What are these things on the Apollo LM?

Question

Look at these pictures;

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/AS11-40-5924HR.jpg

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/AS11-40-5922HR.jpg

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a17/AS17-149-22852.jpg

What are these two things?

1. On the upper right of the ascent stage aft panel, inboard of the RCS thrusters, the helical, cone-shaped thing, like a little Christmas tree.

2. Same thing as #1, but on the front panel, inboard of the upper corner of the commander's window. In the third picture, it's casting a clear shadow onto the front panel.

3. On the lower left of the ascent stage aft panel, it looks like a hot dog bun stuck to the skin. I thought it might be a patch, but they all have it.

Meanwhile, I discovered the one on the back:

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/diagrams/ad002.gif

So that leaves the hot dog bun...

Answer 1

I'm not positive, but look at the diagram I've linked to... the "Christmas tree" might be an S-Band Inflight Antenna. It says there are two, and one is over the hatch... so maybe the one on the aft side matches?

http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/imagery/apollo/FIGURES/Fig42b.jpg

Not sure about the "hot dog bun" yet, however...

Answer 2

After looking closely at the photos and noticing the object that you are looking at is not on the two other excellent diagrams I would offer that the object is an an intentional expansion of the skin to compensate for something internal in the design.

Remember that the LEM was designed to work in a vacuum so aerodynamics is moot. If they needed to fit a piece of equipment internally, say for hydraulics or controls to get around a structural member, they could do so by simply opening a hole and then covering the hole as long as the hole doesn't violate the connections with the companion lander, structure, or the balance of the vehicle.

The object reminds me of a transponder antenna too but if it was an antenna of any kind then I would have expected it to be in one of the diagrams. However I remember (BTW I am a pilot) that we also have numerous inspection and access covers on our aircraft that allow maintenance access for equipment or critical junctions from the outside of the craft. I suspect that what you are calling a "hot dog bun" is such an access panel.

I agree about the VHF S-Band antenna being the conical object.

Answer 3

The "christmas tree" is a helical, wide-band, circularly polarized transmitting antenna, and according to the link provided by the answerer above, it is for the S-band.

The 'hot dog bun' is very likely (I am 99% positive) an antenna window for a receiving antenna. The tan material is dielectric material, and seals off the opening in the metal skin of the LM. By the dome shape, it looks to be failry omnidirectional (at least in that half of the LM hemisphere).

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