Apollo quotes
The lunar module's outer skin was made from two grades of aluminum alloy, one from the 5000 series and another from the 2000 series. I could go look up the precise formulas, but generally the 2000 series alloys with copper and is a sort of standard high-strength aerospace material due to its high resistance to fatigue. The 5000 series alloys with magnesium and is generally stiffer and lighter (for the same strength). Most of the ascent stage's skin is 5000-series.
Nearly all aluminum used in aerospace is anodized or coated in some fashion, especially if Florida is involved in any way (warm salt spray eats aluminum for breakfast). The black parts are 5000-series with a special thermal paint. The front hatch skin is 2000-series sheet, probably acid-anodized. But on the filter side (Aldrin's side) of LM-5 it looks like there's an additional half sheet of the same anodized (not painted) 5000-series sheet that appears most everywhere else.
Why? I haven't the faintest idea.[1]
(ed: According to Virtual LM, aluminum alloy 5056 and 2024)
During the Apollo program, the Saturn launch vehicle was heavily computer controlled (via the RCA 110A computers) and had virtually no cockpit control since the Apollo spacecraft was totally separate. The ground computer programs were primarily assembly language, with very low change rate. A very elementary user test language (ATOLL) was available for "linking" assembly language programs and to perform simple command verification sequences. This capability allowed KSC to automate the last nine hours of countdown to an almost hands-off point by the end of the Apollo program.[2]
The Apollo launch support systems was composed of two computers, one located in the mobile launcher and directly locked to the vehicle, and one located in the Launch Control Center. These two computers were connected via a data link which provided fixed telemetry streams to the Launch Control Center for vehicle systems evaluation. The majority of the monitoring function was done by Firing Room personnel looking at meters, lights, and plotters driven by the Launch Control Center computer. Thus, the Apollo launch approach was essentially a fixed system which was structured to provide a single sequential flow for vehicle checkout and launch.[3]
References
- ↑ User JayUtah, Lunar ModuleTechnical Details, ApolloHoax.net online forums The Reality of Apollo :: Lunar ModuleTechnical Details, Aug 14, 2005)
- ↑ Judith A. Anderson and Kenneth O. Hendrickson, Automation of Checkout for the Shuttle Operations Era (pdf), NASA Conference Publication 2342 - Space Shuttle Technical Conference, Houston, Texas, June 28-30, 1983, pages. 97-101
- ↑ Charles A. Abner and Don H. Townsend, Integration of Ground and On-board System for Terminal Count (pdf), NASA Conference Publication 2342 - Space Shuttle Technical Conference, Houston, Texas, June 28-30, 1983, pages. 81-86