Copyright © 2007 by Eric M. Jones, Ken Glover, and Ulli
Lotzmann.
All rights reserved. Last revised 3 June 2008
Working on the Moon (WOTM) is derived largely from the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal
and, like its parent, is a work in progress, a "living" document.
During the six successful landing missions, a great deal was learned
about living and working in the lunar environment but, for those who
have not studied the missions and/or the ALSJ in detail, it can be
difficult to find material relevant to a particular topic of interest,
say, astronaut mobility or real-time interactions between the crews and
ground support staff. To help make lessons learned during Apollo
lunar surface operations more accessible, WOTM is organized by
topic. Each topic-specific section of WOTM will include a
discussion of relevant lessons learned across the six missions, a set
of links to pertinent locations in the ALSJ, and a list of other
references.
Comments and suggestions are always appreciated. Please let us know
about errors, about the clarity and utility of the material, or about
additional topics that should be addressed. Feedback should be
sent to the following address:
Table of Contents
2 Environment and Equipment
2.1.1 Surface Materials: Dust and
Regolith - formation,
depth, particle characteristics, compaction,
adhesion
2.1.2 One-sixth gravity - training
methods, adaptation, reaction times
2.1.3
Thermal environment
2.1.4 Lighting and Visibility
2.1.5 Terrain
2.1.6
Radiation environment
2.2 Apollo Extravehicular Mobility Unit
2.2.1 Suit - construction, flexibility,
convolutes/bellows, gloves, visor
assembly, durability
2.2.2 Portable Life Support System (PLSS) - stores and usage of oxygen,
water and power, carbon dioxide removal, cooling, communications
2.2.3 Oxygen Purge System
2.2.4 In-suit Food and Drink
2.3 Lunar Roving Vehicle
2.3.1 Design and construction
2.3.2 Deployment
2.3.3 Operational constraints
2.3.4 Walkback constraints
2.3.5 Navigation System
2.3.6 Operational experience
2.4 Lunar Module
2.4.1 Habitat Characteristics
2.4.2 Consumables
2.4.3 External stowage and equipment deployment
2.4.4 Laddar and equipment transfer
2.5 Communications Systems
2.5.1 Radio
2.5.2 Television
2.6 Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments
Package (ALSEP)
2.6.1 Stowage, off-loading, fueling
2.6.2 Transfer to the deployment site
2.6.3 Deployment and deployment tools
2.6.4 Training
2.6.5 Timeline development, allocation of time to tasks, making
allowances
for field conditions
2.7 Auxilliary Equipment
2.8 Geological Investigations
2.8.1 Methodology
2.8.2 Training
2.8.3 Tools and Containers
2.8.4 Cameras and Film
2.9 Emergency Equipment and Procedures
2.9.1 Oxygen Purge System
2.9.2 PLSS Malfunction Procedures
2.9.2 Buddy Secondary Life Support System (BSLSS)
2.9.3 Walkback Constraints
2.9.4 LCRU Configuration for Walkback
2.9.4 Safety Tether
2.9.5 Mission Rules related to lunar stay and EVA
3. Work Experience
3.2 Dust
3.2.1 Accumulation observed on suits,
gloves, rover, tools
3.2.2 Dispersal
3.2.3 Adhesion
3.2.4 Thermal effects
3.2.5 Abrasion and fouling
3.2.6 Cleaning
3.2.7 Mitigation
3.3 Astronaut mobility
3.3.1 Gaits
3.3.2 Speeds
3.3.3
Grabbing, kneeling,
falling,
and getting
up
3.3.4 Picking objects off the surface
3.3.5 Working on slopes
3.3.6 Tripping hazards - cables, experiments, rocks, craters.
Think
about the difference between Al Bean's attitude and Jack's
behaviour.
Did Jack go backward or sideways much?
3.4 Astronaut dexterity
3.4.1 Glove fit and flexibility
3.4.2 Finger sensitivity
3.4.3 Grip against internal pressure
3.4.4 Skin abrasion and fingernail damage
3.5 Navigation
3.5.1 Estimating distance and size
3.5.2 Terrain effects
3.5.3 Visibility of crater rims and ejecta
3.5.4 Using the Rover navigation system
3.5.5 Visibility relative to sun angle and elevation
3.6 Training
3.6.1 Crew rotation, training cycle
3.6.2 Procedural training
3.6.3 Investigative/skill training
3.6.4 Fidelity of simulations, especially those done in 1-g
3.6.5 Differences between 1-g and 1/6th and how much 1-g helps
3.6.6 Developing the timeline, allocating time to tasks, making
allowances
for field conditions
3.7 Equipment/procedural problems
3.7.1 Cables
3.7.2 ALSEP - which experiments were easy to deploy, which weren't and
what characteristics differentiated them. For example, pete had
no trouble deploying the SWE but they had a lot of trouble with the
SIDE/CCIG
3.7.3 Instability of erectable S-Band antenna during deployment
3.7.4 Tools
3.7.5 Cameras and photography
3.7.6 Fastenings
3.8 Interactions with the Ground
Support
3.8.1 Mis-Communication - when to
use radio protocol? can technology help? The Mars problem.
3.9 Building on the experience of prior
crews
3.9.1 Live television
3.9.2 Debriefing
3.10 Workloads, Timelines, Checklists,
Decals
3.11 Mission-to-mission increases in productivity
3.13 Medical considerations
3.14 Fun
3.15 Effects of Lunar Landing, Cabin
Depressurization, RCS Hot-Fire Check, and Liftoff
3.15.1 Visibility during Landing
3.15.2 Dust Scouring and Dispersal by
the Descent Engine Exhaust -
photographic evidence, surface brightening, dark trails
3.15.3 Effects visible in LMP window Ascent Film - flag motions,
thermal
blankets and other debris motion, dust dispersal
3.15.3 Effects visible in LRV TV - flag motions, debris motion, dust
dispersal, dust on TV lens?
3.15.4 ALSEP Observations
3.15.5 Flag and debris motion during cabin depress and RCS hot-fire
check