Ascent Stage of Lunar Test Article 3 (LTA-3A)

This is the ascent stage Lunar Test Article 3 (LTA-3), representing an early concept of the Apollo lunar module (the descent stage of LTA-3 is at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, PA). It bears a strong resemblance to the final lunar module appearance, although it still has the round forward hatch. The shape of this hatch was eventually changed to be square, so that it would be easier for the astronauts, with their square-shaped PLSS backpacks, to exit through the hatch.

The LEM Ninth Flight Vehicle Status Review, starting on page 2, contains a description of the gear with which LTA-3 was originally outfitted.

An overview of LTA-3's role in the LM testing program can be found in the Apollo Experience Report: Lunar Module Structural Subsystem. LTA-3 was a "structural test vehicle," used during the design verification process. It underwent the same types of conditions in the same experience that would be experienced during an actual mission, including ascent stage cabin pressurization and exposure to vibration tests to simulate both the ascent and descent engine loads. It was loaded in a SLA, stacked with a CSM, and exposed to vibration and acoustic tests to simulate a launch. It underwent drop tests to simulate a lunar landing.

Various problems cropped up, uncovering defects in the manufacturing process and flaws in the design; appropriate corrective actions were taken. In preparation for one test, stress corrosion cracks were discovered in aft equipment rack support struts; an inspection revealed 23 cracked struts. This resulted in changing the manufacture of the struts for production lunar modules.

LTA-3's final series of tests was to verify the docking interface structure; information about this test can be found in Plan for Unit Load Tests of LTA-3 & CM 2S-1 (Docked Configuration). (While researching LTA-3, I found a typo in the online version of The Apollo Spacecraft - A Chronology, Vol. IV; rather than "CM 2S-1", it was listed as "CM 28-1". I sent an email to the site's maintainer, thinking that it was an OCR error. I got an email back stating that it was a typographical error in the original printed book, but that the online version would be updated appropriately.)

I have structural drawings of LTA-8, a later lunar test article. While LTA-8 eventually had a square hatch, there are a few drawings in the set which still reflect the round forward hatch.

As of now, I have not yet sorted through all of my pictures of LTA-3a, but some other page references this location. Thus, this is a "place holder" version right now, with only the pictures actually referenced. Come back some time later to see if I've finished up, or drop me an email to request me to prioritize the rest of these pictures.