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Landing Characteristics of the Apollo Spacecraft with Deployed Heat Shield Impact Attenuation SystemsAn experimental investigation was made to determine the landing characteristics of a 1/4-scale dynamic model of the Apollo spacecraft command module using two different active (heat shield deployed prior to landing) landing systems for impact attenuation. One landing system (configuration 1) consisted of six hydraulic struts and eight crushable honeycomb struts. The other landing system (configuration 2), consisted of four hydraulic struts and six strain straps. Tests made on water and the hard clay-gravel composite landing surfaces simulated parachute letdown (vertical) velocities of 23 ft/sec (7.0 m/s) (full scale). Landings made on the sand landing surface simulated vertical velocities of 30 ft/sec (9.1 m/s). Horizontal velocities of from 0 to 50 ft/sec (15 m/s) were simulated. Landing attitudes ranged from -30'degrees to 20 degrees, and the roll attitudes were O degrees, 90 degrees, and 180 degrees. For configuration 1, maximum normal accelerations at the vehicle center of gravity for landings on water, sand, and the hard clay-gravel composite surface were 9g, 20g, and 18g, respectively. The maximum normal center-of-gravity acceleration for configuration 2 which was landed only on the hard clay-gravel landing surface was approximately 19g. Accelerations for configuration 2 were generally equal to or lower than accelerations for configuration 1 and normal.
Document ID
20070030975
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Video
Authors
Stubbs, Sandy M.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
October 11, 1965
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Report/Patent Number
L-886
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
EXPERIMENTS
TESTS
[Division] Impacting Str

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