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Author
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Topic: Returning printed manuals from the moon
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garymilgrom Member Posts: 1966 From: Atlanta, GA Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 12-13-2015 06:44 AM
The Apollo lunar module had many printed manuals stored in the rear of the cabin. I think most have seen these manuals or pages from manuals that are sold at auctions or by collectors. I have a page from Apollo 17 and with this week's anniversary I've been thinking of it a lot.And something odd occurred to me — why would any astronaut bring back an obsolete printed manual? We know the rocks and film had priority, to the extent that astronauts were prohibited (discouraged?) from bringing other items because of their weight (and effect on the command module's center of gravity). Yes, some astronauts brought mementos of their journey — Cernan's boot covers, Bean's camera, Conrad's COAS etc. But paper is heavy, especially in large bundles, and the manuals in question became redundant as soon as the LM re-docked with the CM. I'm sure the engineers would like the data on how their systems performed during flight, but that would not be found in a manual printed before the mission. So I ask again — with restrictions on time and weight why would any astronaut coming back from the lunar surface retrieve and return a printed manual from their mission? Thank you. |
GACspaceguy Member Posts: 2474 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 12-13-2015 07:01 AM
That is a very interesting observation. Also how would they have made the paper fire resistant? With the concern with fire in the vehicle that much paper would be an issue was the paper treated, if so with what? |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-13-2015 07:36 AM
The nonflammable paper used on Apollo is addressed in this thread.The transfer of the printed manuals from the lunar module to the command module was not something the astronauts decided to do on their own — it was planned for and detailed in the stowage lists among the items to be moved from the LM into the CM. The LM surface checklist, systems activation checklist, lunar surface maps, timeline book, transfer data card kit, data card kit and rendezvous and abort book, as well as the astronauts' pocket checklists were all listed among the items to be returned to Earth (based on the Apollo 14 stowage list, for example). quote: Originally posted by garymilgrom: Yes, some astronauts brought mementos of their journey — Cernan's boot covers, Bean's camera, Conrad's COAS etc.
Just a side note, but of the three items listed, only Conrad's COAS was a memento; Cernan's (and Schmitt's) overboots and the Apollo 12 color TV camera were returned to Earth on NASA's instruction. |
garymilgrom Member Posts: 1966 From: Atlanta, GA Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 12-13-2015 07:51 AM
Thank you for that information Robert! I should have known who would know. |
space1 Member Posts: 853 From: Danville, Ohio Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 12-13-2015 11:20 AM
The LM manuals were needed by the astronauts post-flight for completing detailed mission reports (especially the pages with their in-flight notations). |
Lou Chinal Member Posts: 1306 From: Staten Island, NY Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 01-08-2016 02:02 PM
Gary I'm glad you asked that. I wondered about it also. | |
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