Moon lander : how we developed the Apollo lunar module / Thomas J. Kelly.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

Kelly, Thomas J., 1929-2002.

Series:

Smithsonian history of aviation and spaceflight series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Lunar excursion module.

Project Apollo (U.S.).

Physical Description:

xvii, 283 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : Smithsonian Institution Press, [2001]

Summary:

This is a first hand account of designing, building, testing and flying the first Apollo lunar module by the engineer on the project, Thomas Kelly. This is the story of his "aerospace engineer's dream job" and how his efforts--plus 7,000 other workers--created the most important component of the first manned spacecraft. 15 photos.

Contents:

1 A Difficult Delivery 1

Part 1. Winning

2 We Could Go to the Moon 9

3 The LM Proposal 26

4 The Fat Lady Sings 34

Part 2. Designing, Building, and Testing

5 Engineering a Miracle 51

6 Mockups 85

7 Pushing Out the Drawings 96

8 Trimming Pounds and Ounces 114

9 Problems, Problems! 126

10 Schedule and Cost Pressures 145

11 Tragedy Strikes Apollo 155

12 Building What I Designed 165

Part 3. Flying

13 First LM in Space: Apollo 5 191

14 The Dress Rehearsals: Apollos 9 and 10 196

15 One Giant Leap for Mankind: Apollo 11 209

16 Great Balls of Fire! Apollo 12 219

17 Rescue in Space: Apollo 13 225

18 The Undaunted Warrior Triumphs: Apollo 14 234

19 Great Explorations: Apollos 15, 16, and 17 245

20 Our Future Slips Away 255

Epilogue: The Legacy of Apollo 263.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 267-274) and index.

ISBN:

156098998X

OCLC:

44794944