Apollo Lunar Module Abort

[bushuser]

I always remembered this from my youth, for some reason, and have seen it in a simulator.<br /><br />There were 2 adjacent abort switches in the dead center of the LM console. "abort" would automatically throttle up the descent module engine. Next to this was "abort stage", covered with a metal cage to prevent accidental contact. "abort stage" would chop apart the the connections between the ascent and descent modules and fire the ascent motor.<br /><br />When the astronauts were ready to leave the lunar surface [on the nominal flight plan], they would push the abort stage button, since the sequence of events for leaving the moon was the same as the emergency abort.

 

[drwayne]

There was a guillatine like device to do the severing, wasn't there?<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>