Designed by Grumman's brilliant Tom Kelly, the Apollo Lunar Excursion Module (or "LEM" for short) was a triumph of purpose-built engineering. In the six years 1962-1968 between drawing board and first flight, a myriad of challenges were overcome related to weight, reliability and safety. The final design, designated the Lunar Module or "LM," boasted tiny windows instead of large portholes, four legs instead of five and most famously had no seats - instead relying on the astronauts' legs to cushion a lunar landing. Ten LMs made it into space including three flown in development and test...
Designed by Grumman's brilliant Tom Kelly, the Apollo Lunar Excursion Module (or "LEM" for short) was a triumph of purpose-built engineering. In the s...