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Author
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Topic: Apollo 8 Updates Manual usage history
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Rocket Chris
Member Posts: 342
From:
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 04-10-2019 03:35 AM
   
Can anybody tell me the applicability of the Apollo 8 Updates manual S/N 1003, especially the section 2, Earth Orbit Entry Update? What was it specially for, also the entire document? |
indy91
Member Posts: 15
From: Germany
Registered: Feb 2016
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posted 04-10-2019 04:41 AM
The Updates book contains many PAD forms, PAD standing for pre-advisory data. They were used to write down a lot of numbers relevant for performing a specific maneuver or reentry. Earth Orbit Entry Update is for a reentry from Earth orbit, the form that is just labelled "Entry" is for lunar entries, for returning from the Moon. Those two forms will be quite similar, but also contain numbers that only apply to one type of reentry.All these numbers could then, at the relevant time, be used as a reference or as an input to certain systems. To take the Earth Orbit Entry Update as an example, AREA will be a code that stands for the splashdown area, R/P/Y 0.05G will be the attitude (roll, pitch, yaw) at 0.05g, the deceleration level at which the atmospheric entry really begins. This attitude is mostly given as a check against their actual attitude. RTGO and VIO are two parameters for the EMS, the backup guidance system for reentry. RTGO is range to go, VIO is inertial velocity. The EMS starts running at that 0.05g level, so the values will be for that time. So these were simply forms where the crew wrote down numbers during the mission given to them by mission control. |
Rocket Chris
Member Posts: 342
From:
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 04-10-2019 04:51 AM
Thank you for reply. I just bought an Apollo 8 checklist page, first Earth Orbit Entry page of the manual section, which is blank and not used. Does it mean that these update pages are used anyway, or is it just as backup if there are other values which differ from the nominal situation? |
indy91
Member Posts: 15
From: Germany
Registered: Feb 2016
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posted 04-10-2019 05:25 AM
The update book will have enough forms for all kinds of situations and alternative missions. In the case of the Earth Orbit Entry Update there of course is no normal situation on Apollo 8, as it returned from the Moon. So only the "Entry" updates will have been filled in during the mission. I have a scan of the Update Book with S/N 1004 and it has 1 out of 2 Entry updates filled in (the first such update the crew got, about 12 hours before reentry) and 0 out of 4 Earth Orbit Entry Update forms are filled out.What however is filled out is the short format Earth Orbit Block Data for performing deorbit maneuvers from Earth orbit. These were actually filled out before launch, for the nominal trajectory after orbital insertion, and span the first few hours after launch (without TLI obivously). Probably for the case that the crew lost all communications with the ground after the launch. But none of the Earth Orbit Entry PADs will have been filled out before the mission, the numbers just depend too much on the actual trajectory of the mission. The only case where it would have been filled out is a low Earth orbit alternative mission for Apollo 8, shortly before their deorbit maneuver at the end of the alternative mission. |
Rocket Chris
Member Posts: 342
From:
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 04-10-2019 05:55 AM
But it is stated that the page was taken from 1003?! Have there been several Update manuals? |
indy91
Member Posts: 15
From: Germany
Registered: Feb 2016
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posted 04-10-2019 06:08 AM
I guess two must have been flown. In 1004 one of the Lunar Entry PADs has the exact numbers that were read up to the crew at 132:17:52 GET. But it doesn't have the PADs that were read up closer to reentry, so those must have been written down in 1003 closer to reentry. I guess they just used both of them interchangeably.I don't have a scan of the updates book S/N 1003, but there were at least 2x TLI checklists, 2x Entry Checklist and 2x Crew Log. Some other checklists only once. |
Rocket Chris
Member Posts: 342
From:
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 04-10-2019 10:16 AM
Just see that you are based in Germany. You can write me an email and we can continue the discussion in our native language.  |
neo1022
Member Posts: 281
From: Santa Monica, CA
Registered: Jun 2013
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posted 05-10-2019 05:05 PM
This page probably originated from Florian Noller, who purchased the original flown book. The original had many pages with PAD data entered in-flight, as well as lots of blank pages. I believe I have a scan of the entire manual, which I can email you if you email me your address. |
Rocket Chris
Member Posts: 342
From:
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 05-11-2019 10:08 AM
Just replied via email on your post. You can also find my email address in my profile. Thanks in advance for the scan. |
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