FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1969
1969 - 2507.PDF
»">! 151 FLIGHT internotionc 24 July 1969 -iJS***SS,ii © lliffe Transport Publications Ltd 1969 This impression of the lunar module, by "Flight" artist Michael Badrocke, shows its general layout and relative size. The ascent Stage is mounted directly on the octagonal descent stage; the latter acts as a launch pad for the former. The "porch" and entry hatch area are well shown, together with the ladder, at the front of the spacecraft. Much of the LM is normally covered with insulation to prevent over heating from the intense solar radiation; this is largely deleted for clarity in the illustration. The docking ring is the circle at the top of the vehicle. The two triangular windows are angled to allow downward vision for landing following day liquid hydrogen and oxygen were loaded into the three fuel cells which provide electricity aboard the space craft. Just before the count was due to begin, a leak was dis covered in the helium pressurisation system on the first stage, described as "serious" by technicians. It was the first significant snag in the unusually smooth (even for Apollo) progress which had been maintained during the months of preparation. Lead mechanic Ira Ray Beeson and quality control inspector Walter Delle climbed inside the S-1C lox tank, and located the trouble: a loose coupling in one of the four helium bottles used to pressurise the 33l,OOOgal of liquid oxygen. A twist on a torque-wrench, and all was well again. "Buzz" Aldrin, the lunar-module pilot, took the opportunity to acclimatise to zero-g conditions, aboard a Boeing KC-135 equipped to fly "weightless" trajectories. On July II the astronauts went before Charles Berry for a final health scrutiny, and were passed fit. Six miles away, on the launch pad, the report was "no problems." Emphasising the quickening tempo was the departure on July 12 of the primary recovery ship, the USS Hornet ASW aircraft carrier, from Pearl Harbour, to take up station in the Pacific and await the splashdown of the command module, due on July 24. The astronauts used the final full day of training, July 12, to hone their flying skills. Armstrong flew a helicopter at
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
