Cockpit, Lunar Module, Apollo, Mockup

Object Details

Manufacturer

Grumman Aerospace Corporation

Summary

This Apollo program simulator demonstrates the view from inside the Lunar Module (LM) during descent to the surface of the Moon. In each lunar landing mission, two astronauts stood inside a LM as they controled the gradual descent of the spacecraft. Sixteen rockets situated around the outer structure of the LM controlled the attitude of the craft. These rockets could be fired automatically by mechanical sensors or by the astronauts' inclinations. Landing on the Moon is unlike landing on Earth. The Moon's atmosphere is extremely thin, which restricted the possibility of a diagonal glide-type landing. Instead, the astronauts landed vertically. The retro-rocket of the descent engine assured a gradual touchdown.

Transferred to the National Air and Space Museum from Grumman Aerospace, the manufacturer, in 1975.

Credit Line

Donated by Grumman Aerospace

Inventory Number

A19760015000

Restrictions & Rights

CC0

Type

EQUIPMENT-Training Devices

Materials

Plywood frame. Instruments made of metal, wires, plastic, or various materials.

Dimensions

3-D (Artifact (A19760015000) on stand (A19760015000A)): 156.2 × 247.6 × 275cm (5 ft. 1 1/2 in. × 8 ft. 1 1/2 in. × 9 ft. 1/4 in.)

3-D (Artifact (A19760015000) without stand (A1976001500A)): 247.6 × 156.2 × 243.8cm (8 ft. 1 1/2 in. × 5 ft. 1 1/2 in. × 8 ft.)

Country of Origin

United States of America

See more items in

National Air and Space Museum Collection

Location

National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC

Exhibition

Destination Moon

Title

Cockpit, Lunar Module, Apollo, Mockup

National Air and Space Museum

Record ID

nasm_A19760015000

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv97dfdbbd7-8d44-4541-b7f7-e7cb5e3cc59b