Word: lm
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1960-1969
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Armstrong and Aldrin struggled to put on their boots, gloves, helmets and backpacks (known as PLSS, or Portable Life Support System), then depressurized Eagle's cabin and opened the hatch Wriggling backward out of the hatch on his stomach, Armstrong worked his way across the LM "porch" to the ladder and began to climb down On his way he pulled a lanyard that opened the MESA (Modularized Equipment Storage Assembly) and exposed the camera that televised the remainder of his historic descent. Thus the miracle of the moon flight was heightened by the miracle of TV from outer space, made...
Later, after reopening the hatch, the astronauts tossed out LM equipment unnecessary for the return trip, their backpacks, boots and other items that had been exposed to lunar soil and dust. Then, their lunar excursion successfully completed, they settled down to a relaxed meal and a rest. It was strange to think that while much of the U.S. slept, two Americans were also sleeping in their cramped quarters on the distant and silent moon. Some 21 hours after landing on the moon, Armstrong and Aldrin were ready to blast off in the five-ton upper stage of the lunar module...
Exploring the area within 100 ft. of the LM, Aldrin will scoop up scientifically interesting rocks, while Armstrong photographs each site and takes notes about the specimens. Armstrong will also thrust a core sampler as far as 12 in. into the soil to collect subsurface samples uncontaminated by the exhaust from the LM's descent engine. Up to 60 lbs. of documented rocks will then be placed in a seeond aluminum sample box, along with core samples and the aluminum solar particle collector, and sealed...
After Aldrin has climbed back aboard the LM, Armstrong will send the sample boxes up the nylon conveyor and re-enter the spacecraft, about 2½ hours after he first emerged. The astronauts will then toss their PLSS units, overshoes and a camera out of the spacecraft to reduce the possibility of bringing back equipment contaminated by any lunar organisms that might exist...
...Monday, after another 4-hr. sleep period sandwiched between two meals, Armstrong and Aldrin will fire the LM's ascent engine, using the four-legged descent stage as a launch pad. If all goes well, they will rendezvous with Collins and transfer to the command module, taking their precious rocks with them in sealed boxes and leaving the LM in orbit around the moon. From that point on, they will again follow the path of Apollo 10. After firing themselves into an earth-bound trajectory, they will splash down in the Pacific Ocean some 1,160 miles southwest of Hawaii...