File:Apollo_14_Lunar_Module_(LM)_on_the_moon.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Manufacturer
- Grumman
- Designer
- Thomas J. Kelly
- Country of origin
- United States
- Operator
- NASA
- Applications
- Crewed lunar landing
- Spacecraft type
- Lunar lander
- Launch mass
- 33,500 lb (15,200 kg) standard 36,200 lb (16,400 kg) extended
- Dry mass
- 9,430 lb (4,280 kg) standard 10,850 lb (4,920 kg) extended
- Volume
- 235 ft (6.7 m )
- Power
- 28 V DC, 115 V 400 Hz AC
- Batteries
- Six or seven 28–32-volt, 296-416 ampere hour silver zinc battery
- Regime
- Lunar orbit Lunar landing
- Design life
- 75 hours (extended)
- Length
- 23 ft 1 in (7.04 m)
- Diameter
- 13 ft 10 in (4.22 m) without landing gear
- Width
- 31 ft (9.4 m), landing gear deployed
- Status
- Retired
- Maiden launch
- January 22, 1968
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Diameter
- 4.27
- Mass
- 4280
- Image
- Apollo 11 Lunar Lander - 5927 NASA.jpg
- Height
- 7
Show 6 more facts
- volume as quantity
- 6.7
- maximum capacity
- 2
- first flight
- 1969-03-03
- native label
- Apollo Lunar Module
- Commons category
- Apollo Lunar Modules
- vehicle range
- 75
Sources (2)
via Wikidata · CC0
~36 min read
Article
The Apollo Lunar Module (LM /ˈlɛm/), originally designated the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM), was the lunar lander spacecraft that was flown between lunar orbit and the Moon's surface during the United States' Apollo program. It was the first crewed spacecraft to operate exclusively in space, and remains the only crewed vehicle to land anywhere beyond Earth.
Structurally and aerodynamically incapable of flight through Earth's atmosphere, the two-stage Lunar Module was ferried to lunar orbit attached to the Apollo command and service module (CSM), about twice its mass. Its crew of two flew the Lunar Module from lunar orbit to the Moon's surface. During takeoff, the spent descent stage was used as a launch pad for the ascent stage which then flew back to the command module, after which it was also discarded.