a (LEM M-5)_v_bw_o_n (ca. 1964, unnumbered poss. GAEC photo)
An unidentified test subject/possible astronaut is seen practicing ingress/egress using the M-5 Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) mockup at Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation’s Bethpage facility. The photograph may have been taken during/around the time of the October 5-9, 1964 NASA Inspection and Review of the all-metal mockup.
For the first time in the development & evolution of the LEM, the M-5 featured a ladder attached to the forward (+Z) primary strut of the landing gear. Precursor designs offered a rope, and subsequently, a ladder that was flush mounted - with the capability to pivot/extend the lower end outward - to Quadrant 1 of the descent stage. However, the Astronaut would still have to somehow translate from the LM porch over to the ladder. Possibly still with the aid of a rope? And how would the outward force necessary to ‘deploy’ the ladder be imparted? Who knows, I’ve come across very very little with any specific/detailed - hence useful - documentation that elaborated on rope/offset ladder employment.
Upon input from the Astronauts, the circular forward hatch was subsequently squared off to better facilitate egress/ingress while wearing bulky pressure suits & PLSS. Speaking of PLSSs; per another similar photo, the PLSS seen being worn here may have been operable. Just my guess…although I may be connecting dots that aren’t there. If not, oh well. And note the very early version Apollo pressure suit worn by the subject.
Finally, note also the display/exhibit-like venue set up around the LEM, from what looks like a DPS/LMDE on the floor to the left, with (I think) ascent stage bulkhead mockups? to the rear near the back wall, to the multiple mounted pictures?/diagrams?/artist’s concepts? on the right.
Oh yeah, check out what I assume to be CCTV cameras mounted above the LEM windows.
The substantial audience would seem to support this possibly being part of/associated with the ‘NASA Inspection and Review’ of the LEM design.
“NASA conducted a formal review of the LEM mockup M-5 at the Grumman factory. This inspection was intended to affirm that the M-5 configuration reflected all design requirements and to definitize the LEM configuration. Members of the Mockup Review Board were Chairman Owen E. Maynard, Chief, Systems Engineering Division, ASPO; R. W. Carbee, LEM Subsystem Project Engineer, Grumman; Maxime A. Faget, Assistant Director for Engineering and Development, MSC; Thomas J. Kelly, LEM Project Engineer, Grumman; Christopher C. Kraft, Jr. (represented by Sigurd A. Sjoberg), Assistant Director for Flight Operations, MSC; Owen G. Morris, Chief, Reliability and Quality Assurance Division, ASPO; William F. Rector III, LEM Project Officer, ASPO; and Donald K. Slayton, Assistant Director for Flight Crew Operations, MSC.
The astronauts' review was held on October 5 and 6. It included demonstrations of entering and getting out of the LEM, techniques for climbing and descending the ladder, and crew mobility inside the spacecraft. The general inspection was held on the 7th and the Review Board met on the 8th. Those attending the review used request for change (RFC) forms to propose spacecraft design alterations. Before submission to the Board, these requests were discussed by contractor personnel and NASA coordinators to assess their effect upon system design, interfaces, weight, and reliability.
The inspection categories were crew provisions; controls, displays, and lighting; the stabilization and control system and the guidance and navigation radar; electrical power; propulsion (ascent, descent, reaction control system, and pyrotechnics ; power generation cryogenic storage and fuel cell assemblies ; environmental control; communications and instrumentation; structures and landing gear; scientific equipment; and reliability and quality' control. A total of 148 RFCs were submitted. Most were aimed at enhancing the spacecraft's operational capability; considerable attention also was given to quality and reliability and to ground checkout of various systems. No major redesigns of the configuration were suggested.
As a result of this review, the Board recommended that Grumman take immediate action on those RFC's which it had approved. Further, the LEM contractor and MSC should promptly investigate those items which the Board had assigned for further study. On the basis of the revised M-5 configuration, Grumman could proceed with LEM development and qualification. This updated mockup would be the basis for tooling and fabrication of the initial hardware as well.
MSC, "Lunar Excursion Module, Project Apollo, Board Report for NASA Inspection and Review of M-5 Mockup Lunar Excursion Module, October 5-8, 1964," pp. 1-7, 10-27.”
www.apolloproject.com/sp-4009/asc-v3-04.htm
Credit: APOLLOPROJECT.com
The image, along with a useless & generic 'caption/description' is at the following link. However, the overall content is excellent:
www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4205/ch6-4.html
Surprisingly & most pleasantly, the following link still works:
www.longislandaerospacehistory.com/Select/LM/XXX-LM-PROJE...
Credit: Cradle of Aviation Museum website
Last, but NOT least, a wonderful article written by Bob Smyth (see Figure 1):
web.mit.edu/digitalapollo/Documents/Chapter8/setplem.pdf
Credit: MIT website
Oh yeah...this is awesome:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwHOW7bCfh4
Credit: SDASM Archives
Even more awesome, and speaking of Bob Smyth:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UuRCwsGugg&t=13s
Credit: "From the Vault of MIT"/YouTube
a (LEM M-5)_v_bw_o_n (ca. 1964, unnumbered poss. GAEC photo)
An unidentified test subject/possible astronaut is seen practicing ingress/egress using the M-5 Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) mockup at Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation’s Bethpage facility. The photograph may have been taken during/around the time of the October 5-9, 1964 NASA Inspection and Review of the all-metal mockup.
For the first time in the development & evolution of the LEM, the M-5 featured a ladder attached to the forward (+Z) primary strut of the landing gear. Precursor designs offered a rope, and subsequently, a ladder that was flush mounted - with the capability to pivot/extend the lower end outward - to Quadrant 1 of the descent stage. However, the Astronaut would still have to somehow translate from the LM porch over to the ladder. Possibly still with the aid of a rope? And how would the outward force necessary to ‘deploy’ the ladder be imparted? Who knows, I’ve come across very very little with any specific/detailed - hence useful - documentation that elaborated on rope/offset ladder employment.
Upon input from the Astronauts, the circular forward hatch was subsequently squared off to better facilitate egress/ingress while wearing bulky pressure suits & PLSS. Speaking of PLSSs; per another similar photo, the PLSS seen being worn here may have been operable. Just my guess…although I may be connecting dots that aren’t there. If not, oh well. And note the very early version Apollo pressure suit worn by the subject.
Finally, note also the display/exhibit-like venue set up around the LEM, from what looks like a DPS/LMDE on the floor to the left, with (I think) ascent stage bulkhead mockups? to the rear near the back wall, to the multiple mounted pictures?/diagrams?/artist’s concepts? on the right.
Oh yeah, check out what I assume to be CCTV cameras mounted above the LEM windows.
The substantial audience would seem to support this possibly being part of/associated with the ‘NASA Inspection and Review’ of the LEM design.
“NASA conducted a formal review of the LEM mockup M-5 at the Grumman factory. This inspection was intended to affirm that the M-5 configuration reflected all design requirements and to definitize the LEM configuration. Members of the Mockup Review Board were Chairman Owen E. Maynard, Chief, Systems Engineering Division, ASPO; R. W. Carbee, LEM Subsystem Project Engineer, Grumman; Maxime A. Faget, Assistant Director for Engineering and Development, MSC; Thomas J. Kelly, LEM Project Engineer, Grumman; Christopher C. Kraft, Jr. (represented by Sigurd A. Sjoberg), Assistant Director for Flight Operations, MSC; Owen G. Morris, Chief, Reliability and Quality Assurance Division, ASPO; William F. Rector III, LEM Project Officer, ASPO; and Donald K. Slayton, Assistant Director for Flight Crew Operations, MSC.
The astronauts' review was held on October 5 and 6. It included demonstrations of entering and getting out of the LEM, techniques for climbing and descending the ladder, and crew mobility inside the spacecraft. The general inspection was held on the 7th and the Review Board met on the 8th. Those attending the review used request for change (RFC) forms to propose spacecraft design alterations. Before submission to the Board, these requests were discussed by contractor personnel and NASA coordinators to assess their effect upon system design, interfaces, weight, and reliability.
The inspection categories were crew provisions; controls, displays, and lighting; the stabilization and control system and the guidance and navigation radar; electrical power; propulsion (ascent, descent, reaction control system, and pyrotechnics ; power generation cryogenic storage and fuel cell assemblies ; environmental control; communications and instrumentation; structures and landing gear; scientific equipment; and reliability and quality' control. A total of 148 RFCs were submitted. Most were aimed at enhancing the spacecraft's operational capability; considerable attention also was given to quality and reliability and to ground checkout of various systems. No major redesigns of the configuration were suggested.
As a result of this review, the Board recommended that Grumman take immediate action on those RFC's which it had approved. Further, the LEM contractor and MSC should promptly investigate those items which the Board had assigned for further study. On the basis of the revised M-5 configuration, Grumman could proceed with LEM development and qualification. This updated mockup would be the basis for tooling and fabrication of the initial hardware as well.
MSC, "Lunar Excursion Module, Project Apollo, Board Report for NASA Inspection and Review of M-5 Mockup Lunar Excursion Module, October 5-8, 1964," pp. 1-7, 10-27.”
www.apolloproject.com/sp-4009/asc-v3-04.htm
Credit: APOLLOPROJECT.com
The image, along with a useless & generic 'caption/description' is at the following link. However, the overall content is excellent:
www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4205/ch6-4.html
Surprisingly & most pleasantly, the following link still works:
www.longislandaerospacehistory.com/Select/LM/XXX-LM-PROJE...
Credit: Cradle of Aviation Museum website
Last, but NOT least, a wonderful article written by Bob Smyth (see Figure 1):
web.mit.edu/digitalapollo/Documents/Chapter8/setplem.pdf
Credit: MIT website
Oh yeah...this is awesome:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwHOW7bCfh4
Credit: SDASM Archives
Even more awesome, and speaking of Bob Smyth:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UuRCwsGugg&t=13s
Credit: "From the Vault of MIT"/YouTube