On May 20 and 21 we reviewed Descent, Lunar Surface, and Ascent Mission Techniques with the H crew (Pete Conrad and co.). This get together had two major objectives – to tell the H crew how we think these things should be done and conversely, for the first time to get a flight crew reaction…
Year: 1969
DPS low level propellant light
During our final review of the Descent Mission Techniques on May 28, GAEC presented a comprehensive review of the low level DPS propellant light – its operation and accuracy. The most significant piece of information coming from this was that we are assured of about 98 seconds more DPS operation at the hover thrust level…
G Rendezvous Navigation OJT is proposed
CMP Mike Collins called the other day to ask if there is any reason why he should not do active rendezvous navigation between DOI and PDI on the G mission. That is, he would like to run P20 incorporating sextant and VHF ranging data to update the LM state vector in the CMC. His primary…
PRN ranging in lunar orbit is unnecessary
This memo is to restate our requirements for PRN ranging while in lunar orbit. I am writing it since there is evidently some confusion about it….
CSM Rescue Mission Techniques are complete and clean
On June 9 we had our final Mission Techniques meeting on CSM Rescue. I am pleased to report that this stuff appears to be in very good shape. After much hard work by many people, the CSM rescue rendezvous plans shake down to only two basic profiles. Each of these has minor modifications to account…
Some significant LUMINARY program changes you should know about
I really blew it at the June 5 Apollo Spacecraft Software Configuration Control Board meeting. Although dozens of rather minor changes were approved, the one I was most concerned about wasn’t even discussed and I completely forgot it. This memo is to inform you that we are now desperately trying to include a capability in…
Ascent with busted guidance and control systems
On June 11 we had a Mission Techniques meeting to discuss manual ascent from the lunar surface. The term manual ascent, though, is somewhat misleading since most of our discussion had to do with how the guidance systems should be operated if certain of its components failed prior to ascent. In summary, I think everyone…
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…
New DPS GDA Descent mission rule is imminent if not now
A lot of activity has been going on lately regarding the manner in which the DPS gimbal drive actuator (GDA) is managed during descent. This memo is to make sure everyone knows this business is going on and producing dramatic changes – and it is not finished yet….
Post-insertion alignment is lower priority than rendezvous navigation
It has been agreed that it is more important for the LM to obtain rendezvous navigation tracking data than to complete the platform realignment after insertion into orbit if problems occur which prolong it. The point is, an accurate CSI maneuver is vital but it is recognized that bad angle data does not substantially degrade…