Appendix 5

PRIMARY APOLLO FLIGHT OBJECTIVES

[Apollo-Saturn 201 through Apollo 17]

Apollo-Saturn 201

(February 26, 1966)

Primary Objectives (all achieved)

  1. Obtain flight information on the structural integrity and compatibility of the launch vehicle and spacecraft and confirm launch loads.
  2. Test the separation of:
    1. S-IVB stage, instrument unit (IU) and spacecraft from S-IB stage.
    2. Launch escape systems (LES) and boost protective cover from command and service modules (CSM) and launch vehicle.
    3. CSM from S-IVB stage, IU, and service module LEM adapter (SLA).
    4. Command module (CM) from service module (SM).
  3. Obtain flight operation information on the following subsystems:
    1. Launch vehicle - propulsion, guidance and control, and electrical systems.
    2. Spacecraft - CM heatshield (adequacy for entry from low earth orbit); service propulsion system (SPS) (including restart); Environmental control system (ECS) (pressure and temperature control); communications (partial); CM reaction control system (RCS); SM RCS; stabilization control system (SCS); earth landing system (ELS); electrical power system (EPS), partial.
  4. Evaluate performance of the space vehicle emergency detection system (EDS) in an open-loop configuration.
  5. Evaluate the CM heatshield at a heating rate of approximately 200 BTU/ft-squared/sec during entry at approximately 9 km/sec.
  6. Demonstrate the mission support facilities and operations required for launch, mission conduct, and CM recovery.
  7. Recover the CM.

Apollo-Saturn 203

(July 5, 1966)

Primary Objectives (all achieved)

  1. Evaluate performance of the S-IVB/IU stage under orbital conditions to obtain flight information on:
    1. Venting and chill-down systems.
    2. Fluid dynamics and heat transfer to propellant tanks.
    3. Attitude and thermal control systems.
    4. Launch vehicle guidance.
    5. Checkout in orbit.

Apollo-Saturn 202

(August 25, 1966)

Primary Objectives (all achieved)

  1. Evaluate the CM heatshield at a high heating load.
  2. Obtain further launch vehicle and spacecraft information on:
    1. Structural integrity and compatibility.
    2. Flight loads.
    3. Stage separation.
    4. Subsystem operations.
    5. Emergency detection system operation.

Apollo 4 (AS-501)

(November 9, 1967)

Primary objectives (all achieved)

Launch vehicle:

  1. Demonstrate the S-IVB-stage restart capability.
  2. Demonstrate the adequacy of the S-IVB continuous vent system while in earth orbit.
  3. Demonstrate the capability of the S-IVB auxiliary propulsion system during S-IVB powered flight and orbital coast periods to maintain attitude control and perform required maneuvers.
  4. Demonstrate the S-IVB-stage propulsion system, including the propellant management systems, and determine inflight system performance parameters.
  5. Demonstrate the S-II-stage propulsion system, including programmed mixture ratio shift and the propellant management system, and determine inflight performance parameters.
  6. Demonstrate the S-IC-stage propulsion system, and determine inflight system performance parameters.
  7. Demonstrate the S-IC/S-II dual-plane separation.
  8. Demonstrate the S-II/S-IVB separation.
  9. Demonstrate the mission support capability required for launch and mission operations to high post-injection altitudes.
  10. Demonstrate structural and thermal integrity of the launch vehicle throughout powered and coasting flight and determine inflight structural loads and dynamic characteristics.
  11. Determine inflight launch vehicle internal environment.
  12. Demonstrate the launch vehicle guidance and control system during S- IC, S-II, and S-IVB powered flight, achieve guidance cutoff, and evaluate system accuracy.
  13. Demonstrate launch vehicle sequencing system.
  14. Evaluate the performance of the emergency detection system in an open-loop configuration.
  15. Demonstrate compatibility of the launch vehicle and spacecraft.
  16. Verify prelaunch and launch support equipment compatibility with launch vehicle and spacecraft systems.
Spacecraft:

  1. Demonstrate CSM/SLA/LTA/Saturn V structural compatibility and determine spacecraft loads in a Saturn V launch environment.
  2. Determine the dynamic and thermal responses of the SLA/CSM structure in the Saturn V launch environment.
  3. Determine the force inputs to the simulated LM from the SLA at the spacecraft attachment structure in a Saturn V launch environment.
  4. Obtain data on the acoustic and thermal environment of the SLA/ simulated LM interface during a Saturn V launch.
  5. Determine vibration response of LM descent-stage engine and propellant tanks in a Saturn V launch environment.
  6. Evaluate the thermal and structural performance of the Block II thermal protection system, including effects of cold soak and maximum thermal gradient when subjected to the combination of a high heat load and a high heating rate representative of lunar return entry.
  7. Demonstrate an SPS no-ullage start.
  8. Determine performance of the SPS during a long-duration burn.
  9. Verify the performance of the SM/RCS thermal control subsystem and engine thermal response in the deep space environment.
  10. Verify the thermal design adequacy of the CM/RCS thrusters and extensions during simulated lunar return entry.
  11. Evaluate the thermal performance of a gap and seal configuration simulating the unified crew hatch design for heating conditions anticipated during lunar return entry.
  12. Verify operation of the heat rejection system throughout the mission.
  13. Evaluate the performance of the spacecraft emergency detection subsystem (EDS) in the open-loop configuration.
  14. Demonstrate the performance of CSM/MSFN S-band communications.
  15. Measure the integrated skin and depth radiation dose within the command module up to an altitude of at least 3,700 km.

Apollo 5 (AS-204/LM-1)

(January 22, 1968)

Primary Objectives (all achieved)

  1. Verify operation of the following LM subsystems: ascent propulsion system and descent propulsion system (including restart), and structure.
  2. Evaluate LM staging.
  3. Evaluate the S-IVB/IU orbital performance.

Apollo 6 (AS-502)

(April 4, 1968)

Primary Objectives

  1. Demonstrate the structural and thermal integrity and compatibility of the launch vehicle and spacecraft, confirm launch loads and dynamic characteristics (partially accomplished).
  2. Demonstrate separation of:
    1. S-II from S-IC (dual plane).
    2. S-IVB from S-II.

      (both accomplished)

  3. Verify operation of the following launch vehicle subsystems: propulsion (including S-IVB restart), guidance and control (optimum injection), and electrical system (partially accomplished).
  4. Evaluate performance of the space vehicle EDS in a closed-loop configuration (accomplished).
  5. Demonstrate mission support facilities and operations required for launch, mission conduct, and CM recovery (accomplished).

Apollo 7 (AS-205)

(October 11, 1968)

Primary Objectives (all achieved)

  1. Demonstrate CSM/crew performance.
  2. Demonstrate crew-space vehicle-mission support facilities performance during a manned CSM mission.
  3. Demonstrate CSM rendezvous capability.

Apollo 8 (AS-503)

(December 21, 1968)

Primary Objectives (all achieved)

  1. Demonstrate crew-space vehicle-mission support facilities performance during a manned Saturn V mission with CSM.
  2. Demonstrate performance of nominal and selected backup lunar orbit rendezvous (LOR) mission activities, including:
    1. Translunar injection.
    2. CSM navigation, communications, and midcourse corrections.
    3. CSM consumables assessment and passive thermal control.

Apollo 9 (AS-504)

(March 3, 1969)

Primary Objectives (all achieved)

  1. Demonstrate crew-space vehicle-mission support facilities performance during a manned Saturn V mission with CSM and LM.
  2. Demonstrate LM/crew performance.
  3. Demonstrate performance of nominal and selected backup LOR mission activities, including:
    1. Transposition, docking, LM withdrawal.
    2. Intervehicular crew transfer.
    3. Extravehicular capability.
    4. SPS and DPS burns.
    5. LM-active rendezvous and docking.
  4. CSM/LM consumables assessment.

Apollo 10 (AS-505)

(May 18, 1969)

Primary Objectives (all achieved)

  1. Demonstrate crew-space vehicle-mission support facilities performance during a manned lunar mission with CSM and LM.
  2. Evaluate LM performance in the cislunar and lunar environment.

Apollo 11 (AS-506)

(July 16, 1969)

Primary Objective (accomplished)

Perform a manned lunar landing and return.

Detailed Objectives and Experiments

  1. Collect a contingency, sample (accomplished).
  2. Egress from the LM to the lunar surface, perform lunar surface EVA operations, and ingress into the LM from the lunar surface (accomplished).
  3. Perform lunar surface operations with the EMU (accomplished).
  4. Obtain data on effects of DPS and RCS plume impingement on the LM and obtain data on the performance of the LM landing gear and descent engine skirt after touchdown (accomplished).
  5. Obtain data on the lunar surface characteristics from the effects of the LM landing (accomplished).
  6. Collect lunar bulk samples (accomplished).
  7. Determine the position of the LM on the lunar surface (accomplished).
  8. Obtain data on the effects of illumination and contrast conditions on crew visual perception (accomplished).
  9. Demonstrate procedures and hardware used to prevent back contamination of the earth's biosphere (accomplished).
  10. Deploy the Early Apollo Scientific Experiments Package (EASEP), which included:
    1. S031, Passive Seismic Experiment (accomplished).
    2. S078, Laser Ranging Retro-Reflector (accomplished).
  11. Deploy and retrieve the Solar Wind Composition Experiment, S080 (accomplished).
  12. Perform Cosmic Ray Detector Experiment (helmet portion), S151 (accomplished).
  13. Perform Lunar Field Geology, S059 (partially accomplished).
  14. Obtain television coverage during the lunar stay period (accomplished).
  15. Obtain photographic coverage during the lunar stay period (accomplished).

Apollo 12 (AS-507)

(November 14, 1969)

Primary Objectives (all achieved)

  1. Perform selenological inspection, survey, and sampling in a mare area.
  2. Deploy and activate the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP).
  3. Develop techniques for a point landing capability.
  4. Develop man's capability to work in the lunar environment.
  5. Obtain photographs of candidate exploration sites.

Detailed Principal Objectives and Experiments (all achieved)

  1. Collect a contingency sample.
  2. Perform lunar surface EVA operations.
  3. Deploy ALSEP I, which included:
    1. S031, Passive Seismic Experiment.
    2. S034, Lunar Surface Magnetometer Experiment.
    3. S035, Solar Wind Spectrometer Experiment.
    4. S036, Suprathermal Ion Detector Experiment.
    5. S058, Cold Cathode Ionization Gauge Experiment.
    6. M515, Lunar Dust Detector.
  4. Collect selected samples.
  5. Recharge the portable life support systems.
  6. Perform Lunar Field Geology, S059.
  7. Obtain photographic coverage of candidate exploration sites.

Apollo 13 (AS-508)

(April 11, 1970)

Primary Objectives (none achieved)

  1. Perform selenological inspection, survey, and sampling of materials in a preselected region of the Fra Mauro formation.
  2. Deploy and activate an Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP).
  3. Develop man's capability to work in the lunar environment.
  4. Obtain photographs of candidate exploration sites.

Apollo 14 (AS-509)

(January 31, 1971)

Primary Objectives (all achieved)

  1. Perform selenological inspection, survey, and sampling of materials in a preselected region of the Fra Mauro formation.
  2. Deploy and activate ALSEP.
  3. Develop man's capability to work in the lunar environment.
  4. Obtain photographs of candidate exploration sites.

Apollo 15 (AS-510)

(July 26, 1971)

Primary Objectives (all achieved)

  1. Perform selenological inspection, survey, and sampling of materials and surface features in a preselected area of the Hadley-Apennine region.
  2. Emplace and activate surface experiments.
  3. Evaluate the capability of the Apollo equipment to provide extended lunar surface stay time, increased EVA operations, and surface mobility.
  4. Conduct inflight experiments and photographic tasks from lunar orbit.

Apollo 16 (AS-511)

(April 16, 1972)

Primary Objectives (all achieved)

  1. Perform selenological inspection, survey, and sampling of material and surface features in a preselected area of the Descartes region.
  2. Emplace and activate surface experiments.
  3. Conduct inflight experiments and photographic tasks.

Apollo 17 (AS-512)

(December 7, 1972)

Primary Objectives (all achieved)

  1. Perform selenological inspection, survey, and sampling of material and surface features in a preselected area of the Taurus-Littrow region.
  2. Emplace and activate surface experiments.
  3. Conduct inflight experiments and photographic tasks.

Previous Next Index