Lunar Excursion Module
Detailed App Info:
Application Description
A simple challenge: land the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) using as little fuel as possible.
The auto pilot brings you to a point 3000 feet directly over the target landing point and turns control over to you. Your initial downward velocity (Vz) of 50 feet per second (about 35 mph) and is adjusted with the spring-loaded throttle, which on release springs to 1 lunar gravity (LG). At 1 LG your Vz remains constant. Push the throttle to the left to increase Vz and to the right to reduce Vz (max thrust is 2 LG). A negative Vz means you are climbing (incredibly wasteful of fuel). The throttle can be locked in the full off and full on positions.
You have plenty of fuel for a sane, sensible approach. Just leave Vz at 50 until 1000 feet. At 1000 feet slow to 20, at 500 slow to 15, at 100 slow to 10. Then shoot for 7 at 70, 6 at 60, etc. until you are slowed to 3 and just let her settle in. The LEM shuts-down automatically on contact with the lunar surface. But this will use up almost all of your fuel. If instead you throttle off and let the Vz build to above 120 feet per second (75 mph) then go to full throttle just in the nick of time, you can land with up to 60% of your fuel on board. How good/lucky are you?
Touch down at less than 5 feet per second and an intact LEM appears on the lunar surface and a flag is planted. Land slightly too fast and a slightly broke LEM appears. Faster yet and a LEM broken into large pieces appears. Still faster and a small crater with little bits and pieces of LEM scattered about results. Above 50 feet per second results in a large crater (and no sign of a LEM). You have an unlimited supply of LEMs (and astronauts) so you can litter the lunarscape with LEMs (and craters). A long press on the screen cleans up the moon and starts over.
You adjust your landing/impact point with the four fore, aft and side thrusters. The targeted landing area is marked until you start. If you start to stray away from the approved landing area the "Off-Course" light appears. If you go too far from the approved area the computer "Auto Aborts" the mission. The numbers by the thruster buttons are your horizontal velocity; keep it less than 4 at touchdown to prevent breaking your LEM.
The abort button discards the descent stage and activates the 6 LG ascent stage engine. If you run out of fuel, abort. If you are are approaching too fast to stop with the 2 LG descent stage's engine you may be able avoid making a new crater with an abort. Once activated there is no turning the ascent stage engine off.
Tap the screen to pause/resume. You can pinch to zoom in on the current image.
The auto pilot brings you to a point 3000 feet directly over the target landing point and turns control over to you. Your initial downward velocity (Vz) of 50 feet per second (about 35 mph) and is adjusted with the spring-loaded throttle, which on release springs to 1 lunar gravity (LG). At 1 LG your Vz remains constant. Push the throttle to the left to increase Vz and to the right to reduce Vz (max thrust is 2 LG). A negative Vz means you are climbing (incredibly wasteful of fuel). The throttle can be locked in the full off and full on positions.
You have plenty of fuel for a sane, sensible approach. Just leave Vz at 50 until 1000 feet. At 1000 feet slow to 20, at 500 slow to 15, at 100 slow to 10. Then shoot for 7 at 70, 6 at 60, etc. until you are slowed to 3 and just let her settle in. The LEM shuts-down automatically on contact with the lunar surface. But this will use up almost all of your fuel. If instead you throttle off and let the Vz build to above 120 feet per second (75 mph) then go to full throttle just in the nick of time, you can land with up to 60% of your fuel on board. How good/lucky are you?
Touch down at less than 5 feet per second and an intact LEM appears on the lunar surface and a flag is planted. Land slightly too fast and a slightly broke LEM appears. Faster yet and a LEM broken into large pieces appears. Still faster and a small crater with little bits and pieces of LEM scattered about results. Above 50 feet per second results in a large crater (and no sign of a LEM). You have an unlimited supply of LEMs (and astronauts) so you can litter the lunarscape with LEMs (and craters). A long press on the screen cleans up the moon and starts over.
You adjust your landing/impact point with the four fore, aft and side thrusters. The targeted landing area is marked until you start. If you start to stray away from the approved landing area the "Off-Course" light appears. If you go too far from the approved area the computer "Auto Aborts" the mission. The numbers by the thruster buttons are your horizontal velocity; keep it less than 4 at touchdown to prevent breaking your LEM.
The abort button discards the descent stage and activates the 6 LG ascent stage engine. If you run out of fuel, abort. If you are are approaching too fast to stop with the 2 LG descent stage's engine you may be able avoid making a new crater with an abort. Once activated there is no turning the ascent stage engine off.
Tap the screen to pause/resume. You can pinch to zoom in on the current image.
Requirements
Your mobile device must have at least 11.68 MB of space to download and install Lunar Excursion Module app. Lunar Excursion Module is available on iTunes for $0.00
If you have any problems with installation or in-app purchase, found bugs, questions, comments about this application, you can visit the official website of Stephen Cima at http://itemtable.com.
Copyright © 2013 Stephen Cima
