An experimental research program was conducted on the erosion of particulate surfaces by a jet exhaust. These experiments were scaled to represent the lunar module (LM) during landing. A conical cold-gas nozzle simulating the lunar module nozzle was utilized. The investigation was conducted within a large vacuum chamber by using gravel or glass beads as a simulated soil. The effects of thrust, descent speed, nozzle terminal height, particle size on crater size, and visibility during jet erosion were determined. Results indicate that, from an erosion and visibility standpoint, the best landing mode for a lunar module type of vehicle would involve: site inspection and selection above the incipient erosion height, and a fast descent to the highest drop-in altitude that the vehicle structure could withstand. A slow and cautious descent with hovering just above the lunar surface would greatly increase crater size and impair visibility.
Scaled Lunar Module Jet Erosion Experiments
1969-04-01
Miscellaneous
No indication
English
Scaled Lunar Module Jet Erosion Experiments
NTRS | 1969
|Scaled lunar module jet erosion experiments
TIBKAT | 1969
|Scaling of Erosion Rate in Subsonic Jet Experiments and Apollo Lunar Module Landings
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2010
|Scaling of Erosion Rate in Subsonic Jet Experiments and Apollo Lunar Module Landings
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2010
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