Table of Contents
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Table of contents List of illustrations ..................................................xvii List of tables ..................................................... xxiii List of appendices.................................................. xxvii Authors' preface ................................................... ixxx Acknowledgments .................................................. xxxi Introduction .........................................................1 The National Aeronautics and Space Administration .......................1 A manned satellite .................................................2 The Saturn launch vehicle............................................3 NASA's long-term plan .............................................6 Conceiving the Apollo spacecraft ......................................7 The way to the Moon ± the mission mode ...............................9 Change of administration ...........................................10 Seeking funding for Apollo..........................................10 Kennedy's challenge ...............................................11 The mode debate continues .........................................14 Saturn testing starts ...............................................16 Mercury Mark II? ................................................17 Issuing contracts..................................................19 Reorganization ...................................................21 Deciding the launch vehicle .........................................21 The decision for Gemini ............................................23 Deciding the mission mode..........................................24 Mission planning issues ............................................27 LEM design issues ................................................29 Ongoing changes .................................................30 Mueller takes charge...............................................31 Kennedy's assassination ............................................34 Firming up the schedule ............................................34 Refining the docking system .........................................36 Refining the LEM ................................................37 Suit issues.......................................................40 Gearing up ......................................................41 x Table of contents Developing the Saturn V ...........................................44 Preparing Apollo .................................................45 Setback and recovery ..............................................49 Picking up the pace ...............................................52 The first Saturn V flight ............................................53 Testing the LM ..................................................53 Overcoming problems with daring plans . ...............................55 Dress rehearsal ...................................................60 The landing crew .................................................61 Saturn I: Development program .........................................63 Background .....................................................63 SA-1: first flight test ...............................................64 Completing Phase I ...............................................65 Phase II testing...................................................66 Conclusions .....................................................69 The Saturn IB ...................................................69 AS-201: A CSM on a ballistic arc........................................75 Background .....................................................75 Launch preparations...............................................75 Ascent phase ....................................................76 Post-boost phase. .................................................79 Recovery .......................................................79 Conclusions .....................................................80 Mission objectives ................................................80 Mission timeline ..................................................82 AS-203: Evaluating the S-IVB ..........................................85 Background .....................................................85 Launch preparations...............................................85 Ascent phase ....................................................86 Earth orbit phase .................................................88 Conclusions .....................................................89 Mission objectives ................................................89 Mission timeline ..................................................91 AS-202: Testing the CM heat shield ......................................93 Background .....................................................93 Launch preparations...............................................93 Ascent phase ....................................................95 Post-boost phase. .................................................95 Recovery .......................................................97 Conclusions .....................................................98 Mission objectives ................................................98 Table of contents xi Mission timeline ..................................................99 Apollo 1: Cabin fire ................................................. 105 Background .................................................... 105 Vehicle history .................................................. 106 Accident ....................................................... 106 Chronology of the fire ............................................ 111 Investigation.................................................... 112 The cause of the fire.............................................. 115 Apollo 4: First test of the Saturn V...................................... 121 Background .................................................... 121 Launch preparations.............................................. 121 Ascent phase ................................................... 124 Earth orbit phase ................................................ 126 Recovery ...................................................... 127 Conclusions .................................................... 127 Mission objectives ............................................... 127 Mission timeline ................................................. 137 Apollo 5: Unmanned test of the LM ..................................... 139 Background .................................................... 139 Launch preparations.............................................. 139 Ascent phase ................................................... 140 Earth orbit phase ................................................ 140 Conclusions .................................................... 143 Mission objectives ............................................... 146 Mission timeline ................................................. 148 Apollo 6: Second test of the Saturn V .................................... 151 Background .................................................... 151 Launch preparations.............................................. 151 Ascent phase ................................................... 151 Earth orbit phase ................................................ 154 Recovery ...................................................... 157 Conclusions .................................................... 157 Mission objectives ............................................... 165 Mission timeline ................................................. 168 Apollo 7: Testing the CSM in Earth orbit ................................. 171 Background .................................................... 171 Launch preparations.............................................. 172 Ascent phase ................................................... 172 Earth orbit phase ................................................ 173 Recovery ...................................................... 180 xii Table of contents Conclusions .................................................... 180 Mission objectives ............................................... 187 Mission timeline ................................................. 190 Apollo 8: Testing the CSM in lunar orbit ................................. 195 Background .................................................... 195 Launch preparations.............................................. 197 Ascent phase ................................................... 199 Earth orbit phase ................................................ 201 Translunar phase ................................................ 201 Lunar orbit phase................................................ 203 Transearth phase ................................................ 205 Recovery ...................................................... 206 Conclusions .................................................... 207 Mission objectives ............................................... 215 Mission timeline ................................................. 218 Apollo 9: Testing the LM in Earth orbit .................................. 223 Background .................................................... 223 Launch preparations.............................................. 224 Ascent phase ................................................... 244 Earth orbit phase ................................................ 227 Recovery ...................................................... 232 Conclusions