On February 13 we went over our Descent Abort Mission Techniques with the world. In general they were accepted as is. That isn’t to say we didn’t have some lengthy discussions resulting in some improvements and/or changes but we didn’t make any substantial changes to the basic ground rules, philosophy, or overall procedures. I would…
Month: February 1969
Results of the February 18 Apollo Spacecraft Software Configuration Control Board (ASSCCB) meeting
This is just a short note to inform you of the most significant actions taken at the subject meeting….
Some things about MSFN orbit determination
A couple of interesting things came out of our Data Selection Mission Techniques meeting of February 19….
Let’s have no unscheduled water dumps on the F mission
During a recent Data Selection Missions Technique meeting we were informed that the CSM has some sort of automatic water dump system. It was even rumored that it might be enabled on the F mission while the crew is sleeping during cis-lunar flight. The memo is to inform everyone than an unscheduled water dump can…
Comparison limits for rendezvous radar test on Apollo 9
Reference: Shannahan, Philip: Rendezvous radar checkout for Apollo 9, OMAB Memorandum 69-FM62-38, Feb. 20, 1969….
D Mission LM PGNCS IMU drift checks
This memo is to backup a telephone conversation with Will Fenner. I hope it doesn’t just add confusion but I thought it might be worthwhile to put into writing my latest with regard to the D Mission LM PGNCS IMU alignments and gyro drift checks. I am pretty sure if limits are approached or slightly…
Mission D Maneuver Monitoring Document
Included in the D mission are some special propulsion and guidance system tests. They consist of unique maneuvers which are not discussed in either the Rendezvous or Entry Mission Techniques Documents. They required development of special mission techniques which are documented in the attached book….
F/G Mirror Image Targeting shall use a three-minute delay
As you know, we have established as a standard procedure during Apollo rendezvous having CSM backup LM maneuvers in order to retain the nominal relative motion during this critical mission phase. On the D mission these “mirror image” CSM maneuvers are targeted with TIG delayed one minute after the LM TIG. One minute was chosen…
Some more trivia for the F mission
With regard to docked DPS burns we should remember that the LUMINARY program used on F is the same as the SUNDANCE program to be used on D, which due to scaling problems or something barely recognizes that the DPS is running when it is at only 10 percent thrust in the docked configuration. Accordingly,…