Media Information

 
 
 
Collection:
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Collection
Name of Image:
Apollo 11 Artist Concept- Transearth Injection and Recovery
Full Description:
The Apollo 11 mission launched from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida via the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) developed Saturn V launch vehicle on July 16, 1969 and safely returned to Earth on July 24, 1969. Aboard the space craft were astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, Command Module (CM) pilot; and Edwin E. (Buzz) Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module (LM) pilot. With the success of Apollo 11, the national objective to land men on the Moon and return them safely to Earth had been accomplished. These sketches illustrate the steps taken by the astronauts to return to Earth. The service propulsion system engine was fired to increase space craft speed enough to escape Lunar orbit on a trajectory for Earth. Any necessary midcourse corrections were made enroute. Near the point of reentry into Earth?s atmosphere, the CM separated from the service module and turned 180 degrees so the heat shield faced forward on the line of flight. Friction of the atmosphere heated the shield to a white hot temperature, as a meteor, which slowed the craft as it reached lower altitudes. At about three miles altitude, drogue parachutes opened to stabilize the craft. Moments later the main parachutes opened to lower the CM to the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Helicopters and recovery crews from the U.S. S. Hornet aircraft carrier were standing by to pick up the astronauts.
Date of Image:
1969-07-06
Category:
Saturn Apollo Program
term:
Illustration
term:
Artist Concept
term:
Apollo 11
term:
Transearth Injection and Recovery
facet_who:
Neil A. Armstrong
facet_who:
Michael Collins
facet_what:
Earth
facet_what:
Moon
facet_what:
Saturn
facet_what:
Apollo 11
facet_where:
Florida
facet_where:
Saturn
facet_where:
Pacific Ocean
facet_where:
Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)
facet_where:
Kennedy Space Center (KSC)
facet_when:
July 24, 1969
facet_when:
July 16, 1969
facet_when_year:
1969
Reference Number:
MSFC-75-SA-4105-2C
MIX #:
6902072
NIX #:
MSFC-6902072
MSFC Negative Number:
6902072
UID:
SPD-MARSH-6902072
original url: