Apollo LM Credit - © Mark Wade Media Gallery

Following the decision to use the lunar orbit rendezvous method to get to the moon, Grumman received the contract to develop the lunar module, which would take the first men to the surface to the moon. If funding had been available, modified lunar modules (dubbed LM Taxi, LM Shelter, and LM Truck) would have been used to set up the first lunar bases.

See Apollo Spacecraft Systems Development Diaries for details on development of the LM by subsystem.

Unit Cost $: 50.000 million. Crew Size: 2. Length: 6.37 m (20.89 ft). Maximum Diameter: 4.27 m (14.00 ft). Span: 9.07 m (29.75 ft). Habitable Volume: 6.65 m3. Mass: 14,696 kg (32,399 lb). Main Engine: TR-201. Main Engine Thrust: 44.041 kN (9,901 lbf). Main Engine Propellants: N2O4/Aerozine-50. Main Engine Propellants: 10,523 kg (23,199 lb). Main Engine Isp: 311 sec. Spacecraft delta v: 4,700 m/s (15,400 ft/sec). Electrical System: Batteries. Electric System: 50.00 kWh. Associated Launch Vehicle: Saturn IB, Saturn V.

• Apollo LM AS.  Other Designations: Ascent Stage. Part of: Apollo LM. Class: Manned. Type: Spacecraft Module.

  Crew Size: 2. Length: 3.54 m (11.61 ft). Basic Diameter: 4.27 m (14.00 ft). Maximum Diameter: 4.27 m (14.00 ft). Habitable Volume: 6.65 m3. Mass: 4,547 kg (10,024 lb). Crew mass: 144 kg (317 lb). RCS Coarse No x Thrust: 16 x 440 N. RCS Propellants: N2O4/UDMH. RCS Isp: 290 sec. Main Engine Thrust: 15.572 kN (3,501 lbf). Main Engine Propellants: N2O4/Aerozine-50. Main Engine Propellants: 2,358 kg (5,198 lb). Main Engine Isp: 311 sec. Spacecraft delta v: 2,220 m/s (7,280 ft/sec). Electrical System: Batteries. Electric System: 17.00 kWh. Battery: 800.00 Ah.

• Apollo LM DS.  Other Designations: Descent Stage. Part of: Apollo LM. Class: Manned. Type: Spacecraft Module.

  Length: 2.83 m (9.28 ft). Basic Diameter: 4.21 m (13.81 ft). Maximum Diameter: 9.37 m (30.74 ft). Mass: 10,149 kg (22,374 lb). Main Engine Thrust: 44.041 kN (9,901 lbf). Main Engine Propellants: N2O4/Aerozine-50. Main Engine Propellants: 8,165 kg (18,000 lb). Main Engine Isp: 311 sec. Spacecraft delta v: 2,470 m/s (8,100 ft/sec). Electrical System: Batteries. Electric System: 33.00 kWh. Battery: 1,600.00 Ah.

• NASA Report, Planned Rendezvous Technique Following Lm Abort From Powered Descent, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19740072914_1974072914.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Apollo Experience Report Guidance and Control Systems: Lunar Module Abort Guidance System, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19750018954_1975018954.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Preliminary LM abort and CSM rescue plan for Apollo mission G. Volume 2: Rendezvous following anytime LM lift-off, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19740072785_1974072785.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Lunar surface mobility systems comparison and evolution /Mobev/, volume II, book 1 - Molem, Mocom, Mocan. Part 1 - Technical report Final report, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19670010051_1967010051.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, LTA-8 AND LTA-9 PRELIMINARY DESIGN SUMMARY REPORT - INTEGRATED SYSTEM DYNAMIC TEST AND EVALUATION VEHICLES, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19790076719_1979076719.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Manned operations for the Apollo lunar module in a simulated space environment, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19700024466_1970024466.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Lunar Module Pilot Control Considerations, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19680007367_1968007367.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Apollo Experience Report: Guidance and Control Systems; Lunar Module Mission Programer, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19750013238_1975013238.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Visibility In Space - Target Description Subroutine, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19660017758_1966017758.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Apollo Experience Report, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19720023255_1972023255.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Description of an augmented LM and comparison with the AAP shelter/taxi approach, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19760067302_1976067302.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, An investigation of terminal lunar landing with the lunar landing research vehicle, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19770072847_1977072847.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Performance analysis of the ascent propulsion system of the Apollo spacecraft, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19740005391_1974005391.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Apollo Experience Report: Guidance And Control Systems. Lunar Module Stabilization And Control System, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19760004104_1976004104.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Study of powered descent trajectories for manned lunar landings, Project Apollo, August 9, 1963, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19700076558_1970076558.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Apollo Experience Report: Mission Evaluation Team Postflight Documentation, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19760003074_1976003074.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, NASA TND 6846 Apollo Experience Report-Mission Planning for Lunar Module Decent and Ascent pages 1-18, . Accessed at: http://history.nasa.gov/alsj/nasa-tnd-6846pt.1.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Apollo Experience Report: Lunar Module Communications System, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19720012251_1972012251.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Apollo Experience Report: Lunar Module Electrical Power Subsystem, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19720025198_1972025198.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Apollo Experience Report: Lunar Module Environmental Control Subsystem, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19720013195_1972013195.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Apollo Experience Report: Lunar Module Instrumentation Subsystem, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19720018206_1972018206.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Apollo Experience Report: Lunar Module Landing Gear Subsystem, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19720018253_1972018253.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Apollo Experience Report: Lunar Module Landing Radar and Rendezvous Radar, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19720016521_1972016521.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Apollo Experience Report: Lunar Module Structural Subsystem, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19730010174_1973010174.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Apollo 5 mission report, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19800074521_1980074521.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Apollo 5 Mission Report. Supplement 2: Apollo Mission 5/AS-204/LM-1 Trajectory Reconstruction and Postflight Analysis, Volume 1, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19750065841_1975065841.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Apollo Experience Report: Launch Escape System, . Accessed at: http://www.klabs.org/history/apollo_experience_reports/tn-d7083_apollo_launch_escape_propulsion.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• Loftus, J P, Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, "An Historical Overview of NASA Manned Spacecraft and their Crew Stations", 1985, Volume 38, page 354.

• USAF Satellite Database, USAF Institute of Technology, 1995. Accessed at: ftp://archive.afit.af.mil/pub/space/.

• McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page, Harvard University, 1997-present. Jonathan McDowell's complete on-line listing of all objects orbited and over 20,000 rocket launches Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.

• Krebs, Gunter, Gunter's Space Page, University of Frankfurt, 1996. Accessed at: http://www.skyrocket.de/space.

• JPL Mission and Spacecraft Library, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1997. Accessed at: http://msl.jpl.nasa.gov/home.html.

• Ertel , Ivan D; Morse , Mary Louise; et al, The Apollo Spacecraft Chronology Vol I - IV NASA SP-4009, NASA, 1966-1974. Accessed at: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4009/cover.htm.

• Gatland, Kenneth, Manned Spacecraft, Macmillan, New York, 1968. ISBN: 0025428209. First of a marvelous series of pocket-size hardbacks covering spacecraft and rocketry. More at amazon.com...

• Baker, David, The History of Manned Spaceflight, Crown, New York, 1981. The best overview of America's manned space programs up to Skylab. Information and details not available anywhere else. Unfortunately out of print and difficult to locate.

• Brooks, Courtney G, Grimwood, Hames M, Swenson, Lloyd S, Chariots for Apollo, Government Printing Office, 1989. The official version - NASA's history of the Apollo program. Accessed at: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4205/cover.html.

• Furniss, Tim, Manned Spaceflight Log, Jane's, London, 1986. ISBN: 0710604025. Summary of all manned spaceflights up to 1986. Pre-Glasnost, so many 'war stories' of Soviet manned spaceflight are not included. More at amazon.com...

• Turnill, Reginald,, The Observer's Spaceflight Directory, Frederick Warne, London, 1978. ISBN: 0723220514. Good miniature encyclopaedia of space programs just before the shuttle started flying. More at amazon.com...

• NASA Report, Apollo Lunar Excursion Module - August 1962, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19760067000_1976067000.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• Wade, Mark, Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, "World Manned Spacecraft Characteristics", 1981, Volume 34, page 425.

• NASA Report, Manufacturing Plan for Project Apollo: Lunar Excursion Module - May 1963, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19780075395_1978075395.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• Kraft, Christopher C, editor, Manned Spacecraft: Engineering Design and Operation, NASA, 1968.. Collection of articles presenting technical aspects of the design of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo spacecraft.

• NASA Report, Lunar Excursion Module Familiarization Manual - October 1965, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19730060786_1973060786.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Apollo Operatons Handbook Lunar Module (LM 10 and Subsequent) Vol. 1 Subsystems Data, . Accessed at: http://www.btinternet.com/~ursine/LMhandbook.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Apollo Operatons Handbook Lunar Module (LM 11 and Subsequent) Vol. 2 Operational Procedures, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19710071423_1971071423.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, LM Orientation Training Course , . Accessed at: http://history.nasa.gov/alsj/LM-intro.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, LM-5 Structures Handout , . Accessed at: http://www.thebest.net/jduncan/pdf/lm5hout.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Lunar Module Orientation, . Accessed at: http://history.nasa.gov/alsj/LM-intro.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Lunar Module 7, 8, and 9 Elementary Functional Diagrams, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19710070891_1971070891.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Lunar module 10 Sub Elementary Functional Diagrams, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19710070889_1971070889.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, NASA TM X-58040 Apollo Lunar Decent and Ascent Trajectories, . Accessed at: http://history.nasa.gov/alsj/nasa58040.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Apollo experience report: Mission planning for lunar module descent and ascent, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19720018205_1972018205.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, NASA TND 6846 Apollo Experience Report-Mission Planning for Lunar Module Decent and Ascent pages 19-42, . Accessed at: http://history.nasa.gov/alsj/nasa-tnd-6846pt.2.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• NASA Report, Apollo Experience Report: Lunar Module Display and Control Subsystem, . Accessed at: http://www.klabs.org/history/apollo_experience_reports/tn-d6722_lem_display_control.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!

• Wilson, Keith T., Spaceflight, "EVA Log 1965-1997", 1998, Volume 40, page 85.

• NASA Report, Apollo Experience Report: Lunar Module Reaction Controls System, . Accessed at: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19720014237_1972014237.pdf. -right click to download pdfs!