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>> When man journeys to the moon, he will use a large
and complex transportation system.
It's called Apollo Saturn.
All told, the assembly is 363 feet high and at ignition weighs
over 6 million pounds.
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Of this, the portion that will make the trip
to the moon is the top 53 feet.
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The slender device at the very top is the launch escape system.
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If the launch is smooth and all systems operate properly,
it is discarded early in the flight.
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The spacecraft consists of the command module,
the service module, and the lunar module.
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The command module is crew quarters, cockpit,
and headquarters for the eight-day voyage.
This is the only portion of the spacecraft
that will return to earth.
The atmosphere inside will be
such that the astronauts will not have
to endure the discomfort of wearing their bulky,
pressure-type spacesuits all the time.
However, for safety and emergency reasons,
one crew member will be in his spacesuit at all times.
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Directly below the command module is the service module.
In a sense, this is the basement of the spacecraft.
Here are the fuel cells
that will generate the electricity required
for the spacecraft, radio antennas, storage space
for experimental equipment and tools, fuel and oxidizer tanks,
for the surface module also contains the main propulsion
engine for lunar and earth travel.
As Apollo approaches the earth, the service module is abandoned,
and the command module returns alone.
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At launch, the lunar module occupies the third position
in the spacecraft.
During the lunar trajectory, the command module
and the service module fly out about 100 feet, turn around,
and come back to dock with the lunar module.
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As the spacecraft approaches the moon, it looks like this.
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The lunar module actually consists of two vehicles,
the descent stage, which is mainly the landing gear
and an engine that is gimbled and can be throttled,
and the ascent stage, consisting of yet another engine
and cockpit or cabin portion.
After the lunar exploration period,
the descent stage is left on the moon, as the ascent stage lifts
to rendezvous with the command module.
After the crewmen transfer to the command module,
the lunar module is left in lunar orbit,
as the command module is steered into its homeward course.
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Command, service, and lunar modules each performing an
important job, as man reaches for the moon.
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