Apollo 16 Lunar Module Instrument Host Overview ======================== The Apollo 16 lunar module (LM) 'Orion' was the fifth crewed vehicle to land on the Moon. It carried two astronauts, John W. Young and LM pilot Charles M. Duke, Jr.. The LM also carried a Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV), an Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP) that contained scientific experiments to be deployed and left on the lunar surface, and other scientific and sample collection apparatus. The LM separated from the CSM at 18:08:00 UT on 20 April 1972 and landed at 02:23:35 UT on 21 April (9:23:35 p.m. EST, 20 April) in the Descartes highland region just north of the crater Dolland at 8.9730 S latitude, 15.5002 E longitude (IAU Mean Earth Polar Axis coordinate system [Davies and Colvin, 2000]). Young and Duke made three moonwalk extra-vehicular activities (EVAs) totaling 20 hours, 14 minutes. During this time they covered 27 km and collected 94.7 kg of rock and soil samples, stopping at 11 sites. The LRV was used during EVAs to extend the range of surface lunar exploration. The first EVA was on 21 April from 16:47:38 UT to 23:58:40 UT, during which the astronauts set up the ALSEP and other instruments, deployed the LRV, and explored the area around the LM and surrounding craters in a 4.2 km-traverse, stopping at Flag Crater and Spook Crater. During the second EVA on 22 April from 16:33:35 UT to 23:56:44 UT the astronauts explored a ridge and mountain slope during a 11.1-km traverse and visited the Cinco Crater area, halfway up the slope of Stone Mountain, and the base of Stone Mountain. On the third EVA, of 11.4 km, on 23 April from 15:25:28 UT to 21:05:31 UT they travelled to the southeast rim of North Ray Crater, House Rock, and the base of Smoky Mountain. During all these EVAs the astronauts collected samples and took photographs and performed other tasks at some sites. The LM ascent stage lifted off from the Moon on 24 April at 01:25:48 UT after 71 hours, 2 minutes on the lunar surface. After the lunar module docked with the command and service module (piloted by Thomas K. Mattingly II) at 03:35:18 UT, the lunar samples and other equipment were transferred from the lunar module, and the lunar was jettisoned at 20:54:12 UT on 24 April. The lunar module began tumbling, apparently due to an open circuit breaker in the guidance and navigation system. As a result the planned de-orbit and lunar impact could not be attempted. The lunar module remained in lunar orbit with an estimated lifetime of one year. Lunar Module Spacecraft and Subsystems -------------------------------------- The lunar module was a two-stage vehicle designed for space operations near and on the Moon. The ascent and descent stages of the lunar module operated as a unit until lift-off from the Moon, when the ascent stage functioned as a single spacecraft for rendezvous and docking with the command and service module. The ascent stage contained the landing rocket, life-support systems, scientific instruments, such as the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP), the Soil Mechanics instrument package, and the lunar rover. The descent stage served as a platform for launching the ascent stage and was left behind on the Moon. An S-band antenna was used for all telemetry, TV, voice, and range communications with Earth. VHF was used for communications between the astronauts and the lunar module, and the lunar module and orbiting command module. There were redundant transceivers and equipment for both S-band and VHF. An environmental control system recycled oxygen and maintained temperature in the electronics and cabin. Power was provided by 6 silver-zinc batteries. Guidance and navigation control were provided by a radar ranging system, an inertial measurement unit consisting of gyroscopes and accelerometers, and the Apollo guidance computer (AGC). Updates to the AGC in the LM were relayed by voice, then typed into the computer by an astronaut. Scientific Experiments ---------------------- The following scientific experiments were performed on board or near the Apollo 16 Lunar Module: - Handheld Photography documented the deployment of experiments, augmented crew observations and descriptions of the lunar traverses, and recorded the effects of the interaction between Apollo equipment and the lunar surface. - The Soil Mechanics Experiment studied the properties of the lunar soil. - The Solar Wind Composition Experiment collected samples of the solar wind for analysis on Earth. - The Lunar Portable Magnetometer measured the strength of the Moon's magnetic field at different locations near the landing site. - The Far Ultraviolet (UV) Camera/Spectrograph acquired UV images and spectra of astronomical objects. - The Cosmic Ray Detector measured very high energy cosmic rays from the Sun and our galaxy. For more information about the lunar module and its experiments, see the Apollo 16 Preliminary Science Report (1972). References ========== Apollo 16 Preliminary Science Report, NASA SP-315, published by NASA, Washington, D.C., 1972. Apollo 16 - Expedition to Descartes (mission report), NASA MR-11, published by NASA, Washington, D.C., 1972. Davies, M.E., and T.R. Colvin, Lunar coordinates in the regions of the Apollo landers, Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 105, Issue E8, pages 20,227-20,280, 2000.