Author Topic: How did the astronauts sleep in the LEM on the moon?  (Read 20056 times)

Offline mobile1

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How did the astronauts sleep in the LEM on the moon?

Offline nacnud

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Re: How did the astronauts sleep in the LEM on the moon?
« Reply #1 on: 12/02/2016 01:17 am »
They slept in hammocks.
« Last Edit: 12/02/2016 01:19 am by nacnud »

Offline mobile1

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Re: How did the astronauts sleep in the LEM on the moon?
« Reply #2 on: 12/02/2016 01:37 am »
Thank you.

Offline James54

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Re: How did the astronauts sleep in the LEM on the moon?
« Reply #3 on: 12/02/2016 03:52 am »
I believe in the technical debrief for Apollo 11 Neal Armstrong said he slept on top of the engine cover with a sling extended from the " ceiling" for his feet. Buzz Aldrin slept on the floor. Neal mentioned that even though there were covers over the windows the earth light coming through the shades kept him awake. The earth's reflection of light ( albido? ) is 7 (?) times greater than the moon's. I'm sure his sleeplessness had nothing to do with actually being on the moon. ( humor)

Offline Proponent

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Re: How did the astronauts sleep in the LEM on the moon?
« Reply #4 on: 12/02/2016 06:54 am »
Neal mentioned that even though there were covers over the windows the earth light coming through the shades kept him awake. The earth's reflection of light ( albido? ) is 7 (?) times greater than the moon's.

Earth's albedo is indeed quite a bit higher than the moon's.  And Earth is also just plain bigger:  with nearly twice the diameter, it's apparent size (solid angle) is close to four times the moon's.

Offline Wicky

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Re: How did the astronauts sleep in the LEM on the moon?
« Reply #5 on: 12/04/2016 08:21 pm »
From the line drawing piccie above I didn't know that for the early missions the astronauts remained in their suits while kipping, and digging around found this...

Quote
"Apollo 15 was the first lunar exploration mission during which the crew had to learn how to 'live' (rather than 'stay') on the Moon. Our expedition of three full days on the Moon was twice as long as previous missions and restful sleep was absolutely essential for us to perform at maximum capacity during each of three full days of intense EVA activities. During previous missions, the crew had only two brief rest periods during which they remained in their stiff and bulky spacesuits. However, to work for three long days, we decided that we needed to live as close to normal conditions as practical. Therefore, we planned our work-sleep cycles according to our normal circadian rhythm (i.e., on Houston time); and because we had high confidence in the Lunar Module systems, especially the cabin pressure integrity against the harsh lunar vacuum, we decided to remove our spacesuits at the end of each day and sleep in our constant wear garments (underwear). At the conclusion of each day's activities, we hooked hammocks to the LM bulkhead using two small hooks attached to beta cloth straps sewn into the hammocks (... on Apollo 15 the straps on the hook were brown). Because of the 1/6 G environment, we only weighed 30 pounds and sleep in the hammocks was sound and restful; we averaged about six hours a night. On the third morning, prior to stowing the hammocks I cut the hook/straps from my hammock and returned them to Earth as mementos of living for three days on the Moon."

DAVE SCOTT https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20944/lot/239/

Offline IRobot

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Re: How did the astronauts sleep in the LEM on the moon?
« Reply #6 on: 12/04/2016 09:21 pm »
According to "Apollo 11" from Haynes, page 126, Apollo 11 crew did not have hammocks, they were introduced in Apollo 12.

Offline Brovane

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Re: How did the astronauts sleep in the LEM on the moon?
« Reply #7 on: 12/05/2016 05:44 pm »
How did the astronauts sleep in the LEM on the moon?
As alluded to earlier it depends on the mission.

Apollo 11 - Basically nothing was provided to facilitate sleeping.  The astronauts were required to sleep with suits on and located on the floor.

Apollo 12, 14 - Hammocks had been provided but astronauts had to remain in their suits which hampered sleeping.  For Apollo 14 the crew landed on a incline and they kept thinking the LM was about to tip over. 

Apollo 15,16,17 - These are the first missions the crew actually got good sleep.  They had hammocks and could get out of their suits. 

This link will give you more detail about sleeping the Moon than you will probably ever want to know.

http://www.workingonthemoon.com/WOTM-Sleep.html
"Look at that! If anybody ever said, "you'll be sitting in a spacecraft naked with a 134-pound backpack on your knees charging it", I'd have said "Aw, get serious". - John Young - Apollo-16

Offline Davp99

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Re: How did the astronauts sleep in the LEM on the moon?
« Reply #8 on: 12/05/2016 08:12 pm »
Not well, comes to mind.....
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Offline AS_501

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Re: How did the astronauts sleep in the LEM on the moon?
« Reply #9 on: 12/05/2016 09:05 pm »
I remember reading somewhere that when the Apollo astronauts closed their eyes for sleep, they would see occasional bright flashes.  These were presumably caused by cosmic ray particles striking their retinas, particles normally blocked by the Earth's magnetic field or the atmosphere (pardon my poor understanding of the basic physics here).  PS:  During their post-flight physicals, I hope some of the Apollo astronauts answered the annoying "How did you sleep?" question with "Horizontally". :)
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Offline Kansan52

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Re: How did the astronauts sleep in the LEM on the moon?
« Reply #10 on: 12/05/2016 09:58 pm »
Flashes have been reported on Mir and ISS.

Online Hobbes-22

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Re: How did the astronauts sleep in the LEM on the moon?
« Reply #11 on: 12/06/2016 08:40 am »


Apollo 15,16,17 - These are the first missions the crew actually got good sleep.  They ... could get out of their suits. 


What was the difference with earlier missions? Merely time pressure (taking off the suits would take too long)? Or were there physical differences (suit redesigned to make it easier to take off in cramped conditions)?

Offline MattMason

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Re: How did the astronauts sleep in the LEM on the moon?
« Reply #12 on: 12/06/2016 01:34 pm »


Apollo 15,16,17 - These are the first missions the crew actually got good sleep.  They ... could get out of their suits. 


What was the difference with earlier missions? Merely time pressure (taking off the suits would take too long)? Or were there physical differences (suit redesigned to make it easier to take off in cramped conditions)?

My understanding is that the first 2 landings had more concerns over an early takeoff or other contingencies, which would require suits. Also, it was a pain in the butt to take them off in the cramped confines.

Andrew Chaikin's book noted Al Bean's concern that the incredible amount of lunar dust on their suits after their first EVA could clog up the sealing zippers if they were to take them off.

With a more relaxed routine after 14, and the extended J-mission supplies, which included a whisk brush for dust, I speculate that removing the suits was allowed--especially with prior crews noting how difficult it was to sleep in one. Don't know if there were any design changes.
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Offline Brovane

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Re: How did the astronauts sleep in the LEM on the moon?
« Reply #13 on: 12/07/2016 05:06 am »


Apollo 15,16,17 - These are the first missions the crew actually got good sleep.  They ... could get out of their suits. 


What was the difference with earlier missions? Merely time pressure (taking off the suits would take too long)? Or were there physical differences (suit redesigned to make it easier to take off in cramped conditions)?

The biggest factor was NASA and the astronauts were becoming more comfortable with the Lunar Module and it's systems.  The later crews  felt confident enough in the life support systems with the ELM (J-series LM) that they would get get fully undressed while inside the ELM on the lunar surface.  They also learned enough from earlier missions they could get in and out of the suits without jeopardizing suit integrity. 
« Last Edit: 12/07/2016 05:08 am by Brovane »
"Look at that! If anybody ever said, "you'll be sitting in a spacecraft naked with a 134-pound backpack on your knees charging it", I'd have said "Aw, get serious". - John Young - Apollo-16

Offline Jim

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Re: How did the astronauts sleep in the LEM on the moon?
« Reply #14 on: 12/07/2016 01:45 pm »
Or were there physical differences (suit redesigned to make it easier to take off in cramped conditions)?

that also was one of the reasons

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