LLRV Timeline
June 1961Dryden Committee Formed June 1961Dryden Committee Formed Dec. 1961Bell contacted NASA HQ Dec. 1961Bell contacted NASA HQ Jan. 1962Bell given study contract Jan. 1962Bell given study contract Mar. 1962Bell study results Mar. 1962Bell study results NASA work statement JSC provides $700,000 May 1962JSC provides schedule of program money May 1962JSC provides schedule of program money Jan. 1963JSC releases program money Jan. 1963JSC releases program money Dryden contract with Bell Dryden to provide ejection seat Flight instruments Radar altimeter
May 1963 Wind Tunnel Model Test May 1963 Wind Tunnel Model Test LEM configuration change LEM configuration change Fall 1963 Cost overruns Fall 1963 Cost overruns Deliver vehicle #1 partially assembled Deliver vehicle #1 partially assembled Deliver vehicle #2 unassembled Deliver vehicle #2 unassembled Apr Vehicle #1 delivered Apr Vehicle #1 delivered May 1964 Vehicle #2 delivered May 1964 Vehicle #2 delivered July 1964 Begin ground testing July 1964 Begin ground testing Aug Flight Readiness Review Aug Flight Readiness Review Sep Begin Final Integrated Testing Sep Begin Final Integrated Testing Oct First flight – Joe Walker Oct First flight – Joe Walker Dec First flight – Don Mallick Dec First flight – Don Mallick Feb Auto Throttle Verification Feb Auto Throttle Verification
Mar Weight/drag computer verification Mar Weight/drag computer verification Sep First simulated Lunar landing Sep First simulated Lunar landing Begin rate command check out Begin rate command check out Nov Rate command research Nov Rate command research Dec First flight – Jack Kluever Dec First flight – Jack Kluever Mar Lunar landing with side arm controller Mar Lunar landing with side arm controller Apr Drag evaluation Apr Drag evaluation LEM trajectories LEM trajectories May 1966 Attitude command research May 1966 Attitude command research July 1966 More LEM trajectories July 1966 More LEM trajectories Aug Research complete Aug Research complete First flight – Joe Algranti First flight – Joe Algranti First flight – Bud Ream First flight – Bud Ream
Nov Last flight vehicle #1 Nov Last flight vehicle #1 Dec Vehicle #1 Delivered to JSC Dec Vehicle #1 Delivered to JSC Jan Check out vehicle #2 at Dryden Jan Check out vehicle #2 at Dryden Vehicle #2 delivered to JSC Vehicle #2 delivered to JSC Sept Vehicle #2 check out at JSC Sept Vehicle #2 check out at JSC