This is the fourth publication of the 'Monographs in Aerospace History' series, prepared by the NASA History Office. These publications are intended to be tightly focused in terms of subject, relatively short in length, and reproduced to allow timely and broad dissemination to researchers in aerospace history. This publication details the arguments of John C. Houbolt, an engineer at the Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, in his 1961-1962 campaign to support the lunar-orbit rendezvous (LOR). The LOR was eventually selected during Project Apollo as the method of flying to the Moon, landing on the surface, and returning to Earth. The LOR opted to send the entire lunar spacecraft up in one launch, enter into the lunar orbit, and dispatch a small lander to the lunar surface. It was the simplest of the various methods, both in terms of development and operational costs, but it was risky. There was no room for error or the crew could not get home; and the more difficult maneuvers had to be done when the spacecraft was committed to a circumlunar flight. Houbolt was one of the most vocal people supporting the LOR.


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    Title :

    Enchanted rendezvous: John C. Houbolt and the genesis of the lunar-orbit rendezvous concept


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    1995-12-01


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English





    WHY LUNAR-ORBIT RENDEZVOUS

    Holmes, D. B. | NTRS | 1962


    Why lunar-orbit rendezvous

    Holmes, D.B. | Engineering Index Backfile | 1962


    Lunar-orbit rendezvous and manned lunar landing

    Houbolt, J.C. | Engineering Index Backfile | 1962


    LUNAR RENDEZVOUS

    Houbolt, J. C. | NTRS | 1963