On May 28 we finally kicked off the Lunar Rendezvous Mission Techniques business. Because of the imminence of missions “D” and “E”, we started on those first some months ago. Now I wish we hadn’t because they are so darned complicated. I have a feeling the lunar rendezvous can be finished up quicker than they…
Month: June 1968
Transearth midcourse correction philosophy – a major operation break through!
In trying to establish mission techniques for the midcourse correction maneuvers on the way back from the moon, we reached a point beyond which we could not progress without first establishing some sort of maneuver philosophy, like:…
VHF range shouldn’t be limited by software
Reference is made to the attached memorandum from Colonel Frank Borman. The 327 n.m. limit on the VHF ranging system appears to be a software constraint. I think it is due to the wau they scale the range. Would you people please check and see if we would be better off to change the scaling…
DPS Modeling
It might be worthwhile for you or your people to look into the DPS modelling in the RTCC. The “D” mission includes several maneuvers with manual throttling. Improper modeling of these burns may have some effect on the operation, although, offhand I would not think so….
Some alternate ways of figuring out where the LM is on the moon will be available
For some months we have been concerned with the problem of determining the LM’s location after its landing on the lunar surface. This information is essential in order to do a decent job of Ascent targeting and, in fact, a significant error can even influence crew safety. Primary modes already implemented in the Control Center/RTCC…
Results of the June 11 Apollo Software Configuration Control Board (ASCCB) meeting
Today’s meeting was short and sweet – nothing particularly controversial. It started out with a discussion of the Stage Verify discrete. As noted it my last memo on this subject, program changes have been approved for Luminary such that the LGC completely ignores the Stage Verify discrete. Apparently we have generated enough concern that some…
“D” mission launch window is nice
This note is in follow-up to our “D” mission launch window discussion during our Tuesday morning meeting. Essentially, the situation is as I understood it to be at that time. Real time procedures can be and are being established to provide a launch window about two and threequarters hours long by using the earlier propulsion…
Apollo Crew Safety Review – Action Item No. 12
This memo is in reply to PA/GA-M172, dated May 13, 1968, in which you requested that I evaluate action item No. 12 and submit recommendations for review and implementation. Specifically, the item was:…
Recommendation for DAP mass properties initialization and update requirements
This memorandum is written to present recommendations for simple mission rules for updating the Apollo DAP data load mass properties and engine trims. Both the Flight Control Division and Flight Crew Support Division have recently requested information in this general area….
Can some pre-DOI activity be move to pre-LOI?
As you are no doubt aware, the crew timeline just prior to Descent Orbit Insertion (DOI) is terrible. This period of activity has grown almost to the point of being unacceptable. This is due to the extensive LM checkout – particularly that requiring telemetry coverage – which unfortunately conflicts with other activities such as making…