The Apollo 11 Command Module, “Columbia,” served as the primary living space for the crew during the historic first lunar landing in July 1969. Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins launched from Cape Kennedy on July 16, 1969, atop a Saturn V rocket. Columbia, also known as Command Module 107, was crafted by North American Rockwell. It was a key component of the Apollo spacecraft, alongside the Service Module and the Lunar Module, “Eagle.” The Service Module housed essential propulsion and consumables, while the Lunar Module allowed Armstrong and Aldrin to land on the Moon on July 20. Columbia was the only part of the spacecraft that returned to Earth.
Here are some key facts about the Apollo 11 Command and Service Module (CSM) “Columbia”:
- Launch Date: July 16, 1969
- Launch Vehicle: Saturn V
- Launch Site: Cape Canaveral, United States
- Mass: 28,801 kg
In 1971, after a nationwide tour, NASA entrusted Columbia to the Smithsonian Institution. It has since earned recognition as a “Milestone of Flight” at the Museum.
The Apollo 11 Command Module, known as “Columbia,” played a crucial role in the first lunar landing mission in July 1969. It transported astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins to the Moon and safely back to Earth.
This spacecraft, hailing from the United States, was crafted by North American Rockwell. It’s a crewed spacecraft primarily constructed from aluminum alloy, stainless steel, and titanium. The module measures 8 feet 11 inches tall and 12 feet 10 inches wide, weighing approximately 9130 pounds. When mounted on its stand, the overall height reaches 10 feet 9 inches, and the stand itself weighs 4488 pounds.
Apollo 11 marked the first time humans set foot on the lunar surface and returned home safely. On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed in the Sea of Tranquility on the Moon using the Lunar Module, while Michael Collins orbited in the Command and Service Module. During their time on the Moon, the astronauts conducted scientific experiments, captured photographs, and gathered lunar samples. The Lunar Module lifted off from the Moon on July 21, and the astronauts made their way back to Earth on July 24.
Columbia
“Columbia” is the Apollo 11 spacecraft that served as the command module during the mission to the Moon. It was the first mission to land humans on the lunar surface, and “Columbia” is the only part of the Saturn V rocket from Apollo 11 to return to Earth.
The name “Columbia” was first proposed to astronaut Michael Collins by Julian Scheer, a NASA assistant administrator for public affairs during the Apollo program. Scheer casually suggested the name during a phone conversation, saying, “Some of us up here have been kicking around ‘Columbia.'”
“a bit pompous.”
Initially, Michael Collins found the name “Columbia” to be “a bit pompous,” but it eventually stuck when he couldn’t think of a better alternative. His crewmates, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, had no objections to the name. Collins was also influenced by the connection to “Columbiad,” the space gun featured in Jules Verne’s 1865 science fiction novel, “From the Earth to the Moon.”
“Columbia” was donated to the Smithsonian Institution in 1971 after a tour of U.S. towns. It was designated a “Milestone in Flight” and prominently displayed at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., alongside the 1903 Wright Flyer.
The Apollo 11 Spacecraft
As the name suggests, the Command and Service Module (CSM) consists of two separate components: the Command Module (CM) and the Service Module (SM). The CM housed the crew, managed spacecraft operations, and contained the re-entry equipment. The SM stored essential consumables like oxygen, water, helium, fuel cells, and fuel, along with the main propulsion system. Together, the two modules measured 11.0 meters in length and had a maximum diameter of 3.9 meters. All crewed Apollo missions utilized Block II CSMs. For Apollo 11, the CSM weighed 28,801 kg at launch, including propellants and expendables. The Command Module (CM 107) had a mass of 5557 kg, while the Service Module (SM 107) weighed 23,244 kg.
The telecommunications system for Apollo 11 covered voice, television, data, and tracking and ranging, facilitating communication between the astronauts, the Command Module (CM), the Lunar Module (LM), and Earth. The voice contact was managed through an S-band uplink and downlink system. Tracking was achieved via a unified S-band transponder.
The Service Module (SM) featured a steerable S-band antenna with four parabolic dishes, each 79 cm in diameter, mounted on a folding boom at the aft end. Additionally, two VHF scimitar antennas were also installed on the SM, while the CM housed a VHF recovery beacon.
The CSM’s environmental control system maintained the cabin’s atmosphere, pressure, temperature, carbon dioxide levels, odors, and ventilation. It also regulated the temperature of the electronic equipment.
The Apollo 11 Command and Service Module (CSM) had several alternate names and designations, including 04039, Apollo 11 CSM, Apollo11CSM, CSM-107, “Columbia,” PL-693H, and SA-506.
The Command Module (CM)
The Command Module (CM) was a conical pressure vessel with a base diameter of 3.9 meters and a height of 3.65 meters. Constructed from an aluminum honeycomb sandwich between aluminum alloy sheets, the CM was built for durability. The base featured a heat shield made of brazed stainless steel honeycomb filled with phenolic epoxy resin, an ablative material that ranged from 1.8 to 6.9 cm in thickness.
The tip of the cone housed a hatch and docking assembly designed for connecting with the Lunar Module. The CM was divided into three compartments. The forward compartment, located at the nose of the cone, contained three 25.4-meter diameter main parachutes, two 5-meter drogue parachutes, and pilot mortar chutes for landing on Earth. The aft compartment, located at the base of the CM, housed propellant tanks, reaction control engines, wiring, and plumbing.
The crew compartment in the Command Module (CM) comprised most of its space, approximately 6.17 cubic meters. Inside, three astronaut couches were aligned forward-facing in the center of the compartment. Above the central couch was a large access hatch, with a short tunnel leading to the docking hatch in the CM’s nose. This compartment housed the controls, displays, navigation equipment, and other systems essential for the crew.
The CM had five windows: one in the access hatch, one next to each astronaut in the outer seats, and two forward-facing rendezvous windows. Five silver/zinc-oxide batteries powered the CM after detaching from the Service Module. Three batteries supported re-entry and landing, while two powered vehicle separation and parachute deployment.
The CM featured twelve 420 N nitrogen tetroxide/hydrazine reaction control thrusters, providing the re-entry capability needed after separation from the Service Module at the end of the mission.
The Service Module (SM)
The Service Module (SM) was a cylindrical structure measuring 3.9 meters in diameter and 7.6 meters long, attached to the back of the Command Module (CM). The SM’s outer skin was composed of 2.5 cm thick aluminum honeycomb panels. Inside, the SM was divided into six sections around a central cylinder by milled aluminum radial beams.
At the rear of the SM, within the central cylinder, was a gimbal-mounted, restartable hypergolic liquid propellant engine capable of generating 91,000 N of thrust. This engine was equipped with a cone-shaped nozzle.
Attitude control for the Service Module (SM) was managed by four identical sets of reaction control thrusters. Each set comprised four 450 N thrusters, positioned 90 degrees apart around the forward section of the SM.
Inside the six sections of the SM, there were three 31-cell hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells generating 28 volts of power, along with two cryogenic oxygen tanks, two cryogenic hydrogen tanks, and four tanks for the main propulsion engine—two for fuel and two for oxidizer. The main propulsion subsystems were also housed here. Additionally, two helium tanks were located in the central cylinder.
Electrical power system radiators were situated at the top of the SM cylinder, while environmental control radiator panels were positioned around the bottom.
These insights offer a comprehensive look at the Apollo 11 mission and its components, showcasing the remarkable engineering and human achievements that made it possible. The legacy of “Columbia” and the entire Apollo program continues to inspire generations, reminding us of humanity’s boundless potential when reaching for the stars.
