved all Apollo rendezvous, which accounts for the long attendance list. The subject was whether or not to change the orbital travel between Terminal Phase Initiation (TPI) and theoretical braking from 140° to 130°. It was stated that this change would make necessary reworking the…