the Apollo's
and module will carry the three-man crew
together with guidance communications
and life support systems
the service module will contain
propulsion systems for mid-course
maneuvers as well as for entering and
escaping the lunar orbit the lunar
excursion module will carry two crew
members to the surface of the Moon
along with scientific instruments
communications and guidance systems it
also will have a propulsion capability
for lunar landing and for return to the
orbiting command and service modules the
Apollo spacecraft and its launch escape
system total 75 feet in length the
three-stage advanced Saturn booster adds
another 280 feet in length in project
Apollo Saturn's first stage will provide
seven and a half million pounds of
thrust from 5f1 engines for liftoff and
initial powered flight the second stage
will develop 1 million pounds of thrust
from 5j to engines to boost the
spacecraft almost into Earth orbit
immediately after ignition of the second
stage the launch escape system will be
jettisoned
a single j2 engine in the s4b stage will
provide 200,000 pounds of thrust
it will place the spacecraft in an earth
parking orbit then its engine will be
shut down at the proper predetermined
time and position in the earth orbit the
s4 b will be reignited for propelling
the spacecraft into a trans lunar
trajectory a few minutes later staging
will occur
the s4 B will be separated fairings will
be jettisoned and the lunar excursion
module will be repositioned to a
nose-to-nose attitude with a command
module a number of mid-course maneuvers
may be required to place the spacecraft
into position for obtaining the desired
orbit around the moon preparatory to
acquiring its lunar orbit the spacecraft
will be reoriented for deceleration the
service module propulsion system will
slow the spacecraft to the proper
velocity for obtaining a precise
circular orbit approximately 100
nautical miles above the lunar surface
while the spacecraft is coasting in its
lunar orbit two members of the crew will
transfer to the lunar excursion module
through the hatch at the connection
point between the two vehicles after
preparations are completed the lunar
excursion module will separate from the
command and service modules which will
remain in lunar orbit the lunar
excursion module will be properly
oriented and its propulsion system will
transfer the vehicle into an elliptical
orbit suitable for approaching the lunar
surface the vehicle will be reoriented
for landing then through a carefully
blended combination of manual control
and automatic systems operation the
vehicle will be lowered toward the lunar
surface it will be able to hover and if
necessary move laterally so that the
crew can select the touchdown point
before taking any other action the two
lunar explorers will prepare for
relaunching in addition to their own
inspection and checking they will be
instructed and guided in this activity
by
as a third member in the mothership and
by information transmitted from Earth
photographs and samples of the lunar
surface will be obtained apparatus for
continued operation and transmission of
scientific data back to earth probably
will be left on the moon the crew will
fire the lunar launching engine had a
precisely determined instant to enter a
transfer ellipse calculated to
rendezvous with a mothership after
traveling part of the way around the
moon after proper orientation the lunar
excursion module will complete the
docking maneuver the two lunar explorers
will transfer back into the command
module their lunar excursion module
probably will be left in lunar orbit to
save weight on the return trip after the
command and service modules are
thoroughly checked out and all
calculations are confirmed the Apollo
spacecraft will be fired into its
trajectory for return to Earth following
mid-course Corrections and just before
entering the Earth's atmosphere the
service module will be jettisoned and
the command module will be oriented for
re-entry
at an altitude of approximately 50,000
feet a drogue parachute will deploy to
stabilize the vehicle this will be
followed shortly by the main parachute
system which will gently lower the
command module to earth probably on land
rather than at sea