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  Mercury - Gemini - Apollo
  Positioning of Lunar Rover prior to the ascent

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Author Topic:   Positioning of Lunar Rover prior to the ascent
Ian Limbrey
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Posts: 130
From: England
Registered: Nov 2012

posted 10-12-2016 07:00 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ian Limbrey   Click Here to Email Ian Limbrey     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Always wondered why the Apollo lunar rovers (LRV) were always positioned to the rear of the lunar modules prior to their ascent.

Was this to achieve a better television view because of the trajectories the ascent stages would take although, this really only happened with the Challenger as we saw very little of the ascents on Apollo 15 and 16?

NukeGuy
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Posts: 55
From: Irvine, CA USA
Registered: May 2014

posted 10-12-2016 07:48 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for NukeGuy     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The position behind the LM would have been east of the LM. This would position the sun behind the camera and provide good lighting as well as preclude damaging the camera.

Ian Limbrey
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Posts: 130
From: England
Registered: Nov 2012

posted 10-12-2016 09:37 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ian Limbrey   Click Here to Email Ian Limbrey     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks, after I posted it I suddenly realised that it must be to something to do with the sun as they always landed from east to west and hence the rear of the LEM would be facing the sun and as you stated, very good lighting for the viewing the ascent!

One Big Monkey
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Posts: 171
From: West Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Jul 2012

posted 10-12-2016 11:48 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for One Big Monkey     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
As well as landing east to west, they also took off east to west, so the camera would be able to watch it disappear into the distance.

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