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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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A few seconds after liftoff, a fin-vane at the base of the booster stuck and started the 13-meter-tall spacecraft-booster combination spinning like a bullet. Twenty-six seconds into the flight the vehicle started coming apart. The abort-sensing system signaled the launch escape tower rocket to fire and pull the spacecraft away…
White Sands New Mexico
Launch Pad Abort Test
Little Joe II, A-001 with BP-12
Little Joe II Flight Profile
Little Joe II Real Emergency.
Little Joe II On the Pad
Little Joe Pad Abort Test
A-001 Launch
Little Joe II A-002
