yeah... we don't have enough geologists is the issue. So we gotta find other stuff to do while we ready better missions and hire more scientists etc.
Children of Apollo: From the Earth, to the Heavens
- Thread starter Its_Just_Luci
- Start date
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- Tags
- apollo gemini nasa space spaceflight
There's a couple of pilot astronauts that had scientific backgrounds, namely Don Lind and Bruce McCandless, so they'd be good choices imo. Just don't think a doctor is a good choice. Someone with a physics or an engineering background, like Ed Gibson, Owen Garriott, or Philip Chapman would be good as well.
I was wondering: if the ASTP never flew, would Deke Slayton get a seat on one of the later Apollo missions?
Apollo 2 (AS-205) lifted off a mere 48 days after Phoenix’s splashdown, proving that Apollo 1 wasn’t a one-off success. The mission largely repeated the 14 day success story of Phoenix before it, carrying new scientific instruments and collecting further data on the vehicle. The mission would provide training in the Apollo to a further three astronauts: Eliot See, Walter Cunningham, and Done Eisele.
Then please explain this
likely not. Man is too old to fly to the moon imo, he'd pose a risk to any long term lunar mission.
That's Apollo 2, not Apollo 5. Apollo 5 was an uncrewed test flight of the Saturn V. Though it does look like he was on 2, but for some reason isn't in my spreadsheet...
Chapter 15: By Leaps and Bounds, Part II: Staying a Little Longer.
Chapter 15: By Leaps and Bounds, Part II: Staying a Little Longer.
(Elton John, Crocodile Rock)
“The Space Shuttle program was to define an era, delivering the promise of routine orbital access on a scale never before seen. The Shuttle Orbiter and STS would perform in tandem to allow on-orbit construction, continued and expanded planetary exploration and the delivery of countless humans into Earth-Orbit.”
- Author Unknown, 1972
- Author Unknown, 1972
With the discovery and eventual analysis of frozen water on the lunar surface, Apollo’s objectives and landing sites were subject to change. Apollo 20, however, would prove an exception. Originally scheduled for Apollo 18, Armstrong and Schmitt were transferred to Apollo 20, demonstrating the intermediate capabilities of the Lunar Module in a site chosen months prior: the Vallis Schröteri. The valley, believed to be a collapsed magma tube created in the result of long-dorman lunar volcanism, was chosen as it would provide scientists on the ground with ancient regolith samples, as well as a large variety of terrain feature analysis.
Apollo 20 was to be the first of as many as four K-Class lunar missions; While later missions aimed to stay on the surface for a month or more, the K-Class flights would demonstrate just a few of the many components necessary to pull this mission off. Foremost of these was the new L-Class Lunar Module; The L-Class upgrades, called earlier in their development the “LM-Taxi” were relatively extensive. The LMDE would receive a small bump in chamber pressure and thus increases in specific impulse and thrust, with fuel load increasing to match. The LM would also gain the capabilities to ferry 3 astronauts through the L-Class Ascent Module. Most importantly however, the Lunar Module would transition from battery power to fuel cells using hydrogen and oxygen stored in both stages, this allowing much longer duration stays and operation in a low-power mode. These changes would, of course, return some of the pesky mass that was removed during early development of the LM; This, however, was offset by the increase in TLI-payload allotted by the J-2S.
The L-Class Descent Module would also gain the ability to fly autonomously. This would, in eventuality, allow the delivery of unmanned supply landings by an S-IVC and LM, alongside semi-permanent base elements. These components, however, were not ready for flight, with only the L-Class Ascent and Descent module being ready by 1972. This, however, was anticipated. The K-class missions aimed to demonstrate L-Class LM hardware by landing a crew of two on the lunar surface for up to 7 days, allowing expanded exploration capabilities over the previous J-Class flights. Additionally, if schedules permitted, the latter K-Class missions were to demonstrate the upgraded S-IVC alongside its capabilities to deliver payloads to lunar orbit directly.
All the while, STS and Space Shuttle development was speeding up as planned. While many proposals had been put forward, ultimately it was Boeing’s proposal that won NASA over. Derived directly from the Saturn V, and promising more than 3 flights a month, the system won over NASA with more than just its cost. The design promised rapid reuse based on engine testing, demonstrating reuse of the J-2S and F-1 engines with little more than cleaning between firings.
The first stage of the Space Transportation System was to be derived closely from the S-IC, with some major changes. While initial design considerations toyed with the idea of a separable wing that would be mounted directly to a lightly modified S-IC, this was eventually decided to be needlessly complex. A staple feature of this design, however, was a split tail fin allowing improved stability at high angles of attack. Ultimately, this feature would be passed on to the fixed-wing alternative, leading to a small run of modified S-ICs.
These S-ICs, Dubbed the Reusable S-IC or RS-IC, were to employ the use of a metallic heatshield. This shielding, not dissimilar to that used on the X-15 by nasa years prior, promised to be lightweight, require minimal inspection and allow near-zero turnaround times. The RS-IC would have a single, monolithic delta wing protruding from its base, with split tail fins either side. This, alongside some simple reaction controls would allow the stage to easily descend from the hellish mach 7 plasma that was to engulf the stage as it fell through the atmosphere. The stage would utilize jet engines to maintain the crossrange capabilities necessary to return to the launch site; These engine’s configuration, however, was something of an internal debate.
(Initial wing-seated S-IC design)
(Initial Fixed-Wing design)
While most argued for jet engines mounted on the underside of the RS-IC’s wings, still others argued for engines to be mounted inside the wing, or even the nose; This, they argued, would allow the engines to be shielded more thoroughly than the alternatives. As contracts were assigned in 1972, the debate still raged, and it was one of the last major points of discussion. Alloys were chosen later that year, and an initial test flight was expected for 1977 or 1978.
(Boeing internal-diagram demonstrating nose-mounted engines)
The Space Transportation System was to utilize a semi-expendable upper stage, produced by North American Rockwell, derived from the S-II. This stage would consist of two primary components, the External Tank (ET) and the Engine Recovery Device (ERD). The STS External tank was to be a split-bulkhead design derived from the S-II stage, scaled up to the J-2S’ capabilities. This, it was hoped, would allow the stage to not only be more capable, but significantly cheaper. The validity of such claims, however, was in question to many of those at NASA. The tank would crossfeed propellants into the ERD, something that had not been demonstrated as of yet. If successful, many wondered, would it be cheap?
The ERD was to be the major cost-saving component of the second stage however, allowing nearly all essential components to be recovered. The Engine Recovery Device was a large, conical module capable of recovering the 5 J-2S engines alongside the stage’s avionics and flight computers. This would mean that all the STS expended in a single launch was the fuel tank, a component designed for mass production from the get go. The stage, collectively referred to as the S-IIB by designers, demonstrated the promise of the STS; Increased flight rate, increased redundancy, and routine access to space, all at a low cost.
(Early Concept art of the ERD in Low-Earth Orbit)
The stage was quite early in development, but was assigned alongside the contract to build the RS-IC, and the Shuttle in 1972. The final piece of the puzzle, the Shuttle, was the largest mystery though. A contract had been awarded to the Boeing and Martin Marietta companies to develop a large, lifting body orbiter. The orbiters were to regularly shuttle 8 crew to orbit alongside more than 20 tons of payload, as many as 24 times a year. These orbiters would ultimately become the backbone of the systems capabilities, acting as a universal utility craft capable of launching, retrieving and servicing a number of craft in orbit. The program had big goals, and the hope was that deriving many components from Apollo-era hardware would allow development to go relatively smoothly.
Nevertheless, Apollo continued his march onwards, and Apollo 20 lifted off that fall. The mission, a week long endeavour to the lunar surface, was the start of Phase-II for the program. This mission would, like Apollo 11 before it, be the proving ground for nearly all missions to come. The launcher lifted off without a hitch, and as the S-IC flamed out, the 5 J-2S’ on the second stage flared to life. The rocket had made it to orbit, and before long the S-IVB performed her TLI once again.
Armstrong: I got eyes on the Constitution-
Capcom: Roger that America, go for docking.
…
Schmitt: We’re docked.
Capcom: Roger that, Joe!
Apollo 20 extracted their lunar module, clearing it from the S-IVB and performing separation maneuvers. The crew continued onwards to the moon as had become routine over the past 4 years; Their 3 day trip was largely uneventful, with minor experiments and tests being run on the LM. At Perilune, the America CSM braked into lunar orbit, slowing her velocity down enough to release the LM. The S-IVB that had delivered them to TLI flew past the moon shortly on their heels, reporting nominal tank pressure as the stage exited the Earth’s sphere of influence shortly thereafter.
After some minor checkouts in lunar orbit, the lander was cleared for descent. Armstrong and Kerwin boarded the LM, leaving Eisele to pilot the CSM by himself. The two spacecraft separated with the signature thud and hiss of the tunnel venting. The LM fired her thrusters separating comfortably from the command module.
Armstrong: Alright, we’re separated, keep her warm for us Joe!
Kerwin: Of course boys!
The LM began her descent shortly thereafter; While the lander's mass had increased by over a ton, the engine’s thrust had increased similarly, allowing the lander to maintain a relatively consistent descent profile. As the lander came in closer to the surface the call was made-
Schmitt: Contact!
Armstrong: Engine off-
…
Armstrong: Houston, Constitution is down. Right on the mark!
Schmitt: This cobra’s got fangs, we can see a couple sharp looking boulders from where we’re at. Dodged a bullet there didn’t we Niel.
Armstrong: Sure did.
Capcom: Welcome to the Vallis Schröteri, 20.
Shortly after their landing, the crew began preparing for their rest period. After checking out the LM, and inflating their mattresses, the two men went to sleep; The crew awaited the grand adventure of a lifetime that was to face them in the days to come. After a restful night's sleep, the theme from 2001 a space odyssey rang over the Lunar Modules speakers, waking the crew from their rest. Spacecraft Communicator Karl Henize’s voice came over the intercom shortly after:
Capcom: Gooooooood morning Apollo 20!
Armstrong: I’m up, I’m up.
Schmitt: Sheesh… quite the entrance, Houston.
The men began deflating their mattresses shortly after, the mattresses stowing into the floorboards beneath them.
Capcom: How’d you sleep, boys?
Armstrong: Hell of a lot better than I did on 11, that’s for sure.
Early Apollo astronauts had complained about a lack of restful sleep; While this was largely a constraint of the LM’s small cabin, and was mitigated temporarily with the inclusion of hammocks, engineers decided to tackle the issue head on in the L-Series landers. The landers would include folding inflatable mattresses that could stow into the floorboards underneath a small hatch in the main standing-room and the main hallway; This allowing the astronauts to receive more restful sleep alongside the use of radiation-shielded facemasks.
Outside of the Earth’s protective magnetic field, NASA found that cosmic-rays, high energy particles emitted by distant suns, could impact and react with the optic nerve. This caused the astronauts to see flashes, clouds or small visual hallucinations. This, understandably made it difficult to sleep, facilitating the need for the face masks.
Capcom: Alright you two, you can begin EVA-1. We’re gonna go ahead and get that new LRV out for a spin!
Armstrong: Roger, depressurizing.
The LM hissed, and the hatch opened. As the crew descended down the ladder, they caught their first up-close glimpse of the lander. Constitution was dressed in a silver cladding, accenting her enlarged fuel tanks. As the men descended the ladder, their focus shifted rapidly to the LM’s rear bay.
(LM-13, Constitution, in the Vallis Schröteri, marking the first use of NASA’s new worm logo.)
The LRV, or Lunar Roving Vehicle, had received a series of minor upgrades preparing it for the K and L-Class flights ahead. The rover received rechargeable battery-packs, which would charge off the LM’s fuel cells. Additionally, the rover received far heavier batteries, over doubling its range; This impared the top speed of the rover slightly, but as was shown by Ronald Evans on Apollo 18, this wouldn’t be an issue. Evans had demonstrated, by accident or on purpose, the top speed of the LRV to be in excess of 13mph, or 21 kph. Boeing and GM disapproved of this, however, and the upgrades were actually anticipated to make the LRV harder to over-speed.
The mission’s plan was predominately the same as the J-Class missions before it; Explore the lunar surface, gather a few interesting looking rocks, and get your ass back home. This had become something of a routine over the past years, but the K-Class missions aimed to crank this formula to 11. With missions stretching as long as a week, this allowed far greater exploration. Setting out from their landing site in the center of the Valley, the crew headed north to the valley’s edge.
(Map of Apollo 20’s landing site. LEM shown in Blue, EVA-1 in red, EVA-2 in Teal, and EVA-3 in Green)
By day 3, however, mission controllers had gained enough confidence with the new LRV to push it to its limits. The crew set off that morning on a nearly 7 and a half hour, 100km drive through towards the Cobra’s Head. EVA-2 began and the crew headed to the North-West, slowly trekking through the lunar terrain and stopping periodically
Armstrong: Hell of a drive, eh?
Schmitt: No kidding, this thing can move pretty well.
Capcom: How are you coming along, boys?
Armstrong: The convertible’s zipping across the surface babe, not a worry in the world!
Schmitt: Wooohoo!
Capcom: Drive safe, you two. Last thing we need is to have to call a tow truck.
Armstrong: Roger that, no drifting.
Schmitt: What a bummer.
When the crew arrived at the mouth of the crater, Schmitt was overjoyed. This crater, believed to be an ancient volcano, was one of the most scientifically interesting sites visited thus far. Before long, a small cave was spotted and Schmitt began his stroll to the site of interest, Armstrong in tow.
Schmitt: Yippee
Armstrong: Slow down buddy-
Schmitt: I was strolling on the moon one day…
Scmitt: In the very mary month of-
Armstrong: September!
Schmitt: No, May!
After a jonty stroll across the collapsed lava tube, the crews arrived at the mouth of the small cave, and collected a few samples. In these samples, many volatile compounds would be found, having been shielded from the worst of the Sun’s rays; Among these were traces of ammonium, carbon dioxide, and of course, water. The crew returned to the LRV, looped around the rim of the crater, and began their journey home for the evening.
As the crew returned that afternoon, the LRV was loaded to the brim with surface samples. The mission’s capabilities were somewhat limited by the LM’s lack of a pressurized lab, but NASA hoped to have this sorted out in the coming years. Nevertheless, the crew remained on the surface for four more days, and conducted another long-distance EVA. All the while, NASA was gathering more and more data about how the lunar gravity affected astronauts, conducting a comparative study between Kerwin’s week in microgravity and that of Armstrong and Schmitt. Their mission over doubled Apollo 18’s previous endurance record, clocking in just over 7 days on the lunar surface. Before long though, the crew had to return to the CSM, and their lander began ascent.
Capcom: Okay, we have them in frame-
Armstrong: 3… 2… 1…
Schmitt: Ignition-
Armstrong: Liftoff!
Capcom: Roger liftoff, Constitution!
(Liftoff of the first L-Class LM from the lunar surface)
After a rapid ascent, the crews finally rendezvoused with the CSM, returning after their week-long mission.
Kerwin: They’re back, flight. And they brought a hell of a lot of rocks.
Schmitt: We sure did!
Kerwin: I told you to bring me back a souvenir, not some measly dirt!
Armstrong: Sorry boss, just followin’ orders.
Capcom: Joe may not appreciate it, but we sure will. Good work out there you two, let’s get you all back home.
The LM and CSM separated one final time, separating the two spacecraft permanently and starting the series of maneuvers necessary to return the three men safely to the Earth. Days later, the capsule separated from the service module, leaving it behind to burn in the hellfire of reentry. The heat shield protected the men and their precious cargo, and the spacecraft splashed down, just shy of 16 days after liftoff.
As Apollo 20 landed, preparations were underway for Apollo 21 and the mission that followed it: Skylab. Skylab 1 and 2 were being prepared in NASA’s vehicle assembly building alongside the far-off Apollo 22. Marking the first, but not final time that four missions were being prepared simultaneously in the complex. Skylab was to be the world’s first space station, following on the failed launch of Salyut 1 in december of 1972. Scheduled to lift off in May of 1973, the station was an incredibly ambitious undertaking.
Skylab, in development since the late 60’s, was to be a station derived from the S-IVB stage. The station was to house a number of scientific payloads, including the Apollo Telescope Mount. The ATM aimed to allow solar observation, and recording. Additionally, the station would demonstrate the costs-savings of the so-called dry-workshop method of hollowing out a fuel tank to turn into a habitation module. The station was to be the first in a series of laboratories, the next of which had gotten approval alongside the ASTP-II mission earlier that summer. As April showers faded across the floridian coast and gave way to the beating sun of summer, Skylab lifted off atop her launcher.
Mmmmm.......aw yiss. This timeline gets better and better with each post.Chapter 15: By Leaps and Bounds, Part II: Staying a Little Longer.
(Elton John, Crocodile Rock)
“The Space Shuttle program was to define an era, delivering the promise of routine orbital access on a scale never before seen. The Shuttle Orbiter and STS would perform in tandem to allow on-orbit construction, continued and expanded planetary exploration and the delivery of countless humans into Earth-Orbit.”
- Author Unknown, 1972
With the discovery and eventual analysis of frozen water on the lunar surface, Apollo’s objectives and landing sites were subject to change. Apollo 20, however, would prove an exception. Originally scheduled for Apollo 18, Armstrong and Schmitt were transferred to Apollo 20, demonstrating the intermediate capabilities of the Lunar Module in a site chosen months prior: the Vallis Schröteri. The valley, believed to be a collapsed magma tube created in the result of long-dorman lunar volcanism, was chosen as it would provide scientists on the ground with ancient regolith samples, as well as a large variety of terrain feature analysis.
Apollo 20 was to be the first of as many as four K-Class lunar missions; While later missions aimed to stay on the surface for a month or more, the K-Class flights would demonstrate just a few of the many components necessary to pull this mission off. Foremost of these was the new L-Class Lunar Module; The L-Class upgrades, called earlier in their development the “LM-Taxi” were relatively extensive. The LMDE would receive a small bump in chamber pressure and thus increases in specific impulse and thrust, with fuel load increasing to match. The LM would also gain the capabilities to ferry 3 astronauts through the L-Class Ascent Module. Most importantly however, the Lunar Module would transition from battery power to fuel cells using hydrogen and oxygen stored in both stages, this allowing much longer duration stays and operation in a low-power mode. These changes would, of course, return some of the pesky mass that was removed during early development of the LM; This, however, was offset by the increase in TLI-payload allotted by the J-2S.
The L-Class Descent Module would also gain the ability to fly autonomously. This would, in eventuality, allow the delivery of unmanned supply landings by an S-IVC and LM, alongside semi-permanent base elements. These components, however, were not ready for flight, with only the L-Class Ascent and Descent module being ready by 1972. This, however, was anticipated. The K-class missions aimed to demonstrate L-Class LM hardware by landing a crew of two on the lunar surface for up to 7 days, allowing expanded exploration capabilities over the previous J-Class flights. Additionally, if schedules permitted, the latter K-Class missions were to demonstrate the upgraded S-IVC alongside its capabilities to deliver payloads to lunar orbit directly.
All the while, STS and Space Shuttle development was speeding up as planned. While many proposals had been put forward, ultimately it was Boeing’s proposal that won NASA over. Derived directly from the Saturn V, and promising more than 3 flights a month, the system won over NASA with more than just its cost. The design promised rapid reuse based on engine testing, demonstrating reuse of the J-2S and F-1 engines with little more than cleaning between firings.
The first stage of the Space Transportation System was to be derived closely from the S-IC, with some major changes. While initial design considerations toyed with the idea of a separable wing that would be mounted directly to a lightly modified S-IC, this was eventually decided to be needlessly complex. A staple feature of this design, however, was a split tail fin allowing improved stability at high angles of attack. Ultimately, this feature would be passed on to the fixed-wing alternative, leading to a small run of modified S-ICs.
These S-ICs, Dubbed the Reusable S-IC or RS-IC, were to employ the use of a metallic heatshield. This shielding, not dissimilar to that used on the X-15 by nasa years prior, promised to be lightweight, require minimal inspection and allow near-zero turnaround times. The RS-IC would have a single, monolithic delta wing protruding from its base, with split tail fins either side. This, alongside some simple reaction controls would allow the stage to easily descend from the hellish mach 7 plasma that was to engulf the stage as it fell through the atmosphere. The stage would utilize jet engines to maintain the crossrange capabilities necessary to return to the launch site; These engine’s configuration, however, was something of an internal debate.
(Initial wing-seated S-IC design)
(Initial Fixed-Wing design)
While most argued for jet engines mounted on the underside of the RS-IC’s wings, still others argued for engines to be mounted inside the wing, or even the nose; This, they argued, would allow the engines to be shielded more thoroughly than the alternatives. As contracts were assigned in 1972, the debate still raged, and it was one of the last major points of discussion. Alloys were chosen later that year, and an initial test flight was expected for 1977 or 1978.
(Boeing internal-diagram demonstrating nose-mounted engines)
The Space Transportation System was to utilize a semi-expendable upper stage, produced by North American Rockwell, derived from the S-II. This stage would consist of two primary components, the External Tank (ET) and the Engine Recovery Device (ERD). The STS External tank was to be a split-bulkhead design derived from the S-II stage, scaled up to the J-2S’ capabilities. This, it was hoped, would allow the stage to not only be more capable, but significantly cheaper. The validity of such claims, however, was in question to many of those at NASA. The tank would crossfeed propellants into the ERD, something that had not been demonstrated as of yet. If successful, many wondered, would it be cheap?
The ERD was to be the major cost-saving component of the second stage however, allowing nearly all essential components to be recovered. The Engine Recovery Device was a large, conical module capable of recovering the 5 J-2S engines alongside the stage’s avionics and flight computers. This would mean that all the STS expended in a single launch was the fuel tank, a component designed for mass production from the get go. The stage, collectively referred to as the S-IIB by designers, demonstrated the promise of the STS; Increased flight rate, increased redundancy, and routine access to space, all at a low cost.
(Early Concept art of the ERD in Low-Earth Orbit)
The stage was quite early in development, but was assigned alongside the contract to build the RS-IC, and the Shuttle in 1972. The final piece of the puzzle, the Shuttle, was the largest mystery though. A contract had been awarded to the Boeing and Martin Marietta companies to develop a large, lifting body orbiter. The orbiters were to regularly shuttle 8 crew to orbit alongside more than 20 tons of payload, as many as 24 times a year. These orbiters would ultimately become the backbone of the systems capabilities, acting as a universal utility craft capable of launching, retrieving and servicing a number of craft in orbit. The program had big goals, and the hope was that deriving many components from Apollo-era hardware would allow development to go relatively smoothly.
Nevertheless, Apollo continued his march onwards, and Apollo 20 lifted off that fall. The mission, a week long endeavour to the lunar surface, was the start of Phase-II for the program. This mission would, like Apollo 11 before it, be the proving ground for nearly all missions to come. The launcher lifted off without a hitch, and as the S-IC flamed out, the 5 J-2S’ on the second stage flared to life. The rocket had made it to orbit, and before long the S-IVB performed her TLI once again.
Armstrong: I got eyes on the Constitution-
Capcom: Roger that America, go for docking.
…
Schmitt: We’re docked.
Capcom: Roger that, Joe!
Apollo 20 extracted their lunar module, clearing it from the S-IVB and performing separation maneuvers. The crew continued onwards to the moon as had become routine over the past 4 years; Their 3 day trip was largely uneventful, with minor experiments and tests being run on the LM. At Perilune, the America CSM braked into lunar orbit, slowing her velocity down enough to release the LM. The S-IVB that had delivered them to TLI flew past the moon shortly on their heels, reporting nominal tank pressure as the stage exited the Earth’s sphere of influence shortly thereafter.
After some minor checkouts in lunar orbit, the lander was cleared for descent. Armstrong and Kerwin boarded the LM, leaving Eisele to pilot the CSM by himself. The two spacecraft separated with the signature thud and hiss of the tunnel venting. The LM fired her thrusters separating comfortably from the command module.
Armstrong: Alright, we’re separated, keep her warm for us Joe!
Kerwin: Of course boys!
The LM began her descent shortly thereafter; While the lander's mass had increased by over a ton, the engine’s thrust had increased similarly, allowing the lander to maintain a relatively consistent descent profile. As the lander came in closer to the surface the call was made-
Schmitt: Contact!
Armstrong: Engine off-
…
Armstrong: Houston, Constitution is down. Right on the mark!
Schmitt: This cobra’s got fangs, we can see a couple sharp looking boulders from where we’re at. Dodged a bullet there didn’t we Niel.
Armstrong: Sure did.
Capcom: Welcome to the Vallis Schröteri, 20.
Shortly after their landing, the crew began preparing for their rest period. After checking out the LM, and inflating their mattresses, the two men went to sleep; The crew awaited the grand adventure of a lifetime that was to face them in the days to come. After a restful night's sleep, the theme from 2001 a space odyssey rang over the Lunar Modules speakers, waking the crew from their rest. Spacecraft Communicator Karl Henize’s voice came over the intercom shortly after:
Capcom: Gooooooood morning Apollo 20!
Armstrong: I’m up, I’m up.
Schmitt: Sheesh… quite the entrance, Houston.
The men began deflating their mattresses shortly after, the mattresses stowing into the floorboards beneath them.
Capcom: How’d you sleep, boys?
Armstrong: Hell of a lot better than I did on 11, that’s for sure.
Early Apollo astronauts had complained about a lack of restful sleep; While this was largely a constraint of the LM’s small cabin, and was mitigated temporarily with the inclusion of hammocks, engineers decided to tackle the issue head on in the L-Series landers. The landers would include folding inflatable mattresses that could stow into the floorboards underneath a small hatch in the main standing-room and the main hallway; This allowing the astronauts to receive more restful sleep alongside the use of radiation-shielded facemasks.
Outside of the Earth’s protective magnetic field, NASA found that cosmic-rays, high energy particles emitted by distant suns, could impact and react with the optic nerve. This caused the astronauts to see flashes, clouds or small visual hallucinations. This, understandably made it difficult to sleep, facilitating the need for the face masks.
Capcom: Alright you two, you can begin EVA-1. We’re gonna go ahead and get that new LRV out for a spin!
Armstrong: Roger, depressurizing.
The LM hissed, and the hatch opened. As the crew descended down the ladder, they caught their first up-close glimpse of the lander. Constitution was dressed in a silver cladding, accenting her enlarged fuel tanks. As the men descended the ladder, their focus shifted rapidly to the LM’s rear bay.
(LM-13, Constitution, in the Vallis Schröteri, marking the first use of NASA’s new worm logo.)
The LRV, or Lunar Roving Vehicle, had received a series of minor upgrades preparing it for the K and L-Class flights ahead. The rover received rechargeable battery-packs, which would charge off the LM’s fuel cells. Additionally, the rover received far heavier batteries, over doubling its range; This impared the top speed of the rover slightly, but as was shown by Ronald Evans on Apollo 18, this wouldn’t be an issue. Evans had demonstrated, by accident or on purpose, the top speed of the LRV to be in excess of 13mph, or 21 kph. Boeing and GM disapproved of this, however, and the upgrades were actually anticipated to make the LRV harder to over-speed.
The mission’s plan was predominately the same as the J-Class missions before it; Explore the lunar surface, gather a few interesting looking rocks, and get your ass back home. This had become something of a routine over the past years, but the K-Class missions aimed to crank this formula to 11. With missions stretching as long as a week, this allowed far greater exploration. Setting out from their landing site in the center of the Valley, the crew headed north to the valley’s edge.
(Map of Apollo 20’s landing site. LEM shown in Blue, EVA-1 in red, EVA-2 in Teal, and EVA-3 in Green)
By day 3, however, mission controllers had gained enough confidence with the new LRV to push it to its limits. The crew set off that morning on a nearly 7 and a half hour, 100km drive through towards the Cobra’s Head. EVA-2 began and the crew headed to the North-West, slowly trekking through the lunar terrain and stopping periodically
Armstrong: Hell of a drive, eh?
Schmitt: No kidding, this thing can move pretty well.
Capcom: How are you coming along, boys?
Armstrong: The convertible’s zipping across the surface babe, not a worry in the world!
Schmitt: Wooohoo!
Capcom: Drive safe, you two. Last thing we need is to have to call a tow truck.
Armstrong: Roger that, no drifting.
Schmitt: What a bummer.
When the crew arrived at the mouth of the crater, Schmitt was overjoyed. This crater, believed to be an ancient volcano, was one of the most scientifically interesting sites visited thus far. Before long, a small cave was spotted and Schmitt began his stroll to the site of interest, Armstrong in tow.
Schmitt: Yippee
Armstrong: Slow down buddy-
Schmitt: I was strolling on the moon one day…
Scmitt: In the very mary month of-
Armstrong: September!
Schmitt: No, May!
After a jonty stroll across the collapsed lava tube, the crews arrived at the mouth of the small cave, and collected a few samples. In these samples, many volatile compounds would be found, having been shielded from the worst of the Sun’s rays; Among these were traces of ammonium, carbon dioxide, and of course, water. The crew returned to the LRV, looped around the rim of the crater, and began their journey home for the evening.
As the crew returned that afternoon, the LRV was loaded to the brim with surface samples. The mission’s capabilities were somewhat limited by the LM’s lack of a pressurized lab, but NASA hoped to have this sorted out in the coming years. Nevertheless, the crew remained on the surface for four more days, and conducted another long-distance EVA. All the while, NASA was gathering more and more data about how the lunar gravity affected astronauts, conducting a comparative study between Kerwin’s week in microgravity and that of Armstrong and Schmitt. Their mission over doubled Apollo 18’s previous endurance record, clocking in just over 7 days on the lunar surface. Before long though, the crew had to return to the CSM, and their lander began ascent.
Capcom: Okay, we have them in frame-
Armstrong: 3… 2… 1…
Schmitt: Ignition-
Armstrong: Liftoff!
Capcom: Roger liftoff, Constitution!
(Liftoff of the first L-Class LM from the lunar surface)
After a rapid ascent, the crews finally rendezvoused with the CSM, returning after their week-long mission.
Kerwin: They’re back, flight. And they brought a hell of a lot of rocks.
Schmitt: We sure did!
Kerwin: I told you to bring me back a souvenir, not some measly dirt!
Armstrong: Sorry boss, just followin’ orders.
Capcom: Joe may not appreciate it, but we sure will. Good work out there you two, let’s get you all back home.
The LM and CSM separated one final time, separating the two spacecraft permanently and starting the series of maneuvers necessary to return the three men safely to the Earth. Days later, the capsule separated from the service module, leaving it behind to burn in the hellfire of reentry. The heat shield protected the men and their precious cargo, and the spacecraft splashed down, just shy of 16 days after liftoff.
As Apollo 20 landed, preparations were underway for Apollo 21 and the mission that followed it: Skylab. Skylab 1 and 2 were being prepared in NASA’s vehicle assembly building alongside the far-off Apollo 22. Marking the first, but not final time that four missions were being prepared simultaneously in the complex. Skylab was to be the world’s first space station, following on the failed launch of Salyut 1 in december of 1972. Scheduled to lift off in May of 1973, the station was an incredibly ambitious undertaking.
Skylab, in development since the late 60’s, was to be a station derived from the S-IVB stage. The station was to house a number of scientific payloads, including the Apollo Telescope Mount. The ATM aimed to allow solar observation, and recording. Additionally, the station would demonstrate the costs-savings of the so-called dry-workshop method of hollowing out a fuel tank to turn into a habitation module. The station was to be the first in a series of laboratories, the next of which had gotten approval alongside the ASTP-II mission earlier that summer. As April showers faded across the floridian coast and gave way to the beating sun of summer, Skylab lifted off atop her launcher.
Chapter 15: By Leaps and Bounds, Part II: Staying a Little Longer.
<snip>
These S-ICs, Dubbed the Reusable S-IC or RS-IC, were to employ the use of a metallic heatshield. This shielding, not dissimilar to that used on the X-15 by nasa years prior, promised to be lightweight, require minimal inspection and allow near-zero turnaround times. The RS-IC would have a single, monolithic delta wing protruding from its base, with split tail fins either side. This, alongside some simple reaction controls would allow the stage to easily descend from the hellish mach 7 plasma that was to engulf the stage as it fell through the atmosphere. The stage would utilize jet engines to maintain the crossrange capabilities necessary to return to the launch site; These engine’s configuration, however, was something of an internal debate.
(Initial wing-seated S-IC design)
(Initial Fixed-Wing design)
So THAT'S how the danged nose was supposed to work! I was wondering as I could never really find out. Thanks very much
While most argued for jet engines mounted on the underside of the RS-IC’s wings, still others argued for engines to be mounted inside the wing, or even the nose; This, they argued, would allow the engines to be shielded more thoroughly than the alternatives. As contracts were assigned in 1972, the debate still raged, and it was one of the last major points of discussion. Alloys were chosen later that year, and an initial test flight was expected for 1977 or 1978.
(Boeing internal-diagram demonstrating nose-mounted engines)
Also helped balance the aft mounted engines which IIRC made the CG more stable for the return flight. Early Fly-back Atlas studies had "mid/under-wing" mounted engines but they had structural and CG/CP issues that later studies found were offset by nose mounted air breathing engines.
Wonderful post
Randy
The problem with nose mounted engines, of course, is that there's less room to mount engines in the nose if more engines are needed, and putting jet engines behind other jet engines - even offset with wing mounts - is generally a bad idea due to exhaust ingestion.
Personally, I'm actually fond of over-wing/wing-top mounting for engines on aircraft like these - they might slightly reduce lift if placed too far forward of the edge of the wing, but they'd be shielded both by any deployable intake doors and the bulk of the wing structure during a reentry. This would also allow for their fuel tanks to be efficiently mounted inside the wing structures that are unsuited for containing RP-1/LOX propellant for the F-1/F-1A engines - or, if it's better for center-of-mass purposes, the tanks could be mounted in the nose as well as the wings.
One wacky suggestion that probably wouldn't go anywhere but I could see an engineer making would be to use JP-x/HTP bipropellant thrusters (JP-x just meaning "any JP specification jet fuel" - JP-4, JP-5, or JP-7 seem the most likely choices) for reaction control, to minimize the variety of fuels required. (This probably goes nowhere when someone points out they'd need a hydraulics APU anyways, and the extant models already run on hydrazine - thus making hydrazine/NTO thrusters a more logical pick).
I've been notified that the LM aparantly had the capabilities to land itself autonomously starting with Apollo 12 or 13, so that actually isn't new on the L-Class LM, regardless, it retains this ability.
Saturn STS is very good idea if NASA got right budget.
i used my self in TL as Space Shuttle and Cargo Shuttle. what used a Saturn IVC stage
in 2001: A Space-Time Odyssey they used Saturn Shuttle for Civilian and Military purpose
like launching large spy sats, Chemical space Tugs, it refuelling tanks, or needed hard ware for space Stations.
i used my self in TL as Space Shuttle and Cargo Shuttle. what used a Saturn IVC stage
That depends what for Payloads you have.
in 2001: A Space-Time Odyssey they used Saturn Shuttle for Civilian and Military purpose
like launching large spy sats, Chemical space Tugs, it refuelling tanks, or needed hard ware for space Stations.
Both. Current estimates for payload cap are about 90 tons of cargo, or the shuttle plus 25 or so tons of cargo. Also, didn't realize that this weekend was a release weekend, I'll probs post a chapter tonight or tomorrow, life's been super hectic lately lol
Chapter 16: By Leaps and Bounds, Part III: A Launch, an Accident, a Solution.
Chapter 16: By Leaps and Bounds, Part III: A Launch, an Accident, a Solution.
(Sweet, Ballroom Blitz)
(Liftoff of Skylab-1)
Public Affairs Officer: All engines running, the skylab has lifted off and is moving up. Skylab has cleared the tower!
Mission Controller 1: Roll program.
Mission Controller 2: Roger Roll.
…
Mission Controller 1: Mark. 1 minute 20 seconds, 7 nautical miles in altitude, velocity 25-hundred feet per second.
…
Mission Controller 2: First stage shutdown-
Public Affairs Officer: We have first stage cutoff!
Mission Controller 1: Second stage separation and ignition. Full throttle on all 5 stage two engines.
Public Affairs Officer: Skylab’s second stage engine have ignited and are running at full rated performance.
The stage continued traveling upwards, continuing her journey to the heavens. As the launcher’s second stage cut her second 5 J-2S engines, throttling them to zero, the station was placed into orbit. It was here that the first signs of alarm reached mission controllers. Many components of the station were not immediately reading as they should, certainly not a sign of failure, but far from a good sign nevertheless.
Mission Controller 2: Uhh do be advised we are not reading deployment of the port side panel…
Mission Controller 1: Roger.
…
Mission Controller 1: What does this tell us, fight?
Mission Controller 2: Uncertain. It could be a failure to deploy, or just a failure of the sensor.
Mission Controller 1: Understood. Keep an eye on power levels and get back to me in the next orbit-
Mission Controller 2: You bet.
…
…
Mission Controller 3: Um, flight?
Mission Controller 1: Yes?
Mission Controller 3: We’re getting temperature readings that are not stabilizing.
Mission Controller 1: When were we anticipating them to flatten out?
Mission Controller 3: During the previous orbit.
Mission Controller 1: Roger, understood.
Mission Controller 2: Those power levels aren’t reading properly either.
…
…
Mission Controller 2: We’re getting a bit under 40% of what we should be reading on the batteries-
Mission Controller 1: Okay, roger…
Something clearly had occurred, but what was still unclear. It could be assumed that the station had suffered at least minor damages during ascent, however the extent and location of this damage was somewhat unclear. Were the docking ports in-tact? What was the situation on the telescope? Had it even deployed? Was the station even salvageable, or would the batteries be depleted before a repair mission could even be attempted? NASA had few answers, but they did have an answer for this final question. Failure was not an option, and before long a rescue mission was in the works. Skylab 2’s purpose shifted from finishing deployment of instrumentation and finalizing the setup of the station, to beginning repairs, and ensuring the station would remain operational for future crews.
A number of fixes began being prepared, each facing their own limitations and design constraints. The dominant of these constraints by far was the CSM’s volume limitations; The Command module, a small capsule, was simply bever meant to ferry large amounts of repair equipment to and from orbit, so many of these tools would have to be shrunk, folded, and otherwise compacted. The most extreme of these compacted solutions was the Skylab Solar Parasol. The device, a large unfolding umbrella like structure, was meant to replace the micrometeoroid and thermal shielding theorized to have shed off during ascent.
Additionally, hooks, claws and other grappling tools would need to be used not only to secure the astronauts to the station, but also to allow them to deploy the remaining instruments, assuming this was possible. To acquire the compact tools necessary for the job, NASA reached out to an unlikely source, an anchor company. As it turned out, oceanic craft faced similar volume constraints to spacecraft, and the need for folding tools and long reaching mechanisms proved common ground between the two mediums. The A.B. Chance company provided NASA with the tools they needed for the job, with NASA flying a representative to their warehouse the morning after Skylab’s launch.
(Skylab Solar Shield being prepared the week before Skylab-2)
While Engineers rushed to find a solution, Crew training began. Skylab II, the first manned mission to the station, was intended to follow the launch of the station by only a day; This, however, changed rapidly following the damage observed during and after ascent. It was quickly determined that Michael Collins, Owen Garriot and commander Gordon Cooper would need to train in repair of the station, and do so at a rapid pace. By some miracle of coordination and engineering, a rescue mission was mounted and prepared on the launch pad within the week.
Collins, Garriot, and Cooper suited up prior to boarding their Saturn IB. Their mission had changed dramatically, from one of occupancy to one of repair and problem-solving. That said, the crew had the tools for the job, alongside the training. To the extent by which they could be, the astronauts were prepared for the flight, and equipped to face any hardships they could expect to face. The tools were crammed into the foot space of the Apollo, and the crews boarded their capsule, eager to get off the ground as soon as possible.
Public Affairs Officer: Liftoff! Liftoff of Skylab-2, America’s daring rescue!
Cooper: We got a roll program flight-
(Skylab-2 lifts off from LC-34, delivering the crew to Skylab)
Capcom: All engines reporting nominal…
Capcom: we got flameout and separation-
Collins: Ignition!
Cooper: We’re goin’ again, flight.
The S-IVB delivered the three-man crew directly to a rendezvous with the station, the crews getting their first views of the station less than an hour after launch. What they saw was terrifying. The station was a husk of her former self, something torn to shreds and mangled. But she was breathing, if just barely.
Collins: We have eyes on the skylab, flight.
Capcom: How’s she look?
Cooper: (off mic and distant) shit…
Collins: Uhh she’s not looking too good, Houston.
Garriot: Micrometeoroid shield seems to have sheared off. I can’t see the solar panel yet though.
Cooper: I’m gonna get her real close for ya’ Ed.
Garriot: Much appreciated
The crew had rendezvoused with Skylab, and began their slow flyaround. Not knowing the exact shape of the object they were flying around, the crew made sure to maintain a safe distance from the station. Having seen the Starport panel jammed shut, Cooper brought the command module around the station, hoping to see the Port-side panel in the same condition. This, however, was not the case. The station remained in a critical condition far worse than what engineers had imagined. The panel had been sheared clean off, presumably when the spacecraft’s thermal shielding had peeled off. By some miracle, this hadn’t damaged the Starport panel, but needless to say this condition was far from ideal.
(View of skylab’s missing micrometeoroid and solar shield, alongside a bundle of dangling wires where the solar panel was meant to attach)
Garriot: Jesus Christ…
Capcom: How is it Owen?
Garriot: Well our signals on the Starboard pane were incorrect, it appears to be jammed, and the port one has been ripped off. We got a hell of a work week ahead of us.
Capcom: Roger. Go ahead and back off Gordo, we’ll get back to you with more soon.
The crew had met their dragon, and now they had to best it. The mission ahead was fraught with challenges, but the men remained optimistic. The capsule backed away from the station, leaving it to its own for the time being. For now, all they could do was wait for further instruction from the Johnson Space Center.
Capcom: Alright boys, we’re clearing ya for EVA 1.
Collins: Roger.
Michael Collins brought the capsule closer to the jammed array, as the hatch to the Apollo swung open. Gordon Cooper, with an extendable pole in hand prepared to climb out the hatch. The spacecraft’s velocities nulled out, and Cooper climbed out of the spacecraft with Garriot holding onto his boots.
Cooper: Alright, let’s give this a shot-
Cooper extended his 15 foot pole, allowing him to hook onto the stuck solar panel. Once he felt the rod catch, he began trying to leverage the stuck array. The panel was stuck good, and didn’t seem to want to open. He strained harder and harder, trying to unjam the seemingly immovable object. In doing so his heart rate and core temperature rose to levels Houston began to become uncomfortable with.
Cooper: Ugh-
…
…
Cooper: Gonna give er all I got.
Capcom: Careful-
Cooper: Damn!
The panel freed as Cooper’s momentum got the best of him. In an instant, the Apollo began to tumble away from the station. Cooper lashed the rod away from the panel, instinctively trying not to slash the now deploying panel. All the while, Collins immediately began making corrective maneuvers to arrest this spin. Garriot’s grip remained strong, and the three men were briefly fighting for their lives as the spacecraft began to settle.
Collins: Hold on!
Garriot: I gotcha-
Capcom: Everything alright?
Collins: Gordo’s stronger than he looks, that’s all. Got us into a spin when that thing budged.
Cooper: Climbing back in now, Houston, we’re doing alright.
Capcom: Glad to hear, stay safe up there.
The crew corrected the spin, minimizing the extent of the danger in order to not abort the flight. Before long, the crew gained sight of their handiwork; Skylab’s solar wing had fully deployed, returning her power levels to operational limits. The station was now no longer at risk of being unsalvageable, and now they needed to tackle the thermal issues. When the micrometeoroid shield had fallen off during flight, it had exposed the station to the unfiltered radiation of the sun. This caused the station to overheat, reaching temperatures in excess of 120F (50C).
The crew caught their breath, and before long, Gordo had retrieved the solar parasol. The device was one of a kind, and featured four extending arms to deploy a large foil solar shade. If the device worked, NASA hoped the station would return to nominal internal temperatures. This however, was hedging their bets on a fix prepared in the week prior. Needless to say, many were in disbelief, but the astronauts remained confident in their abilities; If they could repair a solar panel in orbit, what else were they capable of?
Cooper: I’m setting her up now, flight.
Capcom: Roger.
Collins: Ok, Gordo has it locked in, we’re gonna start deployment-
Cooper grabbed the shield with his hook, and Collins began a slow separation. The shield was extended to its full area, and the hook was separated and retrieved. Within a day of work, the crew had returned Skylab to a less-than-ideal yet operational state. The station was now ready to begin longer term missions, ones slated to support study of solar phenomena and the effects of long duration spaceflight of human beings.
Skylab 2 would go on to act largely as a precursor for greater things to come. The crew would get the staton dressed up for occupation, deploy experiments and overall perform a limited scientific stay. After their three week mission, demonstrating critical station elements such as the telescope, toilet and shower were in working order, they returned safely to the Earth.
Following in their footsteps was Skylab 3, launching mere months later alongside the continuation of Apollo. While Skylab 3 was performing routine science on the station, Apollo 22 largely repeated the successes of 20 and 21 before it. Apollo had matured into something of a well oiled machine, and before long, the final K-Class mission of Apollo 23 gave way to Skylab 4.
While the K-class flights gave NASA insight into human physiology and psychology on longer term missions to the lunar surface, Skylab 4 aimed to demonstrate the effects of months long spaceflight in microgravity on her crew. Skylab 4 was to be an unprecedented mission for many reasons, only one of which was its duration. Skylab 4 was to mark an EVA record, with as many as 8 EVA’s scheduled over their three-plus month, ninety one day stay in orbit. However more important than either of these objectives was the evidence of progress the mission ascertained. Every mission to date, including the one Soviet flight that delivered a woman to space, saw people of European ancestry enter orbit.
This was, however, to change. Skylab 4 was to be the first time an astronaut of color would enter orbit. Robert Lawrence Junior was to fly aboard the record breaking crew of Skylab-4, alongside veteran commander Alan Bean, and Science Pilot Duane Geraveline.
(Robert Lawrence, first African American in orbit)
Lawrence had been selected years prior for the Airforce’s Manned Orbiting Laboratory program. And while MOL was ultimately canceled in 1969, by the end of that year, NASA had onboarded many of the astronauts into the Apollo and Skylab programs. This is where Lawrence first was put onto Skylab 4, putting his years of training and record of excellence to the test.
The mission lifted off in December of 1974, delivering the three men to the now-routine destination. Within hours the crew rendezvoused with, docked to and boarded the station. The three men delivered a small set of experiments to be performed alongside the already present payloads. The crew were to begin testing of new suit technologies NASA had been developing since the flights of Gemini 9, 10, 11 and 12. While the new suit was far from complete, but NASA wished to learn what method of locomotion the astronauts preferred in a weightless environment.
(Alan Bean demonstrates the first of many Intra-Vehicular Spacewalks on the station using the Nitrogen-Powered Prototype Maneuvering Unit (PMU))
The astronauts settled into their new home nicely, and began working towards accomplishing the station's goals. While the previous mission to the station had suffered something of a mutiny, with crews refusing to communicate with NASA for 24 hours over a lack of relaxation time, Skylab 4’s schedule was much freer, and thus more enjoyable. The crews showered, ate and performed science in space, delivering a sense of normalcy to an otherwise remarkable mission. The crew’s scientific objectives focused on human factor studies, solar observation, and medical experiments telling NASA what months-long spaceflights do to the human body.
Towards the end of the crew's mission, Lawrence and Gibson conducted an EVA to inspect the station. Equipped with the PMU, and tethered to the Skylab, Lawrence separated from the spacecraft, demonstrating the first free-flying EVA since project Gemini.
(Lawrence captured this Iconic photo of Gibson “Hanging 10” from Earth Orbit)
Lawrence: Okay Ed, gimme a big smile!
Gibson: Smiling as wide as I can man, how do I look?
Lawrence: Brilliant, brother.
Capcom: How’s Skylab holding up you two?
Gibson: She’s held up nicely over the months, no damages that weren’t here when Skylab 2 arrived.
Lawrence: Arguably she’s healthier now than then.
Bean: (Laughing) Good point Rob.
The crews returned to the station, and within a few weeks boarded the Apollo once more. With the station being planned to be decommissioned following their flight, the CSM performed a small burn sending Skylab lower into the atmosphere for a controlled breakup over the Pacific the following week. And with that, Skylab was dead. The world’s first space station had been deorbited, and before long, many more would take her place; But for now, NASA’s aim shifted back to the moon. As 1975 loomed, the mariner program began shutting down. Voyager was on the minds of many at NASA, and their launcher, the USAF funded, Commercial Saturn-IB was to deliver them to the heavens.
Largely uninterested in the shuttle at first, or perhaps out of a lack of faith, the USAF had requested a series of studies into Complementary Expendable Launch Vehicles, or CELV’s in 1972. Out of this program came two launchers: Delta II, and CS-IB. The former would see a stretching of the Thor tank, with an uprated H-1 engine powering its core. The latter would see the S-IB stretched and reinforced to handle a variety of upper stages, and up to 4 UA-1205 boosters. Of note is the contract signed between Chrysler and McDonnel Douglass, forming the Saturn Launch Corporation.
The SLC was to provide the USAF, DOD, NRO and NASA with a plethora of low-cost, high payload options. They would, in the worst case, succeed Apollo in light of a failing shuttle, and in the best case handle overflow payloads from the Shuttle and STS programs. This cooperative strategy between McDonnel Douglass and Chrysler ensured they could keep prices low enough to satisfy the Air Force, while maintaining commonality between the two launchers. By 1975, the H-1-250K was to have performed a full duration burn, and by 1976 the dual-engine S-IVD was to have flown. This, alongside a Centaur-D would deliver the four voyager probes to their destinations: Select flybys of the outer planets and their moons.
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Glad to see Lawrence got his deserved spaceflight
What were your crews and landing sites for missions you didn't mention crews/sites for?
What were your crews and landing sites for missions you didn't mention crews/sites for?
Chapter 17: A Dance with Destiny.
Chapter 17: A Dance with Destiny.
(Rush, Finding My Way)As 1975 dawned, NASA’s focus shifted from the decommissioning of Skylab to the upcoming missions on Apollo’s schedule. First and foremost of these flights was the ASTP, scheduled for February of 1975; ASTP, known to the public as Apollo-Soyuz was to be the first in a series of demonstrations of international cooperation in space. An Apollo spacecraft, carrying a specialized docking adapter, was to launch into a rendezvous with a Soyuz spacecraft launched by the Soviets hours before.
This docking adapter, in addition to doing what is said on the tin, would allow the two parallelly evolved spacecraft to adapt their differing environments to allow safe passage. The adapter contained a number of systems aimed at balancing the nitrogen and oxygen levels, alongside the internal pressures so the astronauts could pass through a pressurized tunnel between the two spacecraft. At the front of the adapter sat APAS, a jointly developed docking apparatus that promised the simplicity and reliability required by such a flight.
The Androdgynous Peripheral Attachment System had long been in the heads of soviet designers, aiming at having a singular port that could be used for stations and spacecraft alike. The system was based around the concept of interchangeability, and unlike the probe and drogue systems of the past, APAS was meant to eliminate port incompatibility. It accomplished this with elegance, using three petals on each port, the spacecraft would capture and form a pressurized passageway using nothing but the docking ring itself. Though graceful, this design came with added mass. APAS massed nearly 250 kilograms (550 lbs) more than its predecessor, making it burdensome to deal with at first. Both nations, however, saw uprating their workhorse rockets as the best path moving forwards with ASTP.
(APAS-75 mounted to ASTP’s docking adapter)
The Saturn IB had many upratings in the works, and by 1975, a predecessor of the later Commercial Saturn IB was on the launch pad. Sporting uprated H1 engines capable of reaching 250,000 pounds of thrust, and a J-2S engine with thrust and efficiency improvements, the rocket proved more than capable of delivering the Apollo and ASTP-Adapter to their target orbit of 275 nautical miles (509km). To deliver Soyuz to this orbit, the soviets were forced to upgrade the Soyuz rocket, which had been flying largely unchanged since 1966.
Korolev’s original design called for a core powered by the RD-108, boosted to altitude atop four rocket modules powered by the stronger, but less efficient RD-107. This model had proven fruitful for the Soviets, delivering over 30 successful launches to date; The rocket struggled to get a bigger upper stage, and thus was facing a payload ceiling. Looking at their options, engineers decided that the core stage needed an upgrade;
The soviets looked to their available engine options, eventually settling on the idea of using an NK-33, following the success of the N1 program thus far. The engine had proven itself, flying on over half a dozen N1F first stages, and nearly a dozen L1s thus far. It was with this additional thrust, amounting to an over 75% increase, that engineers quickly saw a use for another piece of N1 hardware, the NK-39. The NK-39 powered the soon to be retired N1F Block V. This stage was slated to be replaced with the more powerful hydrogen/oxygen Block V-III in the coming year, and engineers jumped on the opportunity to keep their existing engines flying. And with these decisions, Soyuz-U was born; Powered by the engines that delivered cosmonauts to the moon, the Soyuz-U would deliver them to stations, and rendezvous in Earth orbit.
(Soyuz-U launch, 1974)
On the backs of these upgrades, and with the hopes of a future in space, freed from geopolitical strife, Soyuz 19 lifted off the pad. While Soyuz-U had been flying for over a year, this flight proved the first crewed flight of the new Soyuz-T. Following the Soyuz-11 tragedy in 1971 leading to the loss of three astronauts aboard a Soyuz-7k-OK, the spacecraft had received several major upgrades; While crew capacity had been limited following the accident, as space only allowed two astronauts to be suited in the capsule at a time, the slightly larger 7K-T reentry vehicle allowed crew capacity to return to three. Additionally, extra life support alongside a shift towards a station-ferrying role allowed the vehicle to be a true second-generation successor to the Soyuz 7k. The vehicle carried the APAS port, which was slated to fly alongside the first Soviet space station later that year. This ultimately reshaped Soyuz’s role, and this was put to the test as she laid in wait for Apollo to approach.
Capcom: Alright Deke, how’re we lookin?
Slayton: 10/10 flight.
Capcom: Beautiful.
Apollo 24 sat atop the launchpad in Florida, awaiting the call from Moscow that the Soyuz had crossed into position. When the time was right, the vehicle was set to lift off into a rapid 2-orbit rendezvous with the foreign spacecraft. Mission controllers got the sign, liftoff was now or never, and the 5 minute countdown began.
Capcom: T-5 ladies and germs.
Slayton: Let’s rock and roll!
Public Affairs Officer: This is Apollo-Saturn launch control and we have entered our launch window, as the final seconds count down we can expect to see the engines light and the vehicle clear the tower, continuing Northeast to its launch trajectory.
Capcom: T-minus 4.
Public Affairs Officer: The Apollo capsule is running entirely on internal power and has been isolated from ground service equipment. The S-IVC has reached internal pressure and the engines are completing their final gimbal checks. This is Apollo-Saturn launch control at T-minus 120 seconds.
Eisele: Ok, we have ignition sequence start…
Roosa: Full throttle-
Capcom: Liftoff!
The rocket roared to life, shooting off the pad utilizing all of its strength. The crew soared into the sky, slowly rolling to their launch heading. The time was now or never, and the rocket began pitching over gently to chase down their comrades in the heavens.
Slayton: Roll-Program complete.
Capcom: Roger roll, Bugs-
Attempting to find common grounds in the naming of their spacecraft, the crews had decided to name them after famous cartoon characters in their countries. For the Americans, Bugs Bunny was chosen, for the Soviets, it was a different rabbit: Zayats. The character was from one of the cosmonauts kids’ favorite shows, a heartwarming note to the already groundbreaking mission.
(Zayats and Volk, or The Hare and The Wolf from the Soviet Children’s show: Well, Just you Wait!)
Eisele: Okay, we have SECO on that J-2S. She sure is smooth, Rocketdyne did us good once again.
Capcom: I’ll send em your review, Don.
Bugs flipped around, making quick work of extracting the ASTP docking module and separating from the S-IVC. The spacecraft waited another two hours, finally seeing Zayats outside their window.
Slayton: We see Zayats!
Roosa: Zayats… are we saying that right?
Filipchenko: Close enough comrade!
Capcom: We have ya mic’d up to em, just so you know-
Slayton: Sheesh, thanks for keeping us updated
The Russian and Ukrainian crew could be heard laughing as Apollo began preparing for her capture maneuver. The spacecraft began slowing down, matching velocities with the Soyuz awaiting it. Before long, the two craft were staring at each other, no more than 100 meters away.
Leonov: Негодяй кролик направляется прямо на нас!
Eisele: What did he say?
Capcom: He said the wascally wabbit is headed right for us-
Both crews could be heard chuckling as the closing maneuvers were performed. The spacecraft drifted towards each other slowly, closing the distance as the minutes passed. Both craft engaged their APAS ports, extending the spring loaded petals to allow mating to begin. The ports made contact, and they began to retract, before long a thud could be heard echoing through the metal hulls of the mutually alien craft. Apollo and Soyuz were docked.
Kubasov: Ura!
Slayton: We’re docked, flight.
Capcom: Roger docking 24.
Before long, the adapter began pressurizing. The tunnel balanced the oxygen and nitrogen levels in the two craft, and the hatches were cleared to be opened. As the hatches were opened, Slayton caught a glimpse of the Russian staring back at him; Alexi Leonev sat in the orbital module, a carrot in one hand, and a bottle of Vodka in the other.
Slatyon: Oh they are not gonna believe this-
(Slayton and Leonev inside the Orbital Module)
Eisele: What is i-
Roosa: Bahahahaha
Leonev: Greetings!
The cosmonauts and astronauts hugged and shook hands in the modules, setting the gifts they had brought to the side. Before long, the two sides retrieved their half of a commemorative plaque made for the mission, assembling it in orbit. The two nations had demonstrated peaceful corporations in orbit, and marked the first step towards greater things to come.
(Apollo Soyuz Plaque)
The craft would spend nearly 6 days docked together, performing joint operations and testing the Soyuz-T’s new capabilities. The spacecraft would dock and undock multiple times over the course of the mission, demonstrating APAS’ appeal as a flexible and quick to use standard. After the two craft parted ways, Soyuz began her reentry. Apollo would follow shortly after, ending the mission after a week in orbit.
As Apollo 24 landed, focus shifted to Apollo 25 and the mission that would proceed it: ASSET-1 and Surveyor 8. ASSET, or the Apollo Surface Stay Extension Technologies were a series of missions to land hardware for use in the much longer term, L-Class lunar missions. ASSET-1 was to deliver two LM Descent Stages to orbit of the moon, alongside their payloads. This impressive feat was made possible thanks to studies like LASS (Lunar Applications for Spent S-IVB Stage) leading up to the S-IVC’s development. The stage received major upgrades to its insulation and propellant venting capabilities which trickled down into other stages. These upgrades ultimately allowed the S-IVC, and the Centaur to perform normal operations in orbit of the moon.
ASSET-1 lifted off the launchpad, atop the Saturn V-1, marking the first time a Saturn V had flown uncrewed since Skylab’s launch in `73. Once the launcher reached orbit, the fairings deployed and the primary lander’s solar panels were exposed. The stage drifted in earth orbit, until finally relighting its J-2S, and continuing its coast to the lunar sphere of influence. From here, the stage would enter a hibernation state, managing pressure and temperature, but powering down unnecessary subsystems. Days later, the S-IVC’s guidance computers blinked to life, and the stage began to position itself for LOI. Mission controllers checked that the computers were healthy and the code was given. ASSET-1 now had a ticking timer, a countdown to ignition and Lunar-Orbit Insertion.
The S-IVC roared to life, thrusting its engines for the final time and slowing MOLAB and ASSET into their targeted orbit. Once the stage and its payloads had been lowered into their 30km target orbit, ASSET separated from the Multiple Payload Adapter beneath it, and began its coast from the taxi that had gotten it there.
(ASSET prior to descent)
Originally envisioned as a lander to be delivered by crew, and called the Early Lunar Shelter, ASSET had grown to be a 20-ton behemoth, lofted to lunar orbit by the S-IVC. The module, containing scientific and living quarters for three, took advantage of every ounce of the L-Class LM’s descent stage. This allowed the lander to fit critical systems, allowing the base to be analogous to a Skylab on the moon, supporting as many as 4 crews per-lander.
Mission Controller 1: We have good engine performance, throttling down
Mission Controller 2: Ok, down… 5 and a half, 200 ft.
…
Mission Controller 2: Looking like plenty of fuel-
…
Mission Controller 1: Contact light!
Mission Controller 3: Engine off-
Mission Controller 4: Safing-
Mission Controller 5: Descent Mode switch off. We’re down ladies and gents-
Cheering echoed through the control room, they had gotten one down safely thus far. The second lander, carrying MOLAB followed much the same success, landing a mere 300 feet from the ASSET, the lander touched down and deployed a small ramp to get the rover off. The rover promised to allow the astronauts to gather wider samples of soil, and retrieve supply drops delivered by Surveyor probes.
MOLAB, or the Mobile Laboratory, used the remaining mass allotted to engineers by the uprated S-IVC. In addition to allowing the astronauts to traverse the lunar terrain much faster than the J and K-Class LRVs, the lab would allow mobile scientific analysis over the course of days or even week-long drives. While ASSET could support a crew of 3, MOLAB was meant to do so only in an emergency, supporting 1-2 astronauts under normal operations. The rover could also be used to ferry astronauts long distances between sites of interest, staying days at a time and expanding Apollo’s traversable area by 100’s of kilometers.
(Molab mockup, 1972)
A CS-IB launched in the months before would deliver the last component necessary for Apollo 25’s maiden L-Class Voyage: the Surveyor Block IB. While the lander would go on to prove critical in future exploration of the moon, and the outer planets, today's mission was simpler. Surveyor was to make a grocery run-
(Surveyor Block IB final descent)
With the help of a Centaur-E-II, the lander was delivered to, and slowed down from lunar orbit. The lander separated from the centaur at an altitude of 20,000 ft, with the stage performing a collision avoidance maneuver to avoid the ASSET modules. Surveyor 11 lit her 6 engines, and began slowing her descent, 1.5 tons of consumables in hand. Within minutes, the small probe contacted the ground, and shut down her engines. The elements were in place, and the moon was ready for Humankind's next move: staying the night.
Chapter 18: Staying the Night.
Chapter 18: Staying the Night.
(ABBA, Dancing Queen)
With the dawn of a new mission type, came the dawn of ever evolving safety concerns; Most of these centered around MOLAB. MOLAB, or the Mobile Geological Laboratory, was to serve the L-Class missions as a potential goldmine of scientific discovery. The limited range of the J-Class missions was largely solved by the K-Class missions, and the L-Class LM. The LM carried extra propellant, allowing it to perform a small hop, reaching a stranded crew if their LRV were to break down, and making the distance traversable on foot. This solution, while theoretically sound, would not suffice for the L-Class missions.
When MOLAB began development in 1970 it was envisioned as having a range between 400 and 800km on a single tank of gas. The rover was to be powered by two hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells, allowing the craft to traverse the surface over vast distances no matter the local light levels. This placed the astronauts further than ever before from the Lunar Module, and potentially meant the MOLAB’s crew of two could be faced with an unprecedented situation: How could they get home if they were to be stranded hundreds of kilometers past the Lunar Module’s range?
(Early lunar return craft design)
After looking over the options, ranging from a propulsive return module akin to a jet pack, to a large hovercraft to deliver the astronauts back to the lander, NASA engineers made a breakthrough. While these devices weighed up to 1500kg, a similar mass of consumables, shielding and equipment could allow them greater mission flexibility, and allow them to rely on proven lander designs. The Apollo-Rescue mission was born. If the crew of a MOLAB expedition were to ever get stranded, they were to stay put, bury the spacecraft in lunar regolith if possible to provide additional shielding, and await a rescue-craft launched at the next available window.
While a scary prospect, this placed further reliance on the now-proven LM, and away from unproven and undeveloped devices. The decision was made, and the development of MOLAB and ASSET was underway. Their maiden voyage was soon to begin. As Apollo 25 rolled out to LC-39A, AS-522 Apollo 25-A, later Apollo 26 rolled out to 39B. This ensured that if anything were to go wrong on their stay, a rescue mission could be mounted within the next launch window, allowing a safe return for all astronauts involved.
(Apollo-Rescue CM layout, with 2 crew launched, and up to 3 retrieved.)
Final preparations were now underway for Apollo’s maiden L-Class voyage: Apollo 25. As final checkouts were being performed on the Saturn V-1 launcher, the surveyor probe entered its low power statem, planted down on the surface a mere 2 km from MOLAB and ASSET. The crew’s first EVA on the surface would be retrieving these supplies, and loading them into the MOLAB’s trailer. However for the time being, that was only a plan. Skylab had taught NASA the valuable lesson: prepare for the worst, and hope for the best.
Meanwhile, in the Soviet Union, development was fast underway for the Soviet’s answer to Apollo’s L-Class flights. The L3M would be something of a one-stop shop, providing a single-landing moonbase built atop their proven dual-launch architecture and uprated N1M. The lander would realize a landing scheme theorized by engineers to this point, direct-ascent. Launching from the surface, the lander’s ascent element would continue directly to a return trajectory, entering Earth’s atmosphere days later. Though facing minor delays, the landerwas on-pace to meet ASTP-II’s targeted date of Q4 1976. Nevertheless, Apollo marched forward. AS-521 began fueling up on the pad, and before long the crew were chatting away with Capcom Joe Kerwin as the final count began.
Capcom: How are we doing boys?
Collins: Doing good, flight. Not a worry in the world.
Swigert: Echoing Mikey, smooth sailing in here.
Capcom: Glad to hear, Snowcone.
…
Capcom: Okay, we’re inside T-10 guys.
England: Roger that Kerwin.
The rocket lifted off without issues into the stormy skies above. However shortly after clearing the pad, problems began. A flash filled the capsule, and critical navigation systems went offline, fighting his instincts, Collins didn’t flip the abort switch.
Swigert: Shit!
England: What the hell was that?
Collins: We got a whole lotta warning lights that just came on, flight-
Capcom: We’re having a lotta trouble hearing ya 25, go ahead and turn up the high gain and try again.
Swigert: We are having some problems-
Capcom: All we hear is static, try switching to the OMNIs-
Collins: Roger… (Flips switch) Roger, how do we read?
Capcom: Loud and clear babe, what’s up?
Swigert: The whole dang trees lit up!
Collins: It’s like Christmas morning in here, flight. We got a ton of warnings, some of em don’t seem to be possible at the same time.
Capcom: Roger, what do we have lit up?
Collins: It’d be easier to tell you what we don’t have flight, but here goes. AC Bus light, all three cells, FC disconnect, both AC overloads, Main bus A and B undervolt-
(BANG)
England: Just lost Inertial Guidance-
Capcom: Okay, uhh… just a sec. Hold tight 25.
Swigert: We’re trying.
…
Collins: Ok, center engine out, any news flight?
EECOM: SCE to AUX.
Capcom: Yeah, just a moment 25… EECOM is saying to switch to auxiliary power-
Collins: Roger. Pressing SCE to auxiliary.
Capcom: Okay, what are we reading?
Collins: Well it sure as hell is clearer. A lot of em have gone off, any idea of what in the hell caused that?
Capcom: EECOM’s sayin’ the wrath of god, we think y’all mighta been hit by lightning.
England: (Laughing) sounds about right…
Collins: Staging…. We got S-II ignition
The vehicle continued largely unphased for the remainder of ascent, inserting itself into orbit minutes later.
Collins: Not even Zeus could stop us, eh?
England: You bet!
Swigert: Good eye EECOM-
Capcom: He’s throwin me a thumbs up from his desk, y’all had a good team all round here. Let’s assess that damage.
After a short checkout in orbit, no major damages were observed, and the crews were approved for TLI on the next orbit. After making their second revolution about the earth, the crew fired up their J-2S engine, and raced to the moon. The mission was back on track, and before long the spacecraft would perform the routine transposition and docking maneuvers perfected in flights past.
Collins: Okay, we got haystack-
Capcom: Affirm.
Three short days later, the crew performed LOI and began final checkouts on the LM. The CSM’s tele-operability was assessed, and Houston was satisfied that the spacecraft could be controlled from ground control for a docking at the end of the flight. The three men boarded the cramped lander, and final preparations were made. Swigert closed the hatch on his way back in and the LM undocked, Snowcone drifting off into the black void above.
Swigert: So long Snowcone! See you in a few months!
The Block IV CSM raised its orbit, and entered a low powered hibernation state, spinning up slowly to stabilize its orientation. The LM then began its descent burn, bringing the crew to the lunar surface a mere 300 feet from ASSET.
Swigert: Alright, contact-
Collins: Engine off-
England: We made it!
Capcom: Roger y’all down, haystack.
The crew began assessing the LM, and preparing it for the stay ahead. Equipped with a tiny RTG, capable of generating just enough power to keep the batteries healthy and avoid using the fuel cells, the LM was now ready for its longest stay to date. Aiming at a mission of no longer than 50 days on the surface, Apollo 25 was prepared to spend as many as 90 on the regolith covered plains at Aitkin.
Landing on the moon’s far side, the crew faced unprecedented communications struggles, these were solved by Surveyor’s 8, 9, and 10 which formed a small communications relay network in orbit of the moon. The spacecraft had been delivered by a CS-IB a year prior, and the probes proved effective on previous flights. With this, NASA had the confidence to deliver three of its best to the south pole, marking humanity's first steps on the dark side of the moon. From the outside though, you’d hardly notice; Apollo 25 was going smoothly, and before long ASSET’s solar panels were dusted off, and life support systems were running. The L-Class LM, or LM-T, was powered down, and the three men boarded ASSET-1 for their first night's rest on the surface.
(Sleeping arrangements in the base.)
Featuring living space, a cooking and eating area, a toilet, collapsible shower, bunk beds and a life support charging station, the ASSET base provided a truly revolutionary level of comfort to an otherwise spartan program. Alongside this comfort came functionality, the base would allow the crews to stay much longer than previously possible, and through the use of resupplies, continue using the base after their mission.
(ASSET interior layout.)
Capcom: Rise and shine 25! Today’s forecast is gray and drab, but don’t let that keep ya down, the sun is always shining this time of month, so get out there and smell the roses, with your helmet on of course, we’ll be talking to you shortly after this quick song-
Swigert: Sheesh. We’re up.
(Frank Sinatra, It's Nice To Go Trav'ling)
Collins hummed along as the crew began brushing their teeth, and combing their hair. The crew began preparing their breakfast, rehydrating their meal and taking a seat at the dinner table.
Collins: You know, this aint too bad!
England: Hell of a vacation, suppose it is nice to go traveling.
The crew began laughing, and Houston waited for their joy to die down a bit before coming back.
Capcom: How are we doing, 25?
Collins: Crew’s in good spirit. We’ve eaten breakfast and are ready to start trav’ling towards surveyor.
Capcom: Glad you appreciated our wakeup call Mike.
Collins: We all did babe, keep up the good work!
The trio began their eva that morning, beginning to power up the MOLAB. With a rechargeable battery pack, fuel cells and refillable consumables, the rover was a one-stop shop for long-term geological studies. Today’s task would be much simpler however, as Collins and Swigert boarded the MOLAB their only task for the day was to make a supply run. Their drive covered a mere two and a half miles both ways (~4km), and took under half an hour, reaching surveyor in just 13 minutes.
Swigert: Ok, we got eyes-
Capcom: Affirm, once she’s close feel free to park in any available spot.
Collins: Looks like the whole parking lot’s open, won’t even have to parallel park the damn thing
Capcom: (Chuckling) Glad to hear it Mike.
The crew rolled the rover up next to surveyor 11, locking the MOLAB’s brakes and securing their position. Swigert navigated the vast assortment of cabinets and compartments finally finding the stowed cargo he needed, the dolley. Not dissimilar to a tool used to carry canisters, refrigerators and furniture on Earth, a dolly was chosen as the go-to solution to prevent the astronauts from having to lift the 182 local-pound(83 kg) canisters of consumables.
Swigert: Okay, depressurizing the airlock.
The airlock hissed, and the two men made their way down the ramp on the rover's exterior. Once down, Collins unfolded the dolley and approached surveyor. The crew unloaded surveyors cargo, loading it into the MOLAB’s airlock; With little more than 15 minutes work, the crew entered the airlock, pressurized and doffed their suits, they were on the road again.
Collins: Ok, heading back to Basecamp.
Capcom: Roger ya heading back, MOLAB.
After arriving, the crews deposited the three canisters near ASSET, and boarded the laboratory once more. The crew would spend the remainder of the week setting up the base for over half a year of near-continuous habitation. The base had landed down right on target, placing itself firmly in the South Pole-Aitken basin’s western end, between two craters, Lemaître S and Bellinsgauzen.
(South Pole-Aitken site, with Lemaître South on the East, and Bellinsgauzen to the West.)
The site, while geologically interesting, and of scientific purpose put them within the per-mission driving distance, a 400km radius, of nearly half a dozen sites of interest. Close to the landing site, and on Apollo 25’s mission checklist was Site-Beta: Apollo Basin. The triangular crater formation featured a variety of terrains, and an opportunity to gather a swathe of differing sample types. It also gave the crew an ideal demonstration of how the MOLAB handled on rugged terrain; With these goals in mind, Collins and Swigert headed for the basin rim, leaving Swigert in tail to finish preparations for future endeavors.
Heading out to their Northeast, the crew reached the basin by day 3 of their drive, arriving near Collins crater that afternoon. Having landed during local dawn, the sun was slowly setting when they arrived at the basin, giving them just enough time to perform a detailed survey and sample collection before heading home.
England: Wonder who they named that one after?
Collins: Good question-
Capcom: Shut it and you might have one named after you some day.
Michael Collins laughed, but Anthony England was less amused, the two continued onwards, dodging the occasional boulder along their path. The crew reached an unnamed crater at the edge of the exposed mare, driving around it to find a route of entry. Once a shallow slope had been found the MOLAB descended, driving down into the crater allowing the astronauts to reach the base.
(The Apollo Basin, Collins East, Collins and Collins West in green, the unnamed crater, eventually England Crater, in yellow)
Once at the base, the MOLAB was put in park and the crew disembarked, Commander Michael Collins carrying one of England’s contributions to the program, a buryable radar to help penetrate the moon’s interior. Once the duo reached the desired burial site, they began digging at the regolith beneath them. With minimal effort, they buried the probe in the regolith, and connected its small solar power cell, providing it just enough energy to collect its data. The probe would continue data collection as long as it could manage, beaming its findings back through the surveyor network. The crew returned to their rover, getting the wheels in motion once more and continuing north.
After spending three days in the basin, exploring craters, planting equipment and gathering samples, the crew embarked for basecamp once more. They would spend the remainder of their time at the base, clocking in a total of 72 days on the lunar surface. England proved essential, providing the knowledge necessary to gather and analyze surface samples, with some of those collected from near the base containing trace amounts of water. The three men would return to the CSM following their over two month voyage, making sure to put their mission patch above the entryway on their way out, Apollo 25, as their patch stated, was truly a voyage into the darkness.
(Apollo 25 Mission Patch)