1.4 Case Study:
Moon Landing
Dr. Tarek A. Tutunji
Philadelphia University, Jordan
Engineering Skills, Philadelphia University
Dr. Tarek A. Tutunji
Preview
 In the previous sequence, essential skills for successful
engineers have been presented.
 In this sequence, the moon landing mission will be
studied to inspire future engineers of what is possible.
Engineering Skills, Philadelphia University
Dr. Tarek A. Tutunji
Moon Landing
 Because of its extreme difficulty and worldwide exposure, the
successful moon landing of Apollo 11 is considered one of
humanity's greatest achievements.
 Moon landing was made possible by the combination of:
 Science
 Engineering
 Imagination.
 Engineers were the architects of the technology that allowed the
moon landing to happen.
Engineering Skills, Philadelphia University
Dr. Tarek A. Tutunji
Imagination:
Moon Landing in Fiction
 Man was fascinated by the
moon since the ancient times.
 Many books were written
about humans on the moon:
 True History by Lucian in 79
 First man on the moon by
H.G. Wells in 1901
 2001: Space Odyssey by
Arthur C. Clarke in 1968
Engineering Skills, Philadelphia University
Dr. Tarek A. Tutunji
Science
Thrust
(Reaction)
 Action and Reaction: the thrust that
lifts the launcher comes from burning
fuel in the combustion chamber.
 Gases escape through a nozzle.
 The gases exert an upward force
(reaction) that is equal and opposite to
the force (action) of the escaping
exhaust. Newton’s third law of motion.
 This reaction force overcomes gravity.
Engineering Skills, Philadelphia University
Gas Action
Dr. Tarek A. Tutunji
Political Background
 After WWII, the competition between the
superpowers (USA and USSR) was intense.
 The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1 to orbit the Earth
and so initiated the Space Age in 1957.
 The Soviets also landed the first unmanned ship on
the moon in 1959.
Engineering Skills, Philadelphia University
Dr. Tarek A. Tutunji
Vision
 U.S. President John F. Kennedy looked for an
American project that would capture the public
imagination.
"I believe that this nation should commit itself to
achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing
a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth”
JFK 1961
 20 July 1969, USA landed first manned ship (Apollo 11).
Engineering Skills, Philadelphia University
Dr. Tarek A. Tutunji
Engineering Challenges
1.
Spacecraft must first leave the Earth’s gravity.


2.
Fly to the moon.


3.
Travel at survivable speed.
Follow the correct trajectory.
Land safely on the moon.

4.
A launcher needs sufficient thrust to lift its own mass to overcome
gravity.
At an attitude of 200 km, a launch vehicle must travel over 11 Km/s to
escape gravity. This is referred to as escape velocity.
High velocity (6000 mile/hr) is the effects of gravity using a landing
rocket.
Return to earth.



The escape velocities of the moon and earth must again be overcome.
Moon departure rocket must be carried to the moon's surface.
Need additional fuel for the return trip
Engineering Skills, Philadelphia University
Dr. Tarek A. Tutunji
Moon Landing Stages
1.
Unmanned Hard Landing


2.
Unmanned Soft Landing


3.
USA: 7 missions (5 successes), 1966-1968
USSR: 14 missions (5 successes), 1969-1976
Lunar Orbit


4.
USA: 18 missions (3 successes), 1958-1965
USSR: 22 missions (4 successes), 1958-1966
USA: 5 missions (5 successes), 1966-1967
USSR: 9 missions (7 successes), 1966-1974
Manned Landing

USA: Apollo 11 landed on the moon, 1969
Engineering Skills, Philadelphia University
Dr. Tarek A. Tutunji
www.makingthemodernworld.org.uk
Engineering Skills, Philadelphia University
Dr. Tarek A. Tutunji
The Launch
 A Saturn V rocket launched
Apollo 11 into the orbit
 After one and a half orbits,
the engines pushed the
spacecraft onto its trajectory
toward the Moon.
 The command module
separated from Saturn V and
docked with the lunar
module.
 The combined spacecraft
headed for the Moon.
Engineering Skills, Philadelphia University
Dr. Tarek A. Tutunji
Fly me to the Moon
 Apollo 11 passed behind the
Moon and fired its service
propulsion engine to enter
lunar orbit.
 lunar module (LM) Eagle
separated from the command
module Columbia.
Engineering Skills, Philadelphia University
Dr. Tarek A. Tutunji
Command/Service Module
 The Command Service Module
Columbia consisted of two
parts.
 The Command Module held the
three man crew. It was the
control center during the
mission. It also was the re-entry
vehicle for returning back to
Earth.
 The Service Module provided
the propulsion and maneuvering
capability for the space craft
Engineering Skills, Philadelphia University
Dr. Tarek A. Tutunji
The Lunar Module
 The Lunar Module Eagle
consisted of two parts: the
descent stage and the ascent
stage.
 The descent stage provided
the engine used to land on
the moon. It had four legs
and a storage area for
experimental gear.
 The descent module also
served as the launch platform
for the ascent module when it
came time to leave
Engineering Skills, Philadelphia University
Dr. Tarek A. Tutunji
Walking on the Moon
One small step for man, one
giant leap for mankind
 To walk on the moon's
surface, the astronauts
needed to wear a space suit
with a back mounted,
portable life support system.
 This controlled the oxygen,
temperature and pressure
inside the suit.
Engineering Skills, Philadelphia University
Dr. Tarek A. Tutunji
Return to Earth
 After re-entering the Earth's
atmosphere, parachutes
opened to safely lower the
Columbia into the Pacific
Ocean
Engineering Skills, Philadelphia University
Dr. Tarek A. Tutunji
Apollo 11: The Crew
Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin Buzz Aldrin
Engineering Skills, Philadelphia University
Dr. Tarek A. Tutunji
Conclusions
 The moon landing mission shows how engineers play
an essential role in providing solutions to almost
impossible tasks.
 The mission also shows the importance of leadership,
planning, and teamwork
Engineering Skills, Philadelphia University
Dr. Tarek A. Tutunji