Apollo Lunar Module

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Apollo Lunar Module

Apollo 16 LM Orion on the lunar surface
Manufacturer	Grumman Aircraft
Designer	Thomas J. Kelly
Country of origin	United States
Operator	NASA
Applications	Manned lunar landing
Specifications
Design life	75 hours (Extended)
Launch mass	33,500 pounds (15,200 kg) std 36,200 pounds (16,400 kg) Extended
Dry mass	9,430 pounds (4,280 kg) std 10,850 pounds (4,920 kg) Extended
Crew capacity	2
Dimensions	23 feet 1 inch (7.04 m) high 31 feet (9.4 m) wide 31 feet (9.4 m) deep overall, landing gear deployed
Volume	235 cubic feet (6.7 m3)
Power	Batteries
Regime	Lunar
Production
Status	Retired
Built	15
Launched	10
Operational	10
Failed	0
Lost	0
First launch	January 22, 1968
Last launch	December 14, 1972
Last retirement	December 15, 1972
Apollo LM diagram

The Apollo Lunar Module (LM) is the spidery-looking landing vehicle on the moon. It was built for the US Apollo program to carry a crew of two from lunar orbit to the surface and back.

The LM was the last of the Apollo “hardware” to be developed. Its start had been delayed while NASA made up its mind to take the lunar-orbit meeting approach and thus require a vehicle like the LM for a landing. A contract with the prime builder was signed on January, 1963, almost two years after the Apollo project began. The LM was tested several times in space.^[1] Finally, on July 20, 1969 the Apollo 11 LM Eagle made the first manned lunar landing.

As Apollo missions progressed, Apollo 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 had lunar landings using their LMs. Apollo 13 had a terribly dangerous accident when an oxygen tank exploded. The Apollo 13 Lunar module, called Aquarius, played an unexpected role in saving the lives of the three astronauts after the explosion.^[2]

1. ↑ Moon Race: The History of Apollo DVD, Columbia River Entertainment (Portland, Oregon, 2007)
2. ↑ Cass, Stephen (April 1, 2005). "Houston, we have a solution". IEEE. Retrieved August 30, 2019.