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Why did the Apollo space craft command and service modules stay and orbit around he moon?
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∙ 15y ago
There was a remote chance that a lunar lander might not be able to take off from the surface. Staying in orbit ensured that at least one of the crew had a good chance of returning in the event of a disaster.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
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How does Apollo take off from Moon's surface?
The command module and service module never lands on the moon but orbits around it while the lunar moduledescends to the surface. The lunar module is in two parts - the upper part, containing the astronauts, and the lower part which acts as a platform for landing and contains the landing rocket engine. When the lunar module takes off after the astronauts return to it after their moon walk, the lower part of the module detaches from the upper so that the lower part of the module now acts as a launchpad for the upper. The upper part of the module then lifts off with its own rocket engine, leaving the lower part behind. It then goes into rendevous with the command and service modules for the astronauts to return through a connecting tunnel into the command module.The lunar module is then jettisoned into a decaying lunar orbit where it eventually crashlands on the moon's surface. The command and service modules then return to earth, the service module being jettisoned (and burning up in the atmosphere) just before re-entry into the earth's atmosphere so that the only part of the original Saturn V ship that returns is the command module containing the astronauts.As there have been six Apollo missions that made it to the moon's surface, one day, either when telescopes are made powerful enough, or when we return to the moon, we should be able to trace the lunar module remains. As it is at the moment, the command modules are scattered over museums across the US - notably the Smithsonian and the Kennedy Space Center being just two. Other parts of the Saturn V (as an example, the complete rocket as seen in the Kennedy Space Center) were those left over from Apollo missions that never flew - Apollo 18, 19 and 20.
What happens to the lunar modules in space?
Most lunar modules eventually crashed back into moon once they weren't needed anymore. They were separated from the Command/Service Module and left in lunar orbit. This orbit would decay and the ascent stage would impact the moon's surface. Some of the seismology sensors set up on the moon's surface were able to record this impact. The lunar module from Apollo 13 is in the Pacific Ocean. Because the lunar modules have a radiation source, the one in the Pacific Ocean is monitored to see if it is causing any contamination. Apollo 9's lunar module never left low Earth orbit, it presumably burnt up in Earth's atmosphere. One of the Lunar Modules is actually in orbit around the Sun. For some reason, Apollo 10's ascent stage was sent on a course that would take it out of lunar orbit. It is still out there today in what is called an "extremely chaotic orbit."
How many orbits did Alan Shepard make around the earth?
One. Shepard flew into space twice: Mercury 3, America's first manned space mission, and Apollo 14, the third moon landing. Mercury 3 was a sub-orbital flight lasting 15 minutes. Apollo 14 made one full orbit of the earth before TLI (trans-lunar injection), the refiring of the third stage rocket, that send the CSM (command and service modules) to the moon. TLI occurred halfway through what would have been the second orbit.
Why did the command and service modules stay in orbit around the moon?
The Lunar Module could not make the return trip to Earth and the CSM could not land on the moon. As such, the CSM stayed in orbit while the LM traveled to and from the lunar surface.
Who circled the moon in Apollo 11?
Michael Collins piloted the Command Module, in orbit around the Moon, while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin took the Lunar Lander down to the surface.
How does Apollo take off from Moon's surface?
The command module and service module never lands on the moon but orbits around it while the lunar moduledescends to the surface. The lunar module is in two parts - the upper part, containing the astronauts, and the lower part which acts as a platform for landing and contains the landing rocket engine. When the lunar module takes off after the astronauts return to it after their moon walk, the lower part of the module detaches from the upper so that the lower part of the module now acts as a launchpad for the upper. The upper part of the module then lifts off with its own rocket engine, leaving the lower part behind. It then goes into rendevous with the command and service modules for the astronauts to return through a connecting tunnel into the command module.The lunar module is then jettisoned into a decaying lunar orbit where it eventually crashlands on the moon's surface. The command and service modules then return to earth, the service module being jettisoned (and burning up in the atmosphere) just before re-entry into the earth's atmosphere so that the only part of the original Saturn V ship that returns is the command module containing the astronauts.As there have been six Apollo missions that made it to the moon's surface, one day, either when telescopes are made powerful enough, or when we return to the moon, we should be able to trace the lunar module remains. As it is at the moment, the command modules are scattered over museums across the US - notably the Smithsonian and the Kennedy Space Center being just two. Other parts of the Saturn V (as an example, the complete rocket as seen in the Kennedy Space Center) were those left over from Apollo missions that never flew - Apollo 18, 19 and 20.
What happens to the lunar modules in space?
Most lunar modules eventually crashed back into moon once they weren't needed anymore. They were separated from the Command/Service Module and left in lunar orbit. This orbit would decay and the ascent stage would impact the moon's surface. Some of the seismology sensors set up on the moon's surface were able to record this impact. The lunar module from Apollo 13 is in the Pacific Ocean. Because the lunar modules have a radiation source, the one in the Pacific Ocean is monitored to see if it is causing any contamination. Apollo 9's lunar module never left low Earth orbit, it presumably burnt up in Earth's atmosphere. One of the Lunar Modules is actually in orbit around the Sun. For some reason, Apollo 10's ascent stage was sent on a course that would take it out of lunar orbit. It is still out there today in what is called an "extremely chaotic orbit."
Which astronaut traveled on Apollo 11 did not step on the moon?
Michael Collins, who orbited around the moon in the command module.
Who stayed on the ship on Apollo 11?
Michael Collins stayed in the command/service module, which orbited the moon, while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin decended to the moon, (walked around on the surface), and rose from the moon in the lunar module.
Did apollo13 get to the moon?
A Saturn V rocket blasted them from the earth, and the Apollo spacecraft took them the rest of the journey. This consisted of a command module, where the crew were located, and the service module.
How many orbits did Alan Shepard make around the earth?
One. Shepard flew into space twice: Mercury 3, America's first manned space mission, and Apollo 14, the third moon landing. Mercury 3 was a sub-orbital flight lasting 15 minutes. Apollo 14 made one full orbit of the earth before TLI (trans-lunar injection), the refiring of the third stage rocket, that send the CSM (command and service modules) to the moon. TLI occurred halfway through what would have been the second orbit.
Why did the command and service modules stay in orbit around the moon?
The Lunar Module could not make the return trip to Earth and the CSM could not land on the moon. As such, the CSM stayed in orbit while the LM traveled to and from the lunar surface.
What were the name of American spaceships that sent people to the moon?
The launch vehicle for most of the manned Apollo missions was the Saturn V (Apollo 7, which had no Lunar Module, used a Saturn 1B launch vehicle instead). The callsigns of the Lunar Modules in the manned Apollo missions were: * Apollo 7: no Lunar Module (test of Command Module, stayed in Earth orbit) * Apollo 8: no callsign, designation LTA-B (dummy Lunar Module, went around Moon but didn't land) * Apollo 9: Spider (first test of Lunar Module, stayed in Earth orbit) * Apollo 10: Snoopy (full test of Lunar Module, went within 10 miles of lunar surface but didn't land) * Apollo 11: Eagle (first manned landing) * Apollo 12: Intrepid (second manned landing) * Apollo 13: Aquarius (went around Moon but didn't land due to problems) * Apollo 14: Antares (third manned landing) * Apollo 15: Falcon (fourth manned landing) * Apollo 16: Orion (fifth manned landing) * Apollo 17: Challenger (sixth manned landing)
Do the Apollo mission space shuttles consist of a rust-colored external tank and two white slender solid rocket boosters and the orbiter?
The Apollo and space shuttle programs refer to two different NASA programs, not the same one. The Apollo missions used Saturn rockets; mainly Saturn V and predated the shuttle by around 10 years. The Saturn V was a three stage rocket; white with black "go faster" striping. The Apollo spacecraft itself consisted of the service, command, and lunar modules. The present space shuttle combination at launch consists of the orbiter, external fuel tank and the two white solid rocket boosters as described. The tanks and boosters are jettisoned during the launch at different stages, leaving only the orbiter in space.
Which spaceship was used by the astronauts to land on the moon?
Apollo was the name of all the lunar missions. The various craft that went were numbered. 6 missions went to the moon and landed on it, which were Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17. Each lunar mission spacecraft consisted of two parts, a command module and a lunar module. The command module got people to the moon and orbited around it and got them back to Earth. The lunar module was the part that actually landed on the moon. The 6 lunar modules that landed on the moon were: Eagle Intrepid Antares Falcon Orion Challenger
Have man ever seen the far side of the moon?
Yes, during the Apollo missions to the Moon, the modules orbited the Moon, affording a view all around the Moon.
What astronuat minded Apollo 2 while Armstrong and Aldrin made history?
Apollo 2 was an unmanned mission launched in 1966. It was destroyed about six hours into the flight. You are probably confusing it with Apollo 11 (eleven) the first mission to land on the moon. The astronaut in the command vehicle that stayed in orbit around the moon was Michael Collins.
