Book Description

The objective of the Lunar Module Descent-Engine Exhaust-Gas Sampling Program was to analyze the organic combustion products generated by the lunar module descent engine. From a cosmo-chemical and geochemical viewpoint, the carbonaceous compounds of higher molecular weight were of particular interest. Phase I of the program consisted of fabricating and test firing a model rocket engine to gain preliminary experience with the sample collection system. Phase II of the program consisted of the installation and use of the sample collection system to analyze lunar module descent-engine exhaust. Several series of samples collected from the exhausts of the model rocket engine and the lunar module descent engine were analyzed by various methods, especially high-resolution mass spectrometry. Virtually all lunar module descent-engine exhaust products were found to be low-molecular-weight nitrogen compounds.