Lunar Landing Research Facility
The Lunar Landing Research Facility ( LLRF ; German " Mondlandeforschungsanlage " ) was put into operation in 1965 in Hampton , Virginia , USA at the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC). It should support the astronauts in getting to know the lunar module as it approaches the lunar surface . This was true for the last 150 feetuntil touching down on the moon. In addition, the lunar gravity could be simulated, as well as the dynamics of the LM in the last approach phase. In addition to the Lunar Landing Research Facility , NASA used an electronic simulator and the Lunar Landing Training Vehicle, a free-flying simulator , to train the moon landing .
The system was developed by Donald Hewes and William Hewitt Phillips . The two had the idea between 1962 and 1963 . The principle of the system was based on saving five sixths of the earth's gravity by using a landing gear suspended from steel cables . The remaining sixth then corresponded to gravity on the moon. The whole thing could be moved by means of a crane traverse so that a landing approach could be simulated.
The control worked with hydraulic systems, driven by servomotors , which should always keep the crossbeam vertically above the training lander. The entire cable system, including the control, was very susceptible to vibrations and therefore unpredictable. It took a long time until the NASA - engineers the teething problems under control had a smooth and training situation could be guaranteed. Appropriate safety systems were installed so that the training astronauts did not fall or the LM could not shoot past the end of the facility.
In order to make the training situation as authentic as possible, the floor was modeled like the surface of the moon and one end of the facility was covered with a black wall that was supposed to represent the moon sky.
In addition, there was even the possibility to train a moon walk in the Reduced Gravity Walking Simulator (RGWS) .
The scaffold is currently used as a structure test system for newly developed aircraft and aircraft by hanging them up on the crane cross-beam and then notching them. The name is today Impact Dynamics Facility .
