On Jan 25, 4:24*pm, Bob Noel
wrote:
In article ,
*"Robert M. Gary" wrote:

On Jan 24, 7:15*pm, Bob Noel
wrote:
In article
,
*"Robert M. Gary" wrote:

Today, scientist look back at the moon landings and are still in shock
that no one ever died. Back then no one really realized the extent to
which they got lucky many times on the Apollo missions. During
practice with the LM teethered the pilots often would lose control. In
addition, the assent rocket on the LM only worked 6 out of 10 times.

What four times did it fail?

During engine testing.

Before or after the engine was completed? * I doubt any engine actually mounted
to a LM failed. *And for sure and for certain, none failed in flight.

After the engine was "completed", not mounted to an LM, the testing
was done on a stand, certainly not in flight (thankfully), although at
least one test vehicle was lost when the attitude control failed
(pilot ejected safely).

We know that Armstrong almost did not make it back, not because the
ascent rocket didn't work but because the breaker to fire it broke
off. Luckily U.S. gov't pens have lots of metal and fit into the hole
of a broken breaker. The first lunar ascention was accomplished by
jamming a pen into a broken off breaker head.

-Robert