Apollo Spacecraft Launch Adapter and S$B stability.
Apollo Spacecraft Launch Adapter and S$B stability.
(OP)
Hello Aerospace Engineers-
A discussion between some civil engineers the other day has prompted this question.
During the Apollo mission, during transposition and docking to remove the LM, what kept the S4B stable, especially if one of the panels hung up? As I understand it, the third stage is spent so it is a free body and Newton's law will apply. So, if one of the panels hung up or if they did not open perfectly, the whole assemblage would begin to rotate, wobble, etc.
The other, related question is related to the above and actually occurred on Apollo 14. If the CSM tapped the LM anywhere but exactly in the center of gravity, the same would occur, a slight drift, wobble, etc. How did it remain aligned so a second attempt at docking could be made?
No, I'm not working on a project, just idle curiosity from someone who admires your work.
A discussion between some civil engineers the other day has prompted this question.
During the Apollo mission, during transposition and docking to remove the LM, what kept the S4B stable, especially if one of the panels hung up? As I understand it, the third stage is spent so it is a free body and Newton's law will apply. So, if one of the panels hung up or if they did not open perfectly, the whole assemblage would begin to rotate, wobble, etc.
The other, related question is related to the above and actually occurred on Apollo 14. If the CSM tapped the LM anywhere but exactly in the center of gravity, the same would occur, a slight drift, wobble, etc. How did it remain aligned so a second attempt at docking could be made?
No, I'm not working on a project, just idle curiosity from someone who admires your work.
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RE: Apollo Spacecraft Launch Adapter and S$B stability.
I don't know what the game plan was in your first case - spacewalk?
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: Apollo Spacecraft Launch Adapter and S$B stability.
THE APOLLO 14 DOCKING ANOMALY
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa....
Regards, Wil Taylor
o Trust - But Verify!
o We believe to be true what we prefer to be true. [Unknown]
o For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible. [variation,Stuart Chase]
o Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant. ["Orion", Homebuiltairplanes.com forum]
RE: Apollo Spacecraft Launch Adapter and S$B stability.
Again, more of an idle question than a "need to know."
Thanks.
RE: Apollo Spacecraft Launch Adapter and S$B stability.
Interestingly, the CSM was about 29 tonnes fully loaded. So about the same.
Also, the S4B stage did have attitude control (Wiki says: 2x APS Modules), so perhaps those were used to ensure attitude stability. Speculation.
RE: Apollo Spacecraft Launch Adapter and S$B stability.
Newly Discovered Object Could be a Leftover Apollo Rocket Stage
... An analysis of the orbital motion of the newly discovered object J002E3 indicates that it could be a leftover Saturn V third stage from one of the Apollo missions, most likely the Apollo 12 mission, launched on November 14, 1969. ...
https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news134.html [from 2002 CNEOS article]
Regards, Wil Taylor
o Trust - But Verify!
o We believe to be true what we prefer to be true. [Unknown]
o For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible. [variation,Stuart Chase]
o Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant. ["Orion", Homebuiltairplanes.com forum]
RE: Apollo Spacecraft Launch Adapter and S$B stability.
That makes some sense. I knew it had ullage motors, but I did not know it had attitude control. I guess I never saw them (or never had them pointed out to me.)
Thank you for the insight.