25
votes
Why did they use uprighting bags in different sizes for the Apollo CM?
This is explained in the Apollo Program Summary Report. A floating command module has two stable positions; stable II is upside-down and undesired. It was discovered that three identical uprighting ...
- 47.7k
21
votes
Why did they use uprighting bags in different sizes for the Apollo CM?
The first Block I version of the capsule used three bags of the same diameter (43 inch). The later Block II used one smaller bag (34 inch). The volume of the small bag was 49.43 % of the larger ones. ...
- 48.7k
16
votes
Accepted
Were the Apollo broadcasts recorded locally on the LM?
The live broadcasts from the Moon were not recorded on the LEM/CM. Video tape recorders were too large at the time to make this practical. They usually came in the shape of an open-reel tape recorder ...
- 125k
10
votes
Objects that have been on the Moon multiple times
Some Apollo Lunar Sample Rock Containers (ALSRC) have been to the Moon twice according to the Catalog of Apollo Lunar Surface Geological Sampling Tools and Containers:
Serial number 1006: Apollo 14 ...
- 12.5k
9
votes
Accepted
Has there been any serious prospect of human landing on the far side of the Moon?
As a data point (but as yet, not a complete answer in itself) I came across this paper whilst reading up on satellite antennae for another question: Lunar Far Side Communication Satellites, dated June ...
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7
votes
Fe, Fi, Fo, Fum, and Phooey: Which one died on Apollo 17?
Partial answer posted as a community wiki:
The dead mouse was a male, numbered A-3352.
The most complete account of the Apollo 17 pocket mouse experiment is provided in Biomedical Results of Apollo (...
7
votes
Were the Apollo broadcasts recorded locally on the LM?
Hobbes' answer is correct, but here is some supplemental information.
The Erectable S-Band Antenna was a parabolic dish that was folded and stowed in the descent stage. Page 4-86 of the Apollo ...
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7
votes
What is this "black box" at the top of Apollo 17 CM?
I am not 100% confident in this answer. But I think it is the power supply for the flashing beacon light.
The flashing beacon light itself is indicated in this crop of the picture from the question.
...
- 177k
7
votes
Was lunar module "pilot" Harrison Schmitt legally a "pilot" at the time?
According to his bio for the Heartland Institute:
Dr. Schmitt was selected as a scientist-astronaut by NASA in June 1965. He later completed a 53-week course in flight training at Williams Air ...
- 166k
6
votes
Accepted
Why was Apollo 17 considered to have "achieved a very successful geological survey"?
It's subjective. There are ways to claim that Apollo 17 had the most success, but there are also ways to claim that Apollo 15 was more successful.
The cited text below are from the official NASA ...
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5
votes
Accepted
How (the heck) was coherent synthetic aperture radar (SAR) implemented using photographic emulsion aboard Apollo 17?
Synthetic Aperture Radar does not involve interferometry. As such, it is unrelated to aperture synthesis techniques in radio astronomy. (The question mentions interferometry and perhaps this should be ...
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5
votes
Accepted
How were the "dust recepticles" installed on the Apollo 17 LM floor?
There isn't much documentation on the design or evolution of the LM floor. There are holes where dust could plausibly be swept into, but it's not clear whether they were designed for that purpose.
...
- 47.7k
5
votes
Accepted
Why is there no video of the first steps of Apollo 16 and 17?
The Apollo 16 Mission Report, section 9.8.2 explains
First extravehicular activity.- Following the first sleep period and normal preparation for surface activities, the Commander egressed slightly ...
- 47.7k
5
votes
Why is there no video of the first steps of Apollo 16 and 17?
For Apollo 16, there should be.
Start of EVA-1:
119:02:43 Duke: Okay. (Long Pause)
[Charlie turns the 16-mm movie camera on and we see the left side of John's suit as he makes his way down the ladder....
- 125k
4
votes
Accepted
Was lunar module "pilot" Harrison Schmitt legally a "pilot" at the time?
According to the FAA Airman Search Harrison Schmitt did not hold a Civil (FAA) Pilot Certificate during his flight to the moon, in fact, the only Civil Certificate Harrison holds is a Student Pilot ...
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4
votes
Accepted
Is it the Apollo CM "flowerpot parachute attachment fitting"?
Yes, that is it.
Labeled as such in this image.
From Apollo Spacecraft Pyrotechnics
This picture shows that fitting between the mortars.
From Apollo Experience Report, Earth Landing System
There's a ...
- 177k
4
votes
How (the heck) was coherent synthetic aperture radar (SAR) implemented using photographic emulsion aboard Apollo 17?
The CSAR (coherent synthetic aperture radar) did not use very high frequencies and short wavelengths like 3 GHz (0.1 m) or 30 GHz (0.01 m) allowing small narrow beam directional antennas.
Very low ...
- 48.7k
3
votes
Accepted
Were the Apollo astronauts constrained in how they could set their PLSS cooling?
The PLSS doesn't have fine control over cooling. It has three settings: minimum (circulate water at 75-80 degrees F), intermediate (circulate water at 60-65 degrees F), and maximum (circulate water ...
- 14.1k
3
votes
Does anyone know the source of this video?
The video is too low in quality to make much of but assuming the clips are not just footage from different times or launches and the move of the mobile service structure between beginning and end ...
- 21k
3
votes
What is this "black box" at the top of Apollo 17 CM?
I am not 100 % confident in this answer. I found an Apollo 16 image S72-36328 from ALSJ:
I added green arrows to indicate three electronic boxes, a red arrow to the flashing recovery (light) beacon ...
- 48.7k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible