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a_v_bw_o_n (62-Apollo-139)

Early comparison of U.S. manned launch vehicles and their respective spacecraft, with Gemini/Titan excluded however. A little odd. The Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) does not yet look anything like its final configuration...along with the novel 'flip-top' apex of the Command Module (CM), truncated Service Module (SM) & diminutive Service Propulsion System (SPS) nozzle.

 

An AWESOME comprehensive compilation of this version, from this informative website:

 

www.aerospaceprojectsreview.com/blog/?p=986

Credit: Aerospace Projects Review (blog) website

 

As a 1/6th scale model, this particular LEM design was used extensively in drop tests simulating a variety of potential lunar landing scenarios/dynamics, which are wonderfully & somewhat whimsically captured in the following video:

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2kJovevnPw

Credit: Jeff Quitney

 

Along with the supporting and superior summation/capture of early LEM design challenges and evolution:

 

forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=45198.0

Credit: NASA Space Flight Forum website

 

See also:

 

archive.org/details/1962-L-03827

 

archive.org/details/1962-L-07386

 

archive.org/details/1963-L-00552

 

crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/historic/File:L-63-1559.jpg

Credit: NASA Cultural Resources website

 

archive.org/details/NIX_EL-2002-00374

 

archive.org/details/NIX-EL-2002-00400

 

archive.org/details/NIX-EL-2002-00446

Credit: Internet Archive website

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Uploaded on April 18, 2018