Alain Capt

THE FOUR LAUNCH PHASE ABORT MODES

Mode 1 - Launch escape system (LES) tower propels command module away from launch vehicle. This mode is in effect from about T-45 minutes when LES is armed until LES tower jettison. The command module landing point can range from the Launch Complex 39A area to 400 nm downrange. This mode is divided in 3 sub-modes. Mode 1A, used for aborts from 0 to 3000 m, where the escape tower fire a strong and very quick down pitch impulse and deploy the canard wings. The Mode 1B, from 3000 m to 30.5 km, where only the canard wings were deployed and finally, Type 1C, over 30.5 km, with no pitch impulse and no canard wings deployment at all. In this last mode, crew had to jettison manually the escape tower and to turn the CM bottom forward (blunt-end forward or BEF attitude), also manually, with the CM RCS system. Both previous mode are fully automatic, but notice that for Type 1B, if you reach an altitude over 30'000 meters, you may decide to switch to manual, by ejecting the escape tower.

Mode 2 - Begins when LES tower is jettisoned and runs until the CSM main engine can be used to insert it into a safe Earth orbit (T+9:22) or until landing points approach the African coast. Mode 2 requires manual separation, entry orientation and full-lift entry with landing between 350 and 3200 nm downrange.
Mode 3 - Begins when full-lift landing point reached 3200 nm (3560 sm, 5931 km) and extends through Earth orbital insertion. The CSM would separate from the launch vehicle, and if necessary, a CSM main engine retrograde burn would be made, and the command module would be flown half-lift to entry and land.
Mode 4 & Apogee Kick - Begins after the point the CSM main engine could be used to insert it into an Earth parking orbit. This is from about T+9:22. The main engine burn into orbit would be made two minutes after separation from the 3rd stage and the mission would continue as an Earth orbit alternate. Mode 4 is preferred over Mode 3. A variation of Mode 4 is the apogee kick in which the CSM main engine would be ignited at first apogee to raise perigee for a safe orbit.

AERODYNAMIC LIFT

You can apply aerodynamic lift when you enter into atmosphere. ATTENTION, LIFT APPLY ONLY ON THE PITCH AXIS. This lift allows you to control your entry path within a certain limit. Note that vertical lift, also allow reducing dynamic pressure, which is MANDATORY to survive in most of direct abort reentry.

Practically, this means you must orient the vessel retrograde and anti-level (you must see the Earth over your head, this is the real historical orientation used). You can read the AOA on the Orbiter "surface" instrument or on the mini-panel in Virtual cockpit. With this attitude, you can apply maximum positive lift with an AOA of 148 degrees and a maximum negative lift with an AOA of -148 degrees. If you also bank left or right, you can apply laterally a part of the lift, to also modify your trajectory to the left or to the right. Attention! AOA (and Yaw axis too) lower than 120/-120 degrees may simply kill you, because you will lose the thermal shield protection!!!
To apply lift, it is recommended to use the joystick. This device should allow you more easily, to maintain a precise AOA, while the increasing aerodynamic effect on the capsule will counter-act more and more your RCS actions. KILLROT is automatically applied when you return the command to neutral. You can avoid this auto-KILLROT feature, by simply pressing the "Ctrl" key, while you apply RCS commands. Notice that KILLROT may sometimes stay locked, especially when aerodynamic effect on the capsule become stronger. But this problem might be, in fact, helpful, as it may lock your selected AOA. You can defeat the lock at any times, by simply pressing the KILLROT button.
For a normal entry, it is recommended to stay in the neutral 180 degrees retrograde attitude. You can toggle ON/OFF, an "AOA-180-LOCK" autopilot, with the numeric keypad "Return" key. This autopilot will only lock the pitch axis. You can even over- apply manual RCS commands. Only standard Orbiter autopilot functions like RETROGRATE, LEVEL, etc…, will automatically disable "AOA-180-LOCK" autopilot. Now, if you need to modify your trajectory, be careful to not apply too much lift too soon, or you may re-bounce off the atmosphere. The best parameter you should monitor carefully, to avoid this case, is the vertical acceleration VACC, you can read on the Orbiter "Surface" instrument or on the AMSO mini-panel. If you read an important positive vertical acceleration, apply immediately NEGATIVE lift. If you keep vertical acceleration close to zero, it mean you fly level, like airplane !!!
As already mentioned, for launch abort mode 2 & 3 (see previous chapter), YOU MUST APPLY LIFT. Even FULL-LIFT (148 degrees) at the beginning is required to keep the dynamic pressure within the admissible range. Remember, over 250 kPa, you will be dead !

RECOVERY TEAM
If you are into a normal entry (I mean NOT an entry consecutive to a flight abort), the carrier USS-Hornet will be there, waiting for you.
As soon as the parachute protection cone is jettisoned, you will be able to toggle the focus between the CM and the carrier with the "M" key. If you are fast enough, you might see all the parachutes sequence from there !
If you press "J" action key, you will deploy the SH3-SeaKing helicopter. Now, if you press "M" key you will toggle focus between the carrier and the helicopter.
How to pilot the SeaKing helicopter
With the "D" key, you can open the door. When airborne, the "G" key will retract or deploy the landing gear.
To start the engines, press the "J" action key. Your engines and rotors will progressively spool up. When the optimal speed is reached and you are therefore ready to take off, a display line will appear which indicates the horizontal speed in knots, the lateral speed in ft/s, the vertical speed in ft/s, the altitude in feet, the distance and bearing to current target and finally, the landing gear status. A negative value for the horizontal speed means you’re moving backward. A negative value for lateral speed means you’re moving to "Port" side (left). Your landing altitude is 72.8 feet’s. Remember it, this will be your landing altitude when you come back, but it will be also your stationary altitude over the Apollo vessel. In fact when you fly in translation, you must always remain over this altitude.
When this line appears, you are ready to start flying. To control the collective pitch, use, like with the LM, the "Insert" key to increment your vertical speed by 1 ft/s and the "Delete" key to decrease the same value. You can use the "End" key to reset vertical speed to zero (fly level).
You fly the helicopter with the joystick. You pitch up and down to control your horizontal speed, bank left/right to control lateral speed and yaw to turn the helicopter around the main rotor axis. During translation, you can perform turns by banking and yawing of the appropriate value. As already said, you use "Insert", "Delete" and "End" keys, to control your vertical speed. DON'T USE standard Orbiter hovering commands.
I recommend switching off the 2nd MFD and to set the HUD in surface mode. Use "Distance" and "Bearing" of the display line, to fly in the direction of your current target (first, Apollo vessel and later, when recuperation is done, the Carrier).
When you are just over the Apollo vessel, "land" just over it. This simulates the hovering station over the capsule. Open the door with "D" key and use multiple "K" key stroke to simulate the recovery of the 3 astronauts. Notice that you may open the door before to land. This will engage the Orbiter "Level" flying mode which should help to fine pilot the final approach. You can either descent the basket before to land, as soon as you see "IN RANGE" on the display line. This may be helpful to "land" the helicopter at the precise right place.
To leave your station over the capsule, just press "Insert" key to climb. Don't forget to close the door with "D" key, before to leave.
Return to the carrier and approach it from the back. Aim for a landing in the central part of the carrier deck. Don't forget to deploy your landing gear with the "G" key and when landed, press the "J" key to stop your engines.
When the main rotor is totally stopped, open the door with "D" key and press "K" key for the final "welcome back" ceremony.
REMARK: In reality, for the first missions, astronauts wore gas masks and had to immediately enter into a quarantine chamber, as soon as the helicopter landed. But I thought it was more fun to simulate later missions, where this precaution was abandoned, because scientists were sure at that time that astronauts couldn't be contaminated by their journey on the Moon.
In the external view, if you zoom a lot with usual Orbiter "Page Down" key, you can put the camera inside the helicopter. You will see that "Kev33" has modeled the entire interior.
Note: The helicopter "vessel" is INVULNERABLE.
Usage of ground camera
The best way to enjoy the recovery sequence is to use the Orbiter ground observer camera.
When you are hovering over the Apollo CM module and ready to start the recovery, set the view at a distance you can see both the CM and the helicopter while looking horizontally.
Now press F4 and select "Camera". Select "ground" page, deselect "target lock" option and press "current".
Now you can control the camera with arrow keys, with or without "CTRL" key and both "Page Up" and "Page Down" keys.
When you are ready to fly back to the carrier, try to start your flight from this view, as it’s really spectacular! You may even reactivate the "target lock" if you want the camera to automatically follow the helicopter.
Look at the scenario "Apollo 11, step 32" to see an example of this camera setting and practice astronauts recovery.



GROUND CAMERAS PRESETS
You will find several camera settings for both Cape Canaveral and all the Moon bases.
The cameras "Pad 39A tower X" are a bit tricky to use properly. Here is what you should do:
- Load the scenario "Apollo 11 step 1".

- Press F4 and select "Camera>ground>Pad 39A tower X".

- Check that "Target lock" is selected.

- Press "Apply" button.

- Deselect "Target lock".

- Now, use "arrow keys" (or mouse) to tune the camera angle of view to your taste.

You are now ready to see the lift off just like some NASA automatic cameras filmed it. Fans of Apollo certainly still remember these stunning images!!!
The "God eyes" cameras for all the landing sites are very useful to watch the last minutes of the LM landing. To set them, you should simply:
- Press F4 and select "Camera>ground>Landing-site-name".

- Press "Apply" button.

For the "Tribute to LazyD" scenario, you also have "Memorial station #X" camera presets, which will place the camera optimally over each of the stations of the Monument.