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Apollo LM Truck
Part of Apollo LM
LM Truck
LM Truck
Credit: © Mark Wade
American lunar logistics spacecraft. Cancelled 1968. The LM Truck was an LM Descent stage adapted for unmanned delivery of payloads of up to 5,000 kg to the lunar surface in support of a lunar base using Apollo technology.

AKA: LM Truck. Status: Cancelled 1968. Thrust: 44.04 kN (9,901 lbf). Gross mass: 8,990 kg (19,810 lb). Unfuelled mass: 1,570 kg (3,460 lb). Specific impulse: 311 s. Height: 3.20 m (10.40 ft).

The LM Truck would make precision landings using radio landing beacons prepositioned by the lunar base staff.

The Truck could be accompanied by an Apollo CSM on a purely lunar orbital mission. Alternatively two Trucks could be delivered in a single unmanned Saturn V mission, with a partially-fueled Apollo Service Module being used for the lunar orbit insertion maneuver. Items added to the basic descent stage: Navigation and guidance system (126 kg); stability and control system (49 kg); reaction control system (250 kg); communications (21 kg); ECS for equipment (58 kg).

The LM Truck concept used a modified LM descent stage as a Lunar Logistic Vehicle. The LM ascent stage was removed and replaced by a cargo platform. Subsystems now on the LM ascent stages necessary for landing (e.g., reaction control system (RCS) and guidance) were added. The basic flight plan assumed a manned Command Service Module (CSM), Lunar Orbit Rendezvous (LOR) mode. The LM Truck would be landed by remote control from the manned CSM, which would then return to earth. The crew that would actually unload the Truck would arrive months later in a separate CSM, and ride an LM Taxi to a surface rendezvous with the Truck. However, a totally unmanned flight mode was possible with proper guidance and navigation modification. As conceived, the LM Truck weighed 10,000 kg and had the same propellant capacity and payload capability as the LM descent stage. The LM Truck capability would benefit from an "augmented" LM development.



Family: Lunar Landers, Lunar logistics spacecraft, Moon. Country: USA. Spacecraft: ALSS Lunar Base. Launch Vehicles: Saturn V. Propellants: N2O4/Aerozine-50. Agency: Grumman. Bibliography: 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 26.
Photo Gallery

Post-Apollo lunarPost-Apollo lunar
Comparison of American post-Apollo lunar spacecraft.
Credit: © Mark Wade


Lunar ExplorationLunar Exploration
Lunar Exploration Plans
Credit: © Mark Wade


LM TruckLM Truck
Credit: © Mark Wade


Post-Apollo lunarPost-Apollo lunar
Comparison of American post-Apollo lunar spacecraft.
Credit: © Mark Wade



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