{"id":168521,"date":"2018-12-06T13:01:00","date_gmt":"2018-12-06T17:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-436814"},"modified":"2023-09-25T17:06:46","modified_gmt":"2023-09-25T21:06:46","slug":"50-years-ago-on-the-way-to-the-moon-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-on-the-way-to-the-moon-6\/","title":{"rendered":"50 Years Ago: On The Way to the Moon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Lunar Landing Training Vehicle (LLTV) was a critical tool for astronauts training to land on the Moon. But as Neil Armstrong summarized it, \u201cIt was a contrary machine, and a risky machine, but a very useful one.\u201d The first man to land a Lunar Module (LM) on the Moon had personal experience with the fickle nature of the training vehicle. On <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-armstrong-survives-training-crash\/\">May 8, 1968<\/a>, while flying a predecessor of the LLTV called the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV) at Ellington Air Force Base near the Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC), now the Johnson Space Center, in Houston, Armstrong averted disaster by mere seconds. He ejected from the craft when sensors failed to tell him that he was out of attitude control fuel and he lost control of the vehicle. He parachuted to safety but the LLRV crashed and was damaged beyond repair.  NASA grounded the remaining vehicles and MSC Director Robert L. Gilruth established an accident review board, chaired by MSC Aircraft Operations Office Chief Joseph S. \u201cJoe\u201d Algranti. The board released its report on Oct. 17, making several recommendations to make the training vehicles safer. A flight readiness review on Nov. 26 cleared the LLTVs to resume astronaut training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bell Aerosystems of Buffalo, NY, built two copies of the LLRV and three of the LLTV. The LLRVs were first flown and tested at NASA\u2019s Flight Research Center (FRC), now the Armstrong Flight Research Center, at Edwards Air Force Base in California, before being transferred to Ellington in December 1966. LLRV-1 made 84 flights there (46 of them by astronauts) before Armstrong\u2019s crash, while LLRV-2 never flew at Ellington, being used for spares to support the first vehicle. Bell delivered the LLTV\u2019s to Houston in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-on-the-way-to-the-moon-the-lunar-landing-training-vehicle\/\">October<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-the-lunar-landing-training-vehicle\/\">December 1967<\/a>, and included improvements over their predecessors that made them higher fidelity simulators of the LM, especially of the final 200 feet of the landing. Algranti piloted the LLTV-1 vehicle during its maiden flight, on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-the-lunar-landing-training-vehicle\/\">Oct. 3, 1968<\/a>. During the next two months, Algranti and fellow MSC pilot H.E. \u201cBud\u201d Ream completed 14 test flights with LLTV-1 to check out the vehicle. Ream also piloted LLTV-2\u2019s first two flights beginning Dec. 5.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/lltv-1.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"621\" height=\"195\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/lltv-1.jpg?w=621\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"lltv-1\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/lltv-1.jpg 621w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/lltv-1.jpg?resize=300,94 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/lltv-1.jpg?resize=400,126 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/lltv-1.jpg?resize=600,188 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 621px) 100vw, 621px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Left: MSC pilots Bud Ream (left) and Joe Algranti (right) with FRC pilot Jack Kluever (center) in front of LLRV-1 during<br>their checkout flights at FRC in 1966. Middle: Algranti piloting LLTV-1 during the Dec. 8, 1968, flight at Ellington<br>moments before ejecting. Right: Algranti ejecting to safety.<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>During LLTV-1\u2019s 15th flight on Dec. 8, the final certification flight before resuming astronaut training, pilot Algranti took the vehicle to 680 feet altitude and began a lunar landing simulation run. The vehicle began to oscillate in all three axes, which Algranti tried to control. But unexpected wind shear exceeded the craft\u2019s aerodynamic control limits and it began a sudden descent. At 100 feet altitude, and with less than a second to spare, Algranti ejected and safely parachuted to the ground with only minor bruises but LLTV-1 crashed and was a total loss.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/lltv-1_exploding.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"617\" height=\"226\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/lltv-1_exploding.jpg?w=617\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"lltv-1_exploding\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/lltv-1_exploding.jpg 617w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/lltv-1_exploding.jpg?resize=300,110 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/lltv-1_exploding.jpg?resize=400,147 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/lltv-1_exploding.jpg?resize=600,220 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 617px) 100vw, 617px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Left: LLTV-1 exploding upon impact with the ground. Right: Pilot Algranti parachuting to safety<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Once again, NASA grounded the LLTVs and MSC Director Gilruth set up an investigation board, this time chaired by NASA astronaut Walter M. Schirra. To better understand the vehicle\u2019s aerodynamic characteristics, in late December NASA shipped LLTV-3 to the Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, where engineers tested it in the wind tunnel. Findings from the board and from the Langley tests indicated that a gust of wind that overwhelmed the vehicle\u2019s control limits caused the LLTV-1 crash and that it was unrelated to the previous LLRV accident. Recommendations included increasing the level of thrust in the craft\u2019s thrusters by 50 percent to provide an additional margin of safety. The LLTVs were cleared to fly again and Ream made a test flight in LLTV-2 on Apr. 7, 1969. Soon after, engineers discovered that search radars at Ellington caused significant electromagnetic interference once more temporarily grounding LLTVs. That problem was solved by turning the radars away from the LLTV test area during flights.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/lltv-3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"615\" height=\"242\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/lltv-3.jpg?w=615\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"lltv-3\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/lltv-3.jpg 615w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/lltv-3.jpg?resize=300,118 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/lltv-3.jpg?resize=400,157 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/lltv-3.jpg?resize=600,236 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Left: LLTV-3 in the wind tunnel at Langley Research Center. Right: LLTV-3 being loaded onto the Super Guppy at<br>Langley Research Center for the return flight to Houston.<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Management cleared Armstrong to fly LLTV-2 in June 1969, and he completed his final training flights just four weeks prior to the Apollo 11 mission. Armstrong made 21 flights in the LLRV prior to the May 1968 crash and 8 in the LLTV in June 1969. He credited this valuable experience with being able to successfully guide the LM <em>Eagle<\/em> to the lunar surface on July 20, 1969, meeting President John F. Kennedy\u2019s goal of landing a man on the Moon before the end of the decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/AlgrantiJS\/AlgrantiJS_8-10-98.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Algranti\u2019s<\/a> oral history with the <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/history_office.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">JSC History Office<\/a>. For additional first-hand accounts, also read oral histories with <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/HainesCR\/HainesCR_11-7-00.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Charles R. Haines<\/a>, LLTV Program Manager in the Aircraft Operations Office between 1969 and 1973, and <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/NACA\/MallickDL_2-18-15.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Donald L. Mallick<\/a>, chief project pilot on the LLRV at Dryden, who also helped develop the procedures used in the lunar landing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more on LLRVs and LLTVs, read <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hq.nasa.gov\/alsj\/LLRV_Monograph.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.hq.nasa.gov\/alsj\/LLRV_Monograph.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Lunar Landing Training Vehicle (LLTV) was a critical tool for astronauts training to land on the Moon. But as Neil Armstrong summarized it, \u201cIt was a contrary machine, and a risky machine, but a very useful one.\u201d The first man to land a Lunar Module (LM) on the Moon had personal experience with the [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":174371,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2671],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[12664],"coauthors":[11996],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"50 Years Ago: On The Way to the Moon","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-on-the-way-to-the-moon-6\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-on-the-way-to-the-moon-6\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/lltv-1.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/lltv-1.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA History","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"John Uri"}],"creator":["John Uri"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA History"],"dateCreated":"2018-12-06T17:01:00Z","datePublished":"2018-12-06T17:01:00Z","dateModified":"2023-09-25T21:06:46Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"50 Years Ago: On The Way to the Moon\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-on-the-way-to-the-moon-6\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/lltv-1.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2018-12-06T17:01:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA History\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA History\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"John Uri\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":4,"time_ago":"6 years","featured_image":{"id":174371,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/lltv-1.jpg","title":"lltv-1","alt":"lltv-1","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168521"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=168521"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168521\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":521458,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168521\/revisions\/521458"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/174371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=168521"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=168521"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=168521"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=168521"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=168521"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}