Site Accessibility and Characteristic Velocity Requirements for Direct-descent Lunar Landings

Site Accessibility and Characteristic Velocity Requirements for Direct-descent Lunar Landings
Author: Vernon J. Weyers
Publisher:
Total Pages: 36
Release: 1961
Genre: Low temperature engineering
ISBN:

A direct descent is one in which the main descent propulsion system burns continuously from lunar approach to touchdown. The characteristic velocity requirement for direct lunar descents is presented as a function of the landing site location relative to the normal impact point. Results are included for translunar trip times of 60, 75, and 90 hours, for specific impulses representative of both Earth storable and cryogenic propulsion systems, for landing sites located anywhere on the lunar surface, and for ignition thrust-to-Earth weight ratios between 0.12 and 10.0. The data presented are useful in determining approximate performance capability and in evaluating tradeoffs during preliminary mission planning studies.

Site Accessibility and Characteristic Velocity Requirements for Direct-descent Lunar Landings

Site Accessibility and Characteristic Velocity Requirements for Direct-descent Lunar Landings
Author: Vernon J. Weyers
Publisher:
Total Pages: 24
Release: 1961
Genre: Low temperature engineering
ISBN:

A direct descent is one in which the main descent propulsion system burns continuously from lunar approach to touchdown. The characteristic velocity requirement for direct lunar descents is presented as a function of the landing site location relative to the normal impact point. Results are included for translunar trip times of 60, 75, and 90 hours, for specific impulses representative of both Earth storable and cryogenic propulsion systems, for landing sites located anywhere on the lunar surface, and for ignition thrust-to-Earth weight ratios between 0.12 and 10.0. The data presented are useful in determining approximate performance capability and in evaluating tradeoffs during preliminary mission planning studies.

A Study of Abort from a Manned Lunar Landing and Return to Rendezvous in a 50-mile Orbit

A Study of Abort from a Manned Lunar Landing and Return to Rendezvous in a 50-mile Orbit
Author: Jack A. White (NASA researcher.)
Publisher:
Total Pages: 24
Release: 1962
Genre: Aborted missions
ISBN:

"An investigation has been made of some of the problems associated with abort from landing and return to an orbiting vehicle in a 50-mile lunar orbit. For this study the landing module was considered capable of direct return to the orbiting vehicle from a hovering position at the lunar surface. The investigation was divided into two parts, an analytical study and a simulation study. The results of the analytical study indicate that, for an economical return to the orbiting vehicle, the landing maneuver should be chosen such that the orbiting vehicle is almost directly above the landing module at the touchdown point. This requirement places limitations on the angular travel of the landing vehicle around the moon prior to touchdown. Results of the simulation study indicate that a pilot can control the abort maneuver by using visual information."--Summary.