Apollo Lunar Lander

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The Apollo Lunar Module is a spacecraft designed to transport astronauts safely from lunar orbit down to the moon's surface and back up again. This incredible machine consists of two main parts: the Command Service Module (CSM) and the Lunar Module Descent Stage, also known as the Lunar Excursion Module or LEM. When astronauts are ready to land on the moon, they use a rocket called the Ascent Propulsion System to separate from the CSM and begin their descent towards the lunar surface. Once safely landed, they can exit the LEM through its hatch and take their first steps on the moon's dusty terrain. The Lunar Module Descent Stage is equipped with two engines: one for taking off from the moon's surface and another for landing. The Ascent Propulsion System engine uses a combination of fuel and liquid oxygen to propel the spacecraft upward, while the Descent Engine uses liquid fuel and a special type of kerosene called RP-1 to slow down the LEM's descent speed. After the astronauts have spent several hours exploring the moon's surface, it is time for them to return to their CSM. They will climb back up into the LEM through its hatch and use the Descent Engine once again to lift off from the moon's surface. Once they reach a safe altitude, the Ascent Propulsion System engine will take over, propelling the spacecraft upward at an incredible 5,000 feet per minute. The Apollo Lunar Module is truly an impressive piece of engineering, capable of withstanding extreme temperatures and even surviving a crash landing on the moon's surface. Its ability to transport astronauts safely from lunar orbit down to the moon's surface and back up again has made it an essential part of NASA's historic mission to explore the moon.