Could the Apollo 11 lunar module still be orbiting the Moon?
According to one researcher, at least two of the Apollo lunar modules that took astronauts up and down from the Moon could still be in lunar orbit, though their location is presently unknown.
His paper outlining the possible survival of the Apollo 11 LM Eagle can be found here. From his abstract:
The Apollo 11 “Eagle” Lunar Module ascent stage was abandoned in lunar orbit after the historic landing in 1969. Its fate is unknown. Numerical analysis described here provides evidence that this object might have remained in lunar orbit to the present day. The simulations show a periodic variation in eccentricity of the orbit, correlated to the selenographic longitude of the apsidal line. The rate of apsidal precession is correlated to eccentricity. These two factors appear to interact to stabilize the orbit over the long term.
More details here.
Hat tip to reader Mike Nelson, who sent me this story today. I am certain I reported it previously, but searching on Behind the Black failed to find it, so I decided to post again. As the researcher concludes:
Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could find this amazing little vessel and bring her back to Earth!!!!
Readers!
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In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
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According to one researcher, at least two of the Apollo lunar modules that took astronauts up and down from the Moon could still be in lunar orbit, though their location is presently unknown.
His paper outlining the possible survival of the Apollo 11 LM Eagle can be found here. From his abstract:
The Apollo 11 “Eagle” Lunar Module ascent stage was abandoned in lunar orbit after the historic landing in 1969. Its fate is unknown. Numerical analysis described here provides evidence that this object might have remained in lunar orbit to the present day. The simulations show a periodic variation in eccentricity of the orbit, correlated to the selenographic longitude of the apsidal line. The rate of apsidal precession is correlated to eccentricity. These two factors appear to interact to stabilize the orbit over the long term.
More details here.
Hat tip to reader Mike Nelson, who sent me this story today. I am certain I reported it previously, but searching on Behind the Black failed to find it, so I decided to post again. As the researcher concludes:
Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could find this amazing little vessel and bring her back to Earth!!!!
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
Scott Manley did a video on this when the story was originally out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBHbLV7xEhc
MJMJ: I am sure I did as well, but can’t find it by searching. To search the archive would take more time than I care to spend. Regardless, it is intriguing enough to repost, especially as the number of orbiters to the Moon is now increasing.
Robert,
My memory is that we discussed it for a while in the comments. I don’t know which of your posts got us started on the topic, however.
Bob, here’s your previous story: https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/apollo-11-lunar-ascent-stage-might-still-be-in-orbit-around-the-moon/
Steve Golson: Thank you! I now see why I couldn’t find it, as I refer to it as the “ascent stage”.
Once we start getting more assets into lunar orbit over the next few years, I really think it would be worth the trouble to try and track it down. We’re not in any position for the time being to investigate its state up close, let alone retrieve it, but it knowing where it is, and how stable its orbit really is, would be a big first step.
Expect James Cameron will charter a Starship and go look for it.
BTW, the link to the paper leads to a pay wall. There is a free version of the paper on Arxiv…
https://arxiv.org/abs/2105.10088
Roger Twank: Thank you. I have changed the link to point to the arxiv free version.