Apollo Lunar Module: NASA Grumman Internal Archive from the Estate of the Grumman Engineering Manager.... (Total: 24 Items)

Description

Apollo Lunar Module: NASA Grumman Internal Archive from the Estate of the Grumman Engineering Manager. A treasure trove of "inside the project" information, perfect for the space historian. There are literally hundreds of documents, photos, memos, meeting minutes, and other minutiae included here, all from the estate of John W. Coursen. A brief summary of just a few of the important items in this lot follows:
(1) A 6" x 9.5" handwritten journal with various notes dated from 11/30/1967 to 03/18/1968.
(2) A steno pad with secretarial notes taken at an Apollo 8 debriefing, dated 01/06/69. Some letters in shorthand also.
(3) A Grumman LM S/CAT Operations Pocket Guide, 3.25" x 5.75", divided into three sections: Pre-Test, During Test and Post Test.
(4) An eight-nine page, 8.5" x 5.5" North American Rockwell book- Apollo Lunar Exploration Missions (ALEM) CSM Modifications, #AP69-31, dated July 7, 1969.
(5) Four 9.25" x 11.75" bound Computation Books, each with dozens of pages of handwritten notes, dates range from 04/07/1964 to 04/14/1969.
(6) A 72" x 11" blueprint: "APOLLO SATURN AS-503 INBOARD PROFILE".
(7) Large ring-bound document Final Flight Mission Rules Apollo 10 dated April 15, 1969.
Please visit our website for additional images and a more detailed list of this significant archive material. Overall condition fine.

More Information:

PUBLICATIONS:

Final Flight Mission Rules, Apollo 10 (AS-505/106/LM-4)

April 15, 1969

FCO21 4/15/69

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Prepared by Flight Control Division

Manned Spacecraft Center

Houston, Texas

For NASA/DOD Internal Use Only Including Appropriate Contractors

Note:  No Covers

LM S/CAT Operations Pocket Guide - December 2, 1968

"The instructions contained in this pocket guide are intended to assist the user in the performance of his daily tasks.

(Note:  This synopsis contains instructions (not procedures) which are extracted from the procedures embodied in the s/CAT Operations Manual)."

Divided into 3 sections:  Pre-Test, During Test and Post Test

For example guide General Ground Rules contains information on LM Vehicle Cabin Monitors on how they are to perform their jobs, maintaining logs, type of clothing, number of people allowed in cabin and other details.

Red Vinyl Covers, small pocket size

Apollo Lunar Exploration Missions (ALEM) CSM Modifications, AP69-31, July 7, 1969, Space Division, North American Rockwell Corporation, Total Pages 89

Illustrated brochure detailing equipment, timetables, etc. needed for various experiments and placement in module.

Lunar Characteristics Report - March 4, 1964, Grumman

41 page document with a list of bibliographic references and graphs;

"This report presents a compilation of lunar parameter values and lunar characteristics data for use by the LEM project. 

The purposes of the report are to: 

1) Establish a consistent set of design data

2) Assure that well known quantities are documented and used

3) Provide reasonable models with a degree of conservatism consistent with uncertainties in the available data

In order to maximize its usefulness to the Project, this report will be updated and expanded as more information becomes available."

LM-4 Systems Activation Checklist for Launch Day of May 17, 1969, Dated March 31, 1969:  52 page list of instructions

PERSONAL NOTEBOOKS:

11/28/67 Small Teal Notebook:

Handwritten notes between 1967-68.  includes names and problems, action plans, issues relating to lunar modules

"GAEC position: we are flying LM-2 until proven otherwise - Pressures in NASA do not want to fly LM-2"

Green RECORD Book labeled LM

Handwritten notes March 15, 1968 to September 6, 1968 documenting different project meetings and problems including Appollo 6 Failure:  "3) Decision to proceed with manual 503.  If problems cannot be solved on stack then go unmanned!". 

Computation Book #1, LEM-GSE-NOTES, 4/7/64

Handwritten notes 4/7/64 - 12/7/64, documenting different project meetings and problems; approximately 33 double sided pages

"Dr. Langhorn wants a statement from GAEC as to why ACE cannot be used for LTA-1.  410-62850 is approved for 1 for ESI only!"  

Computation Book #3, LEM-GSE-NOTES,

Handwritten notes 11/22/65 - 2/24/67 documenting different project meetings and problems, approximately 151 double sided pages (some pages are blank); includes lots of names and some diagrams

"Debriefing by Sid Jones of NASA (MSC) OF cape CM? Accident - A combined team of industry and gov't did investigation= Prime objective of this team was to consider the EPS system, wiring etc.  Other teams covered the crew compartment and ELS.  Recommendations: 

Wire handling could be improved.       

Cramped quarters in spacecraft caused damage to wiring!

NAA did not use potting compound to relieve wire stresses-

They use tape under each tie - also use steel clamps similar to GAEC

Inadequate protection for wire handles over sharp corners -

Circuit breaker sizing - start out with say #16 gage and then break into #22 (2)-"

Computation Book #2, Handwritten notes 5/12/67 - 11/21/67

documenting different project meetings and problems, approximately 84 double sided pages, includes LM Program Operating Plan chart dated October 17, 1967 (depicts chart for LM - 2(unmanned) and LM -3)

"Leaks: 8/28/67 1) must test teflon "O" ring on S/S @107% and flanges must have edges of flanges with no gap! - If gap @107 then go to 105% and check gap-"

"10/2/67  Talk to Grossman about KSC sending failure reports direct to vendor - This is verboten!!!"

Computation Book, No Number on cover, Handwritten notes  11/5/68 - 2/5/69

documenting different project meetings and problems, approximately 30 double sided pages, includes telephone list of Grumman personnel.  In addition to technical problems there are comments on closing out LM project.  Last 2 pages concern management training sessions.

"1) Doc plans to have a staff to review our manpower reqts, methods of operation etc to see how we can cut expenditures in trying to close out LM contract.

Groups have having trouble keeping people busy - Kill this! If not true-"

Vinyl Folder Containing Internal Memos and Diagrams (April - August 1969)

LMA 790-3-LM4, Apollo Operations Handbook Subsystems:  Figure 2. 3-3. Descent Propulsion Section - Simplified Functional Flow Diagram, LM4, Basic Date: 15 June 1968, Change Date: 15 January 1969, Page 2, 3-7/2, 3-8

LMA 790-3-LM4, Apollo Operations Handbook Subsystems:  Figure 2. 3-17. Ascent Propulsion Section - Simplified Functional Flow Diagram, LM4, Basic Date: 15 June 1968, Change Date: 15 January 1969, Page 2, 3-39/2, 3-40

LMA 790-3-LM5, Apollo Operations Handbook, Figure E-1.  LM5 Cabin Controls and Display, Basic Date:  12 Sept 1968, Page E-3/E-4

April 3, 1969 - Performance of the LM Team

April 16, 1969 - Meeting of Space Programs Management Personnel

April 30, 1969 - Apollo 10 Mission Support and Reporting, 1.  Crew Briefing, 2. Flight Evaluation, 3.  Anomalies, 4.  Photographs, 5.  Data, 6.  Mission Support, 7.  Manning for the MER-H

May 12, 1969 - LM-4 Flight Coverage at Bethpage, List of Personnel & LM-4 Major Events

May 14, 1969 - SPAN Support for Apollo 10 Million, List of Personnel & Assignments, includes org chart

May 18 - 26, 1969 - Apollo 10 Summary Flight Plan, (illustrated with Snoopy & Charlie Brown; nicknames for the LM & CSM) including separate list of Apollo 10 Mission Highlights (xerox copy)

Apollo 10 Mission Highlights printed on blue cardboard

June 2, 1969, L5 = Latest Lunar Lander Launch List

June 18, 1969 - LM-5 Flight Coverage, List of Personnel & Major LLM Events

June 25, 1969 and May 27, 1969 - Copies of letters from NASA commending Grumman's work on Apollo 10 SPAN operation

July 1, 1969 - Apollo 11 Simulation Support, List of Personnel & Assignments

July 2, 1969 -July 4^th Holiday Weekend, BPA support of KSC Activities, List of Personnel & Assignments

August 1, 1969 - A New Grumman Space Vehicle Concept:  Basic Modules, Space Tug, Lunar Lander, Space Station, Booster Stage

August 1, 1969 - Space Priorities, Space Station, Earth to Earth Orbit Shuttle, Lunar Exploration, Manned Mars Mission, Space Rescue, Military Space, Astronomy, Grand Tour Mission, Earth Resources, LM-B

Photograph:  LM-6 Manned Lunar Spacecraft, Shipped March 24, 1969, Nasa/Grumman Apollo Lunar Module, 8" x 10" black white photo of lunar module surrounded by facsimile signatures of Grumman personnel

3 Telephone Numbers Directory

Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, LM Spacecraft Assembly & Test Telephone Directory

Conference Room Layout Plan

Grumman Program Management Memo Pad, Unused

LM Engineering Personnel Organization Chart

LM Engineering Organization Chart

LM Program - Personnel list with home phone numbers, printed on cardboard

Steno Notebook - January 6, 1969  

6 ½ page handwritten debriefing notes for Apollo 8, Lovell, Borman and Anders are mentioned, " Borman and Anders feel s/c was ok and problem was in Ground Station (This was 6 minutes when they were out of communication with ground.)"

Note:  There are also shorthand notes in this booklet, cannot decipher.

PHOTOGRAPHS/ LETTER:

SLA Photos- dated 1966/67

Manila folder containing 4 polaroid photos documenting work flow.

9 - 8" x 10" black/white photos depicting SLA mock up

2 - 8" x 10" black/white photos depicting SLA support? structure

4 - 7 ½" x 4 ¼" black/white photos depicting SLA support? structure

2 -  *" x 10" black/white photos depicting Plant 5 Final Assembly and GSE End Items

3 photos : LTA-1 A/S House Space Craft 1 Test Vehicle, May 20, 1966

March 7, 1969 newspaper clipping photo indicating Mr. Coursen ran the Mission Report Room.

January 5, 1968 letter from Nasa Administrator James Webb inviting Mr. Coursen  to witness the first unmanned flight test of the Apollo lunar module.

Manila Folder:  Photos - WSMR - 12 Photos

10 - 8" x 10" black/white photos of engines???

1 - 8" x 10" color photo titled "LEM Finaly Assembly Activation/Utilization Sched."

1 - double sided work flow schedule titled "LEM Program Schedule III, 1965-1969" and "Mockups, Test Models & Propulsion Rigs, Schedule III, Rev 2, 1963-1966"; LEM Program Office, January 1966, Grumman LEM.