2 Typical Mission Profile This document guides you through a typical lunar exploration mission. Training missions are included to help you gain experience before you attempt to land on the moon. Topics include: Mission Planning Landing on the Lunar Surface EVA Activities Return to the OL Abort Procedure and Emergency EVA Training Missions Mission Planning Mission planning includes selecting the type of mission, choosing a landing site, planning EVA routes and activities, and planning orbital maneuvers. Select the Type of Mission: Mission types include (1) using the LV alone, (2) rendezvousing with the MB on the lunar surface, and (3) landing and starting near the HB. Mission type #1 may be used to explore remote regions for up to a week. Mission type #2 may be used to explore regions far from the HB. Mission type #3 may be used to transfer lunar material between the HB and the OL. Choose a Landing Site: The landing site for a type #1 mission may be near a previous Apollo, Surveyor, or Luna landing site, or near an unusual geological feature. The landing site for a type #2 mission may be near the lunar equator at the same longitude as the area of interest. The landing site for a type #3 mission is near the HB. Map the landing site using the program MAP at 64:1 scale. Select an area of smooth cells as the landing site and enter the coordinates into the program NEW. Position the MB about 1km (0.03ø) north or south of the landing site. Mission Planning (continued) Plan EVA Routes and Activities: Choose EVA routes that minimize the distance traveled over rough areas. EVA activities may include sampling high-value geological formations or manmade objects. Plan Orbital Maneuvers: Note the sequence, timing, and duration of RCS and main engine burns. Landing on the Lunar Surface Landing includes transferring to and checking out the LV, undocking and separating from the OL, performing two plane change maneuvers, putting the LV into a descent orbit, beginning powered descent, and landing on the moon. Transfer/Checkout of the LV: Set the INS display to "POSTAR". Begin transfer to and checkout of the LV about 170ø east of the landing site. Undocking/Separation from the OL: [Place the LV into an orbit that returns it to the vicinity of the OL in about 2hr if no further action is taken.] Set the INS display to "POSTAR" and the RCS throttle to "LOW". UNDOCK after LV checkout, 155ø east of the landing site. Undocking defines MET 00:00 and imparts a small southward velocity (÷0.1m/s) to the LV. Set the INS display to "POSOL". At 50m from the OL, use the RCS DOWN thruster to increase the separation velocity to 0.3m/s. Set the RCS throttle to "MEDIUM" and ROLL the LV so the face-body axis points up. Set the INS display to "POSTAR". At 105ø east of the landing site, use the RCS FACE thruster to increase the LV upward velocity by 1m/s. Turn ON the DSN transponder. Landing on the Lunar Surface (continued) Plane Change Maneuvers: [Modify the LV orbit to pass directly over the landing site.] Set the INS display to "POSTAR" and the RCS throttle to "MEDIUM". At 3ø east of the landing site, about MET 00:45, use the RCS UP or DOWN thruster to cancel the north/south velocity component. Next, orient the LV so the face- body axis points up and the up-body axis points toward the pole of the hemisphere not containing the landing site. At 87ø west of the landing site, about MET 01:15, set the INS display to "ORBTAR". Use the main engine or RCS UP thruster to change the angular momentum "NORTH" component to (90-L)ø, where "L" is the landing site latitude. During the burn, YAW the LV so the direction of thrust remains perpendicular to the orbit plane. Plane change maneuvers may not be necessary for type #1 or type #2 missions. Descent Orbit Insertion (DOI): [Change the LV orbit from 150km circular to 20km by 150km with a perilune about 15ø east of the landing site.] Set the INS display to "POSTAR" and the RCS throttle to "MEDIUM". Orient the LV so the face-body axis points up and the left-body axis points south. When the LV is 165ø west of the landing site, about MET 01:40, IGNITE the main engine and switch the INS display to "ORBTAR". Continue the burn for about 12s until the perilune is slightly greater than 20km. After main engine cutoff, use the RCS UP thruster to adjust the perilune to 20km. Landing on the Lunar Surface (continued) Powered Descent Initiation (PDI): Set the INS display to "POSTAR" and the RCS throttle to "HIGH". Orient the LV so the face-body axis points up and the left-body axis points south. At 15ø east of the landing site, about MET 02:40, start the descent autopilot. The LV will be guided automatically to a point near the landing site. Turn the landing radar ON at an altitude of 12km and the DSN transponder OFF at 6km. The landing radar display is active below 1km. Resume manual control at an altitude of about 1km, when the LV vertical velocity is about zero. Final Approach and Landing: Reduce horizontal velocity components to less than 1m/s while gradually bringing the LV to an upright position. Use RCS thrusters to cancel the horizontal velocity when the LV is directly over a smooth area. Use the main engine throttle to control the rate of descent. Land, if possible, with horizontal and vertical velocity components less than 0.3m/s and 1m/s, respectively. A successful landing is indicated by the "TOUCHDOWN" light and a song, if you're fortunate. EVA Activities EVA activities include preparing for EVA, leaving the LV or MB, operating the MB and/or RV, collecting samples, transferring sample boxes between the RV and the LV or MB, reentering the LV or MB, and terminating the EVA. Preparation and Egress: A rest/meal period is recommended prior to beginning EVA preparation. Begin EVA preparation about UT 08:00. Deploy the RV. Put on the PLSS, evacuate the cabin, and exit to the lunar surface. Preparation and egress require about 15min to complete. RV Operation: Set the INS display to "POSMB" or "POSLV". Enter the RV and drive to the first sample collection location as defined during mission planning. Set the RV throttle to 50-60% while driving over open terrain. When approaching rough terrain, reduce throttle to 20-30%. Avoid very rough spots. Park the RV between 20m and 40m of the sampling location. MB Operation: MB operation is similar to the RV. Use the MB to travel over long distances between widely separated sampling sites. Use the RV for local travel of a few kilometers or less. EVA Activities (continued) Sample Collection: Exit the RV and move to the cell containing the sampling site. Collect samples and put them into the RV sample box. When finished, enter the RV and drive to the next site. Sample Box Transfer: When all sampling sites have been visited or the RV sample box is full, set the INS display to "POSMB" or "POSLV" and return to the LV or MB. Pick up the box from the RV and transfer it to the LV or MB. Additional samples may be collected if sufficient time remains. EVAs should be completed between UT 16:30 and 18:30. Ingress and Termination: Stow the RV and enter the LV or MB at the end of an EVA. Pressurize the cabin and remove the PLSS. Ingress and termination require about 15min to complete. REST once or twice in preparation for the next sleep period. SLEEP in preparation for the next EVA or liftoff. For maximum efficiency, begin sleep periods about UT 22:00. Return to the OL Returning to the OL includes lifting off from the lunar surface, adjusting the initial orbit, performing transfer orbit, plane change, and circularization burns, and approaching, docking, and transferring to the OL. Liftoff and Initial Orbital Adjustment: [Put the LV into a 20km circular orbit.] Begin liftoff after sleep and rest/meal periods, between UT 09:00 and 11:00. Set the INS display to "POSOL" and the RCS throttle to "HIGH". About 10s before liftoff, set the INS display to "POSABS". Start the ascent autopilot when the OL is 10ø west of the landing site. The LV will automatically lift off from the lunar surface and be placed into an orbit with an apolune of about 20km. During ascent, use the PITCH control, if necessary, to damp out excessive pitch motion. After main engine cutoff, set the INS display to "ORBABS" and use the RCS UP thruster to raise the perilune to 20km. Transfer Orbit Maneuver: [Put the LV in a 20km by 150km orbit that brings it near to the OL.] Orient the LV so the face-body axis points up and the left- body axis points north. Set the INS display to "POSOL" and the RCS throttle to "HIGH". When the LV is 9.2ø east of the OL, about 15min after liftoff, switch the INS display to "ORBABS", and use the main engine to raise the apolune to slightly less than 150km. The transfer orbit burn lasts about 4s. Use the RCS UP thruster to raise the apolune to 150km. Return to the OL (continued) Plane Change Maneuver: [Put the LV into an equatorial orbit.] Set the INS display to "POSABS" and the RCS throttle to "HIGH". Orient the LV so the up- body axis points toward the pole of the hemisphere containing the landing site. As the LV crosses the lunar equator, about 30min after liftoff, use the main engine and/or RCS to set the north component of velocity to -1m/s. During the burn, YAW the LV so the direction of thrust remains perpendicular to the orbit plane. Circularization Burn: [Put the LV into a 150km circular orbit.] Set the INS display to "POSOL" and the RCS throttle to "HIGH". Orient the LV so the face- body axis points up and the left-body axis points north. As the LV passes near the OL, turn ON the OL transponder. Near apolune, when the LV is at least 1km east of the OL, IGNITE the main engine and raise the perilune to about 150km by burning for 4s. The LV should be within 5km of the OL. Turn OFF the DSN transponder. Return to the OL (continued) OL Approach: [Bring the LV to within 300m south of the OL.] Set the INS display to "POSOL" and the RCS throttle to "HIGH". Orient the LV so that the face-body axis points up and the up body axis points north. Start the docking autopilot sequencer, which automatically brings the LV to a point about 300m south of the OL after about 30min. Always maintain the proper LV attitude with respect to the local axes, with the face-body axis pointing up. OL Docking and Transfer: Set the RCS throttle to "MEDIUM" and orient the LV so the face-body axis points up and the up body axis points north. Use the RCS translation thrusters to precisely align the LV with the OL both in altitude and east/west. Approach the OL at about 0.3m/s. Align the LV to center the "ROLL" alignment indicator by executing a clockwise or counterclockwise ROLL command if the alignment indicator is to the left or right of the display, respectively. Set the RCS throttle to "LOW". Use the RCS thrusters during final approach to keep the LV position aligned with the center of the docking port. Dock, if possible, with an approach velocity less than 0.1m/s. A successful docking is indicated by the "DOCKING" light and a song. If a docking attempt fails, the LV bounces off the OL and the final approach must be repeated. After successfully docking, transfer the lunar samples and move to the OL to complete the mission. Abort Procedure and Emergency EVA Abort: Start the abort sequencer (SHIFT-A) if trouble occurs during final approach and landing, e.g., you cannot find a smooth place to land and run low on propellant. The abort sequencer activates the ascent autopilot and performs an ascent to orbit, as if the LV had just lifted off from the lunar surface. After autopilot control has ceased and the main engine has been turned off, use the RCS UP thruster to put the LV into a 20km circular orbit. Rendezvous, approach, and dock with the OL following standard procedures. Emergency EVA: The LV and/or OL may become damaged such that docking is no longer possible. If LV and OL damage become severe, the pilot may transfer to the OL using an emergency EVA. At a safe distance from the OL, put on the PLSS and evacuate the cabin. Set the INS display to "POSOL" and the RCS throttle to "LOW". Move the LV to about 300m east or west of the OL and reduce the relative velocity as low as possible. Move to the UN, deploy it, and maneuver to the OL using the UN thrusters. After attaching the UN to the OL, move to the OL to complete the mission. Training Missions Training missions are suggested, in increasing order of difficulty, that allow you to become familiar with flying the LV. Try at least one of each variety before proceeding to the next level of difficulty. Mission #1: Transfer to and checkout the LV. UNDOCK and perform the first separation burn. Turn ON the OL transponder. Practice using the PITCH, ROLL, and YAW controls and RCS thrusters. After about 1hr, approach and dock with the OL. This mission requires about 2.5hr to complete. Mission #2: Same as #1 but add the second separation burn. After one orbit, approach and dock with the OL. Use the OL transponder while the LV is within 30km of the OL, otherwise use the DSN transponder. This mission requires about 4.5hr to complete. Mission #2A: Same as #2 but put on the PLSS, evacuate the cabin, and practice using the UN. After 1hr or so, return to the LV, pressurize the cabin, and remove the PLSS. Aproach and dock with the OL. This mission requires about 6.5hr to complete. You might also try flying between the OL and LV. Training Missions (continued) Mission #3: Same as #2 but add the two plane change maneuvers so the LV overflies the landing site. After one full orbit, put the LV into an equatorial orbit by cancelling the north/south component of velocity as it crosses the lunar equator. After one-half orbit, approach and dock with the OL. This mission requires about 6.5hr to complete. Mission #4: [This mission is similar to that of Apollo 10.] Same as #3 but add the DOI maneuver. After returning to the apolune of the descent orbit, put the LV into a 150km by 280km orbit to restore the relative position of the LV west of the OL. After another orbit, circularize the LV orbit. Put the LV into an equatorial orbit, approach, and dock with the OL. This mission requires about 8.5hr to complete. Other Missions: You are now ready to attempt a landing. Start with targets located near the lunar equator. As you gain experience, try to explore more challenging targets at higher latitudes. To practice parts of missions, you can copy one of the tutorial save files "*.SAV" to "AMS.SAV" and start the AMS. HAPPY LANDINGS !