Earth Landing System

Earth Landing System sequence of events

The Earth Landing System (ELS) covers all equipment required to land the crew safely on Earth at the end of the mission.

Manual Override

Guarded pushbuttons on Panel 1

If the automatic systems should fail to operate, then the guarded push-buttons on Panel 1 can be used to trigger the landing events instead. To use the button, first lift the guard cover, then press the button underneath.

The APEX COVER JETT button (A) will jettison the Apex Cover/Forward Heat-shield from the CM, allowing parachute deployment. While the cover is in place, the parachutes cannot be ejected by the mortars.

The DROGUE DEPLOY button (B) will deploy the drogue parachutes which slow the capsule down and stabilise it before the main parachutes are deployed.

The MAIN DEPLOY button (C) will deploy the main parachutes to slow the capsule to a survivable landing speed.

The CM RCS He DUMP button (D) will dump the Helium pressurant gas from the CM Reaction Control System.

At low REALISM levels these buttons will light up when activated, at higher levels they will remain unlit, as was the case on a real Apollo flight.

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External Links

• Apollo experience report: Earth landing system
• Apollo Operations Handbook: Sequential Systems
• Apollo Training Sequential Events Control