Posts: 678
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005

posted 08-02-2006 12:02 PM            

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I was just wondering how the lunar orbit altitude that was used in the Apollo missions was determined. I assume that earth orbit altitude is, to some extent, determined by having to get above the atmosphere at a minimum (ie ~100 miles). But the moon has no atmosphere. So how is the orbital altitude chosen? I think they orbited at 60 miles but could they have orbited at a much lower altitude, say 10 miles?

Paul

[This message has been edited by collectSPACE Admin (edited August 02, 2006).]

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