Space Rocket History #218 – Apollo 11 – Lunar Orbit

Posted on August 2, 2017 by spac9750

As they passed behind the moon, they had just over 8 minutes to go before the burn. They were super-careful now, they checked and rechecked each step several times. It had to be perfect. Just one digit in the computer out of place could send them into a lunar mountain or turn them and send them into orbit around the sun.

Solar corona of the Moon as first seen by Apollo 11 crew

Lunar orbit insertion

Tucson Daily Citizen newspaper July 19, 1969

Jul 26

Space Rocket History #217 – Apollo 11 – Cislunar

Posted on July 26, 2017 by spac9750

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Email | TuneIn | RSS

What do we call this strange region between earth and moon? Cislunar space is the most common term, Is it day or night? Humans generally define night as that time when our planet is between our eyes and the sun, so this must be considered constant daytime, But it looks like night out of Command Module’s windows.

The Earth viewed form Apollo 11 during cislunar coast

Entering the Lunar Module for checkout

Buzz Aldrin in the Lunar Module

Jul 19

Space Rocket History #216 – Apollo 11 – Transposition, Docking & Extraction

Posted on July 19, 2017 by spac9750

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Email | TuneIn | RSS

Collins’ first task was to separate the command and service modules from the Saturn and proceed away from it a safe distance; then turn around and face it.

Preparing to dock with Lunar Module

Almost docked

Docked

Jul 12

Space Rocket History #215 – Apollo 11 – Trans Lunar Injection

Posted on July 12, 2017 by spac9750

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Email | TuneIn | RSS

As Apollo 11 passed over Western Australia, at T+2 hours 26 minutes Houston relayed to Collins, Armstrong, and Aldrin – through Carnarvon – formal permission to go to the moon. “Apollo 11, this is Houston. You are go for TLI.” Mike Collins answered, “Apollo 11. Thank you.”