posted 04-26-2013 10:45 AM
I have read that the ladder was a late addition to the design of the Lunar Module.
Just how did they initially think they were going to get up and down to the hatch then?
Glint Member
Posts: 1044 From: New Windsor, Maryland USA Registered: Jan 2004
posted 04-26-2013 10:56 AM
The early ideas were to drop a rope ladder or knotted rope from the hatch and descend. An image showing the latter may be found in this document.
moorouge Member
Posts: 2458 From: U.K. Registered: Jul 2009
posted 04-26-2013 01:59 PM
There was a report that the sight of Ed White dangling like a landed fish on the end of a rope convinced Pete Conrad that a ladder was the only way for a crew to exit the LM to the lunar surface.
Headshot Member
Posts: 891 From: Vancouver, WA, USA Registered: Feb 2012
posted 04-26-2013 03:12 PM
I seem to remember reading that at one time NASA and/or Grumman considered some sort of electric winch device to raise or lower the astronaut to the lunar surface. I do not recall if this was before or after the rope ladder concept.
onesmallstep Member
Posts: 1313 From: Staten Island, New York USA Registered: Nov 2007
posted 04-26-2013 03:55 PM
Yes, in fact it looked more like it was an astronaut mountain climbing or rappelling! I saw a clip of the early concepts in the 'Lunar Module' chapter of the excellent Discovery TV series Moon Machines. Together with the round hatch design, it makes you wonder if the engineers were making it more difficult for the astronauts to walk on the moon than necessary!