PA/Manager, Apollo Spacecraft Program OfficeJUN 12 196868-PA-T-124APA/Chief, Apollo Data Priority Coordination“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 three- quarters hours long by using the earlier propulsion and guidance systems tests to insure acceptable lighting and network coverage during the rendezvous. Incidentally, the launch window opens at 1500 GMT (10 a.m. EST). I checked with the mission plan guys and they know of no other activities more constraining that the rendezvous on the launch window. Furthermore, they never heard of any five minute window. That must be a Washington rumor.
I have attached a memo describing the technique in more detail, if you are interested. It should be simple to handle in real time and does not degrade the system tests. No special programs or displays are needed in the Mission Control Center to do this job. Over and out.
Enclosure 1
APOLLO PROGRAM ABSTRACT OF MEETING ON RENDEZVOUS FOR MISSION “D” DATA PRIORITY PANEL
January �, 1968, at Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, Texas
This document records what I think happened at our first Mission “D” Rendezvous Data Priority meeting. As I look over my notes I am impressed with how little we accomplished, but with how many questions we thought up requiring resolution.
1. It was apparent that mission planning for the rendezvous exercise on the “D” mission has been carefully iterated such that the nominal plan satisfying all lighting constraints and provides station coverage for each of the major maneuvers. Both of these characteristics have been designated as mandatory for all practical purposes. The first question that arose was “What procedures and associated MCC systems implementation have been provided to assure having these characteristics during the actual operation? Remember, the rendezvous takes place in the fourth day of the flight during which it is almost certain dispersions will have caused conditions to have deviated substantially from nominal. It is also evident that delayed lift off can contribute substantial changes in the situation too. As of this time nothing has been done to handle this operational task, and Mr. Morris Jenkins and Mr. Ed Lineberry took the action item of establishing suitable procedures utilizing the space- craft maneuvers during the earlier phases of the mission to insure that all mandatory characteristics would be provided during the rendezvous exercise. This will likely turn into a formidable job in real time. Also, it may impose a limit on the acceptable launch window.
2. The next question dealt with how the LM platform was to be aligned prior to this exercise. Currently, it is assumed that it must be done during darkness and it is proposed that it be done while the LM is docked to the command module with the command module controlling attitude in wide deadband. The MCC Guidance Officer took the action item of insuring that the MCC/RTCC ����������� to supply to the crew during the operation the required CSM attitude such that the AOT would be pointed toward the necessary alignment stars.