Lunar Landing Research Facility

The Lunar Landing Research Facility ( LLRF ) to German in about lunar research facility, was taken in 1965 in Hampton, Virginia, USA at NASA's Langley Research Center ( LaRC ) in operation. You should support the astronauts lunar lander during landing meet on the lunar surface. This was true for the last 150 feet to touchdown on the moon. For this, the moon's gravity could be simulated, as well as the dynamics of the LM in the final approach phase.

The system was developed by Donald Hewes and William Hewitt Phillips. The idea came to the two intermediate 1962 and 1963. The principle of the system was based on saving five-sixths of the Earth's gravity through a suspended on steel cables landing gear. The remaining sixth then corresponded to the gravity on the moon. The whole could be moved by means of a lifting beam, so that a landing could be simulated.

The controller was working with hydraulic systems, driven by servo motors, which should keep the Traverse is always perpendicular to the training Lander. The entire cable system, including the control, however, was very susceptible to vibration and therefore unpredictable. It took a long time until the NASA engineers had the childhood diseases under control and a smooth training situation could be guaranteed. In order for the coaching astronauts not crashed, or the LM could not overshoot the end of the installation, appropriate security systems were installed.

In order to make the training situation as authentic as possible, the soil was modeled as the lunar surface and an end of the plant covered with a black wall, which should represent the moon sky.

In addition, there was even the possibility in the Reduced Gravity Walking Simulator ( RGWS ) to train a moon walk.

Currently, the framework serves as a structural test system for newly developed aircraft and flight equipment by being hoisted hanging on the lifting beam and then disengaged. The name is now Impact Dynamics Facility.