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After the uncertain days of February 1967, NASA officials began to realize that a recovery from the tragedy was under way. Through hard work and problem solving, morale of Nasa personnel started to improve…
Remains of Launch Complex 34
Memorial benches on the edge of launch pad 34
Memorial plaque attached to launch pad 34
Memorial plaque attached to launch pad 34
Apollo 1 medallion flown on Apollo 9
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Toward the end of January 1967, it was revealed that Lunar Module 1 would not reach the Cape in February, as expected. This meant, the moon landing might be delayed because the lander was not ready. But the mission planners could not wait for the Apollo engineers to iron out all the problems. They had to plan for a landing in 1969 and hope that the hardware would catch up with them.
Lunar Module Diagram
John Disher Explains Apollo Components
Lunar Module Test Article LTA-2R
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At various stages of lunar module design, mockup reviews were conducted to demonstrate progress and identify weaknesses. These inspections were formal occasions, with a board composed of NASA and contractor officials and presided over by a chairman from the Apollo office in Houston.
Rendezvous Radar Antenna
TM-1 Mockup of the LEM
Lunar Module in the Stack
Panel Separation by Explosive Charge
Removing the LEM
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The Lunar Lander originally had two docking hatches, one at the top center of the cabin and another in the forward position, or nose, of the vehicle, with a tunnel in each location to permit astronauts to crawl from one pressurized vehicle to the other…
A rope instead of a ladder?
Ladder works better than a rope.
Improved Lunar Module
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Since the lunar module would fly only in space (earth orbit and lunar vicinity), the designers could ignore the aerodynamic streamlining demanded by earth’s atmosphere and build the first true manned spacecraft, designed solely for operating in the spatial vacuum.
Lunar module generations from 1962 to 1969
James Webb examines models of the LEM and CM
Underside of LEM descent stage shows fuel tank installation
LEM Descent Stage
Mockup of LEM cabin with seats
1964 Version of LEM, No Seats and Triangular windows
LEM Sleep Stations
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During 1962, NASA faced three major tasks: first the mode selection and its defense (covered in episodes 106-109), second keeping North American moving on the command and service modules (covered in episode 110) and third finding a contractor to develop the separate landing vehicle required by that approach. Which we will cover today in episode 111.
One-eighth scale Lunar Module shown by Grumman
Bell Aerospace Lunar Landing Research Vehicle
Saturn SA-3 Launch