Author Topic: Apollo 10 ascent stage question  (Read 4588 times)

Offline Dalhousie

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Apollo 10 ascent stage question
« on: March 09, 2014, 12:39:18 AM »
I have not had much success on Google or other sources in determining how long communications were maintained with the ascent age after final undocking.

Thanks

Offline gwiz

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Re: Apollo 10 ascent stage question
« Reply #1 on: March 09, 2014, 06:38:20 AM »
There's an article about this in the current issue of Spaceflight, covering attempts to locate the ascent stage.  It says contact was lost about 12 hours after separation.
Multiple exclamation marks are a sure sign of a diseased mind - Terry Pratchett
...the ascent module ... took off like a rocket - Moon Man

Offline Dalhousie

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Re: Apollo 10 ascent stage question
« Reply #2 on: March 09, 2014, 07:29:46 AM »
Thanks!  The latest issue of Spaceflight I have received is January.  I guess I will see this story in a month or two.

Offline Kiwi

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Re: Apollo 10 ascent stage question
« Reply #3 on: March 09, 2014, 07:39:08 AM »
The book "Apollo By the Numbers" by Richard W. Orloff (NASA History Series) is one of the first things I check whenever I want some oddball information.
http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4029/contents.htm

The fourth paragraph before "Transearth Phase" in the Apollo 10 Summary gives the following:
http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4029/Apollo_10a_Summary.htm
Quote
Once docked, the LM crew transferred the exposed film packets to the CM. The LM ascent stage was jettisoned at 108:24:36. A 6.5-second separation maneuver at 108:43:23.3 raised the LM orbit to 64.0 by 56.3 n mi. This was followed at 108:52:05.5 (about one revolution after jettison) by a 249.0-second remote control firing to depletion of the ascent engine. This burn, commanded as planned, utilized the LM ascent engine arming assembly and was targeted to place the LM into a solar orbit. Communications were maintained until LM ascent stage battery depletion at about 120:00. The ascent stage batteries lasted about 12 hours after LM jettison.

The wording is a little different to my hardcopy of the book, dated 2000, but says essentially the same thing.  The online version sometimes gets updated when new information comes to hand.

Don't criticize what you can't understand. — Bob Dylan, “The Times They Are A-Changin'” (1963)
Some people think they are thinking when they are really rearranging their prejudices and superstitions. — Edward R. Murrow (1908–65)

Offline Dalhousie

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Re: Apollo 10 ascent stage question
« Reply #4 on: March 09, 2014, 07:24:42 PM »
Thanks again.  I had not realised that Apollo by the numbers was on line.  Now bookmarked.

Offline ka9q

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Re: Apollo 10 ascent stage question
« Reply #5 on: March 13, 2014, 05:55:50 PM »
I've seen annexes to some of the mission reports giving detailed tracking data. Dunno if these exist online for Apollo 10.

Offline johnbutcher

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Re: Apollo 10 ascent stage question
« Reply #6 on: March 13, 2014, 07:37:47 PM »
Thanks again.  I had not realised that Apollo by the numbers was on line.  Now bookmarked.

Yep! I have it bookmarked now! As well!

Sloop

Offline Kiwi

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Re: Apollo 10 ascent stage question
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2014, 10:40:20 AM »

Apollo By the Numbers

This thread at the old ApolloHoax board from February 2006 (the date has been changed to October 2007) gives the links for all the pages -- some of Nasa's original links didn't work at the time.
http://apollohoax.proboards.com/thread/1356/apollo-numbers

« Last Edit: March 14, 2014, 10:42:11 AM by Kiwi »
Don't criticize what you can't understand. — Bob Dylan, “The Times They Are A-Changin'” (1963)
Some people think they are thinking when they are really rearranging their prejudices and superstitions. — Edward R. Murrow (1908–65)