More Details for 1963-04-17
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Preliminary configuration freeze for the Apollo LEM
At a mechanical systems meeting at MSC, customer and contractor achieved a preliminary configuration freeze for the LEM. Several features of the design of the two stages were agreed upon:
- Descent
- four cylindrical propellant tanks (two oxidizer and two fuel); four- legged deployable landing gear
- Ascent
- a cylindrical crew cabin (about 234 centimeters (92 inches) in diameter) and a cylindrical tunnel (pressurized) for equipment stowage; an external equipment bay.
After "considerable discussion," Grumman agreed to begin designing systems and subsystems based on this configuration, bearing in mind that certain unresolved areas (the docking system scanning telescope location and function, and the outcome of visibility studies) would have a substantial effect on the final configuration.