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From: karn@eagle.UUCP (Phil Karn)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Apollo Questions
Message-ID: <1110@eagle.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 8-Oct-83 02:32:21 EDT
Article-I.D.: eagle.1110
Posted: Sat Oct  8 02:32:21 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 9-Oct-83 10:03:11 EDT
References: inuxc.799
Lines: 28

The numbers vary somewhat from mission to mission, but here are some
approximations.

The total mass in earth parking orbit (including the SIV-B and its
remaining fuel) was typically 130,000-140,000 kg. The launch weight of
the LM was 14,670 kg for the early flights and 16,370 kg for the
J-series flights (Apollos 15-17).  Typical loaded weights for the
Service Module and Command Module were 24,000 kg and 5600 kg,
respectively.  This gives a total CSM/LM mass so far of 44,270 kg or
45,970 kg.  This ignores the launch escape tower (4000 kg) and the
launcher adapter (1800 kg) which have been jettisoned by this point.

The parking orbit from which TLI was done was typically at 170 to 180 km
altitude, extremely low but acceptable since the time spent there was so
short.  Once TLI was done, Apollo was still in earth orbit, but one
with apogee near the moon's orbit.

Once in lunar orbit, the mass of the combination CSM/LM was reduced to a
typical value of 33,000 kg due to the fuel expended in lunar orbit
insertion.

All of this data is from "The History of Manned Space Flight"
by David Baker.  This is a massively detailed, excellently written book; a
bargain at $35.  I got mine from the Air & Space Museum bookstore
and promptly read all 544 9"x13" pages during the Christmas holidays
last year.  (The pictures are good too.)

Phil