Moon Lander: How We Developed the Apollo Lunar Module

387 Pages·2009·2.49 MB·English

by  Thomas J. Kelly

Smithsonian History of Aviation and Spaceflight Series
Dominick A. Pisano and Allan A. Needell, Series Editors
Since the Wright brothers’ first flight, air and space technologies have
been central in creating the modern world. Aviation and spaceflight
have transformed our lives—our conceptions of time and distance, our
daily routines, and the conduct of exploration, business, and war. The
Smithsonian History of Aviation and Spaceflight Series publishes
substantive works that further our understanding of these
transformations in their social, cultural, political, and military contexts.

© 2001 by Thomas J. Kelly
All rights reserved
Copy editor: Karin Kaufman
Production editor: Robert A. Poarch
Designer: Chris Hotvedt
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kelly, Thomas J., 1929–
Moon lander: how we developed the Apollo lunar module / Thomas J. Kelly.
p. cm. — (Smithsonian history of aviation and spaceflight series)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-58834-273-7
1. Lunar excursion module. 2. Project Apollo (U.S.). I. Title. II. Series.
TL795.K45 2001
629.44—dc21 00-063728
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data is available
This is an electronic release (eISBN: 978-1-58834-361-1) of the original cloth edition
For permission to reproduce illustrations appearing in this book, please correspond directly with
the owners of the works, as listed in the individual captions. Smithsonian Books does not retain
reproduction rights for these illustrations individually or maintain a file of addresses for photo
sources.
www.smithsonianbooks.com
v3.1_r1
To Joan, whose loving support made my lunar adventure possible.
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
List of Illustrations
List of Acronyms
1 A Difficult Delivery
Part 1. Winning
2 We Could Go to the Moon
3 The LM Proposal
4 The Fat Lady Sings
Part 2. Designing, Building, and Testing
5 Engineering a Miracle
6 Mockups
7 Pushing Out the Drawings
8 Trimming Pounds and Ounces
9 Problems, Problems!
10 Schedule and Cost Pressures
11 Tragedy Strikes Apollo
12 Building What I Designed
Part 3. Flying
13 First LM in Space: Apollo 5
14 The Dress Rehearsals: Apollos 9 and 10
15 One Giant Leap for Mankind: Apollo 11
16 Great Balls of Fire! Apollo 12
17 Rescue in Space: Apollo 13
18 The Undaunted Warrior Triumphs: Apollo 14
19 Great Explorations: Apollos 15, 16, and 17
20 Our Future Slips Away
Epilogue: The Legacy of Apollo
Notes
Illustrations
3.1 Lunar module proposal design
5.1 Reaction control system configuration 5.2 Lunar module’s ascent
stage 5.3 Lunar module’s crew compartment 5.4 Lunar module’s descent
stage 6.1 Final lunar module design
7.1 NASA officials view lunar module mockup 7.2 Tom Kelly in his
office, 1965
8.1 Lunar module’s weight history
12.1 Mated lunar module in final assembly 12.2 Micrometeorite and
thermal shields 12.3 Tom Kelly and Dick McLaughlin at LM-1 delivery
15.1 Supporting Apollo 11 in the Spacecraft; Analysis Room 15.2
Celebrating the Apollo 11 Moon landing
Acronyms
Acronym Full Name Definition
Automated checkout Computerized system for testing
ACE
equipment spacecraft
Abort electronics
AEA Computer used in AGS
assembly
AGS Abort guidance system Backup guidance and control in LM
American Institute of Aerospace engineering professional
AIAA
Aeronautics society and Astronautics
Apollo lunar surface Experiments deployed on the lunar
ALSEP
experiments surface package
Prepared mission plans (time lines)
Apollo Mission Planning
AMPTF and the Force design reference
Task
mission
Ascent propulsion
APS Ascent rocket engine and tanks
system
ASA Abort sensor assembly Inertial reference sensors for AGS
Apollo Spacecraft
ASDTP Overall program test plan
Development Test Plan
NASA-Houston program
Apollo Spacecraft
ASPO management group for the Apollo
Program Office
spacecraft
spacecraft
Attitude and translation Flight-maneuver hand controllers
ATCA
control assembly
Contractor’s last offer in
BAFO Best and final offer
competition
Customer Acceptance Formal review authorizing
CARR
Readiness Review spacecraft delivery to NASA
CDR Critical Design Review Approval of detailed design
CM Command module Launch and reentry spacecraft
Monitor for computer processed
CRT Cathode ray tube
data
Command/service
CSM CM and SM mated
modules
Descent engine control
DECA Descent-engine controller
assembly
Data entry and display
DEDA AGS data entry keyboard
assembly
Development flight Added measurements for
DFI
instrumentation engineering data
DOD Department of Defense U.S. Department of Defense
Descent propulsion
DPS Descent rocket motor and tanks
system
Chits written against problems
DR Discrepancy report
during reviews and flights
“Typical” mission plan and time
DRM Design reference mission line to establish design
requirements