Space Rocket History Archive

Space Rocket History #196 – Apollo 10 – Lunar Module Out of Control

08.30.2021 - By Michael AnnisPlay

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The abort system had two basic control modes, “attitude hold” and “automatic.” In automatic, the computer would take over the guidance and start looking for the command module, which was certainly not what the crew intended to do at that moment. While correcting for a minor yaw-rate-gyro disturbance, the astronauts  accidentally switched the spacecraft to the automatic mode, resulting in frantic gyrations.

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