Ascent propulsion system
Also known as: Lunar Module Ascent Engine · APS · LMAE
- 1The ascent propulsion system is a fixed-thrust hypergolic rocket engine used for lunar liftoff.
- 2It was developed by Bell Aerosystems specifically for the ascent stage of the lunar module.
- 3The engine uses a chemical propellant mixture of Aerozine 50 fuel and N2O4 oxidizer.
- 4Rocketdyne was brought in to design the injector system to resolve critical combustion instability issues.
- 5The system was engineered to provide the necessary thrust to return the crew from the lunar surface to orbit.
The ascent propulsion system (APS) or lunar module ascent engine (LMAE) is a fixed-thrust hypergolic rocket engine developed by Bell Aerosystems for use in the Apollo Lunar Module ascent stage.
Connections1
engine used for leaving the lunar surface
This engine was designed for high reliability to ensure the crew could lift off from the Moon and rendezvous with the Command Module.
The ascent propulsion system (APS) or lunar module ascent engine (LMAE) is a fixed-thrust hypergolic rocket engine developed by Bell Aerosystems for use in the Apollo Lunar Module ascent stage. It used Aerozine 50 fuel, and N2O4 oxidizer. Rocketdyne provided the injector system, at the request of NASA, when Bell could not solve combustion instability problems.
This Valve Package Assembly (VPA) is a Q4 1965 prototype of the control valves for the ascent engine of the Apollo Lunar Module (RS-18). I can see now why Neil Armstrong had https://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/8214990 ">nightmares about this specific system. It’s a wildly complex design compared to all of the othe...Wikimedia Commons; Steve Jurvetson from Los Altos, USA; Lunar Module Ascent Engine Valve Package Assembly; CC BY 2.0; Wikimedia Commons: Category:Lunar Module Ascent EngineWikimedia Commons file from Category:Lunar Module Ascent Engine for Ascent propulsion system.Wikimedia Commons; Public domain; Wikimedia Commons: Category:Lunar Module Ascent EngineLunar Module Ascent Engine at the National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C.Wikimedia Commons; User:Raul654; Own work; CC BY-SA 3.0; Wikimedia Commons; Wikidata P18 (image) 56 words