Descent propulsion system
Also known as: Lunar Module Descent Engine · VTR-10 · DPS · LMDE
- 1The descent propulsion system is a hypergolic rocket engine with the internal designation VTR-10.
- 2It was invented by engineer Gerard W. Elverum Jr. and developed by Space Technology Laboratories.
- 3The engine utilizes a variable-throttle mechanism to control thrust during the landing sequence.
- 4It operates using a propellant combination of Aerozine 50 fuel and dinitrogen tetroxide oxidizer.
- 5The design features a pintle injector, which became a foundational technology for subsequent rocket engine development.
The descent propulsion system or lunar module descent engine (LMDE), internal designation VTR-10, is a variable-throttle hypergolic rocket engine invented by Gerard W.
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engine used for landing on the lunar surface
This engine provided the thrust required for the Lunar Module to descend from lunar orbit and perform a soft landing on the Moon.
The descent propulsion system or lunar module descent engine (LMDE), internal designation VTR-10, is a variable-throttle hypergolic rocket engine invented by Gerard W. Elverum Jr. and developed by Space Technology Laboratories (TRW) for use in the Apollo Lunar Module descent stage. It used Aerozine 50 fuel and dinitrogen tetroxide oxidizer. This engine used a pintle injector, which paved the way for other engines to use similar designs.
Decreased clearance led to buckling of the extended descent engine nozzle on the landing of Apollo 15 (upper right).Wikimedia Commons: File:Apollo_15_Engine_Bell.jpg 67 words