A LM, first spacecraft

[ryan]

Hey guys, I heard somewhere but i forget were i heard it from that the Apollo Lunar Module is classified as the first true space craft, becuase it was designed only for space.

 

[unussapiens]

If that is how you classify a space craft then I suggest you look at Salyut 1. If it doesn't have to be pressurised then you can try Sputnik.

Neither was designed for atmospheric flight.

 

[Andy44]

But it wasn't designed only for space, it was designed as a place for astronaut to camp out on the Moon.

 

[Biscuit]

But it wasn't designed only for space, it was designed as a place for astronaut to camp out on the Moon.

Then, it was a REALLY expensive motorhome that got really great mileage ...

:rofl:

 

[ryan]

I ment manned space program, sputnik wasnt manned. I rest my case, hey wheres my case.

 

[Linguofreak]

Problem is that spacecraft tend to be modular, like Apollo was, so it's hard to tell whether, for example, the Apollo Command and Service module combo was one spacecraft with disposeable parts, or two separate spacecraft.

You can make the case that the LM was the first true "spacecraft," but by the definition you've given, I think Mir probably qualifies best: AFAIK all manned spacecraft except Mir and the ISS have been launched in one piece on one launcher, meaning that they did operate in atmosphere at some point during their lives, whereas Mir and ISS were assembled in space, and Mir was the first of the two.

If you really want to be strict, I suppose the first spacecraft could be considered the first one for which no finished modules are launched from any gravitationally significant body, only building materials (nuts, bolts, sheet metal, electronics, etc.), and the whole thing is assembled in space.

 

[MajorTom]

Just had a brainstorm:

MMU.

It only flies out from another spacecraft, and is useless in the atmosphere and on the moon.

Edit: Notice I didn't say "UMMU?!"

 

[Deke]

Hey guys, I heard somewhere but i forget were i heard it from that the Apollo Lunar Module is classified as the first true space craft, becuase it was designed only for space.

The LEM was not designed only for space. The LEM was specifically designed for landing on the Moon and nothing more.

 

[Pilot7893]

I thought a spacecraft couldn't land on a celestial body. Since the LM landed on the moon, no. Skylab was the first spacecraft

 

[Ghostrider]

I thought a spacecraft couldn't land on a celestial body.

Why? A spacecraft is a vehicle that is designed to travel through space. If it can travel through atmosphere (although it's not its main realm) and land (which is a feature) but its main domain is space, then it's a spacecraft.

 

[Moonwalker]

In my point of view the first manned spacecraft was Sputnik 2 with Laika aboard but at least Sputnik 5 which returned beings home to Earth safely for the first time (Strelka and Belka)

But I agree that the Lunar Excursion Module was the first manned spacecraft to land on another heavenly body

 

[Andy44]

Well, Laika wasn't a man, so it was the first "crewed" spacecraft, although even that's wrong, since Laika was the payload, not the crew.

Airplanes and helicopters and blimps land on land; spend most of their life there, in fact. Does that mean that there are no "true aircraft"?

 

[pete.dakota]

Umm. LM- the first manned spacecraft?

Vostok 3KA? The Mercury capsule? Gemini? All designed and used purely for flight in space way before Apollo.

 

[ryan]

Umm. LM- the first manned spacecraft?

Vostok 3KA? The Mercury capsule? Gemini? All designed and used purely for flight in space way before Apollo.

Not purely, they were made too withstand luanch and re-entry, the LM was only used in space and on the moon which is still technically space.

 

[pete.dakota]

Not purely, they were made too withstand luanch and re-entry, the LM was only used in space and on the moon which is still technically space.

The LM wasn't designed to withstand launch? What, did they just find it up there?

By your definition, the LM isn't a "pure" spacecraft as it has to land and house a crew on the moon. A "true" spacecraft, I suppose, would be a habitable ship that is constructed in orbit- and is never as a whole on the ground. Making Mir the World's first spacecraft.

Skylab and Salyut were both built and launched as a whole- and were technically habitable after launch. Mir's core was launched first, and then habital modules were added later. It's final design was only ever achieved on orbit, unlike all other space capsules, stations, pods etc. before that, which were wholey constructed on Earth and then launched.

 

[thomasantony]

Well, actually what it means is that it is the first spacecraft that was designed without considering aerodynamics, as it was meant to operate solely outside the atmosphere.

~
Thomas