 A Close Look at The LM
Interior
The controls and displays enable astronauts to monitor and manage the LM
subsystems and to control the LM manually during separation, docking, and
landing.
In general, the controls and displays are in subsystems groupings located in
accordance with astronaut responsibilities. Certain controls and displays are
duplicated to satisfy mission and/or safety requirements; a system of interlocks
prevents simultaneous operation of these controls. Controls and displays that
enable either astronaut to control the LM are centrally located; these are
accessible from both flight stations. Controls that could be operated
inadvertently are appropriately guarded.
Annunciator displays go on if malfunctions occur in the LM subsystems; at the
same time, two flashing master alarm lights and an alarm tone (in the astronaut
headsets) are activated. Digital and analog displays provide the astronauts with
subsystem-status information such as gas and liquid quantities, pressures,
temperatures, and voltages.
>> Click on each panel to see its picture <<
There are 12 control and display panels. The main control and display panels
(1 and 2) are canted and centered between the flight stations. Panels 3 and 9
are below these panels, within convenient reach and scan of both astronauts.
Panels 5, 8, and 11 are located for use by the Commander. Panels 6, 12, 14, and
16 are located for use by the LM pilot.
 Panel 1, directly in view of the Commander, contains various controls and
displays, including warning lights, digital counters, navigational instruments,
engine thrust control switches, and engine, fuel, and altitude indicators. Panel
2, directly in view of the LM Pilot, contains caution lights, reaction control
indicators, environmental control indicators, navigational instruments, and
various other indicators and switches. Panel 3 contains controls and displays
for radar, stabilization and control, heater control, an event timer, and
lighting. Panel 4 contains a display and keyboard assembly. The display and
keyboard provides a two-way communications link between the astronauts and the
LM guidance computer. The panel contains indicator lights, pushbuttons, data
displays, and toggle switches. In front of the Commander's and LM Pilot's
stations, at waist height, are panels 5 and 6, respectively. Panel 5 contains
lighting and mission timer controls, engine start and stop pushbuttons, and an
X-translation pushbutton. Abort guidance controls are on panel 6.
At the left of the Commander's station is panel 8, which is canted up 15
degrees from the horizontal. This panel contains controls and displays for
explosive devices and descent propulsion, and audio controls. The orbital rate
display -- earth and lunar (ORDEAL) panel aft and on top of panel 8, is an
electromechanical device that provides an alternative to the pitch display of
the flight director attitude indicator on panels 1 and 2. When selected, the
ORDEAL produces a flight director attitude indicator display of computer local
vertical attitude indicator display of computed local vertical attitude during
earth or lunar circular orbits. Panel 11, directly above panel 8, has five
angled surfaces that contain circuit breakers. Each row of circuit breakers is
canted 15 degrees to the line of sight, so that a white band around the circuit
breakers is visible when the breakers are open.
At the right of the LM Pilot's station is panel 12, which is canted up 150
from the horizontal. This panel contains audio, communications, and
communications antenna controls and displays. Directly above panel 12 is panel
14. It is canted up 36.5 degrees from the horizontal and contains controls and
displays for electrical power distribution and monitoring. Panel 16, directly
above panel 14. has four angled surfaces that contain circuit breakers. This
makes a white band visible around the circuit breakers when the breakers are
open.
At the right of each flight station is a pistol-grip control (attitude
controller assembly), used to control LM attitude changes.
At the left of each flight station is a T-handle control (thrust/translation
controller assembly). This assembly, an integrated translation and thrust
controller, is used to command vehicle translations by firing thrusters in the
Reaction Control Subsystem, and to throttle the descent engine.
An alignment optical telescope is located between and above the flight
stations; it is a manually operated, unity-power, periscope-type device. it is
used to determine the position of the LM, using a catalog of stars stored in the
LM guidance computer and celestial measurements made by the astronauts. A
utility light control centered above the flight stations comprises two switches
and two portable light fixtures, one for the Commander and one for the LM Pilot.
Environmental Control Subsystem controls are grouped together on the aft
bulkhead, behind the LM Pilot. These controls include an oxygen control module,
a suit gas diverter, suit flow controls, suit circuit and canister controls,
cabin/suit temperature controls, and water management controls. Cabin relief and
dump valve controls are located on the forward and overhead hatch. The
Environmental Control Subsystem controls enable the astronauts to maintain a
habitable environment, decompress and repressurize the cabin, and regulate water
flow for drinking, cooling, food preparation, and firefighting.
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