This note is in response to your query regarding the “quick return” capability being provided in the lunar module (LM) for aborts during the lunar descent phase. As you recall, I reported deletion of a program in the LM computer for generating coefficients to be used in an abort polynomial to retarget the LM powered…
Month: September 1966
Alternative rendezvous technique – mission planning status
Since our meeting in your office on the stable orbit rendezvous, Ed Lineberry and I have met on a number of occasions with other interested people in an attempt to lay out a schedule of work needed to arrive at the decision as to how to go on 278 and subsequent missions. This note is…
Spacecraft computer program status for AS-501
This memorandum is to give my impression of what went on during the meeting MIT on September 12, 1966, regarding the AS-501/502 spacecraft guidance computer program. Primarily I would like to describe the status of this program as we see it now….
There are differences in the descent guidance programs on AS-503 and AS-504
It is currently intended to include some sort of tests of the LM descent propulsion and guidance on the AS-503 mission. However, it is not possible to use the same guidance equations on AS-503 as will be used on the AS-504 lunar descent. This is due to obvious differences of an earth orbital mission compared…
Rendezvous search modes of various types
According to the notes I made during the 278 GSOP review at MIT last August, there was apparently still some question as to whether an automatic radar search mode was needed. Sears also questioned whether an automatic sextant search mode was needed on the command module….
Mission rules needed for use with AGC self-check
As you probably recall, we have had an exchange of views and memoranda regarding the usefulness of the Apollo computer program known as selfcheck. This exchange was started by our attempt to cut the spacecraft computer program down to an acceptable size for the lunar mission. Current status is that the self-check programs are still…
Apollo rendezvous navigation data edit is too complicated
In my notes of the AS-207/208 GSOP meeting with MIT, reference 66-FM1-100 of August 30, I indicated that MIT was including an automatic data edit scheme in the rendezvous navigational program for both the LM and the CSM. As you recall, this scheme was to accept radar or SXT data automatically if its effect on…
LGC computer requirements to provide DPS backup of SPS
During our discussion at MIT last week, the question came up as to whether it is necessary to have trajectory integration techniques in the LCG for the trans-earth phase of the mission as well as the lunar phase. The argument is that if we are serious about using the LM descent propulsion system to back…
Apollo spacecraft guidance navigation modes currently planned for AS-503 and AS-504
I am afraid there is a bit of confusion as to what navigation modes are being provided in the AS-503 and AS-504 Apollo spacecraft computer programs. I am sure I have contributed to this confusion myself, and the purpose of this memorandum is to try and clear it all up….
LGC program development for AS-278B
This note is intended to document my understanding of the situation with regard to the spacecraft computer programs for the alternate AS-278 mission. In particular, I would like to record how we are responding to the current programming needs in this area….