2007-09-20 08:18:19 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Tracy, Tracy, what the heck? First a question about "pretty yellow lace curtains on the shuttle" and then this. Oh Well
The footpad probes were only 1.5 meters (some sources claim 3 feet though) long. The LEM's legs were far longer. Even if they bent 180 degrees they couldn't piece the capsule.
2007-09-20 08:59:04 · answer #1 · answered by RationalThinker 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They were made of the lightest possible material and were meant to bend or break off. The first lunar modules were built at the cutting edge of the technology and the weight was a major problem. The astronauts called the LEM "the tissue paper spacecraft" because of it's lightweight construction. The probes were little more than foil tubes with an electric wire going through it. At one point during development the manufacturer Grumman offered it's engineers a $50,000.00 reward to anyone who could come with an idea to save one ounce of weight.
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2007-09-20 08:40:32 · answer #2 · answered by ericbryce2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes - if the lunar module came down too fast, it would have crashed into the lunar surface.
However, scientists at the time were not really sure how dense the lunar landscape was. Some feared that it was too powdery and the lunar module would sink into the surface, or worse, an astronaut would jump off the lander and sinkin.
If you watch the video of Armstrong stepping on the moon, he really takes a jump and pushes down hard while holding on to the lunar module - this was deliberate to see if he would sink into the surface too far.
2007-09-20 08:39:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think they were strong enough to cause any problem even if they did.
2007-09-20 08:39:30 · answer #4 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋