Category:Lunar Excursion Module (LEM)

Artist's impression of the Lunar Lander in action [image info]

The Apollo LEM, Lunar Excursion Module, or Lunar Lander was the part of the Apollo mission that carried two out of the three mission astronauts down to the lunar surface, with the third astronaut remaining in the orbiting Command Service Module (CSM) until they returned.

The LEM was itself split into two parts: the crew compartment and ascent module, and the lander base. The lander base included side-access panels for things like the Lunar Rover, which popped out and almost assembled itself when its hatch was opened.

Both the lander and the ascent module had their own independent main rocket engines. While the ascent module could in principle have been designed to use the same external engine as the base, leaving behind just the the base and legs, this would have involved disconnecting the base unit's fuel lines that led to its own fuel tanks. It seems to have been considered safer and easier to get clean separation if the ascent module had its own engine.

Trivia

• The lander had no seats. If you wanted to sit down, the only seats (A15 onwards) were the ones on the Moonbuggy (LRV).
• Since the lander bottom stage was a single-use vehicle, that would only ever land once, the legs didn't use conventional piston shock-absorbers. Instead, telescopic sections were filled with a lightweight material that crumpled once on impact to create a softer landing.

External links

• Monogram Apollo 11 vintage kit build (imodeler.com)