3 ms·
> Additionally isn't there more analysis ? What are some scenarios ? I mean crashing after a failed launch attempt on the moon would perhaps be less disastrous
by leoc 10y ago
> Additionally isn't there more analysis ? What are some scenarios ? I mean crashing after a failed launch attempt on the moon would perhaps be less disastrous than on earth, but can you realistically hope to survive a fall of several kilometers ?
I am not an expert, but I guess that the letter was mostly intened to cover cases where the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascent_Propulsion_System https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascent_Propulsion_System failed to ignite at all, or perhaps sputtered early enough that the astronauts had a relatively soft landing after failing to make orbit.
- robryk 10y agoAgree about the case when APS fails to operate. There were emergency procedures that involved disassembling some part of it and directly wiring a power connection to the oxidizer and propellant valves. See the end of https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/LM11HandbookVol2.pdf https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/LM11HandbookVol2.pdf I think the latter scenario is virtually impossible: the ascent stage didn't have any landing gear and the engine wasn't throttlable, so even a relatively soft landing with fully operational APS would be impossible.