Apollo 11: Landing Point Designator

Apollo 11: Landing Point Designator

Apollo 11 LPD

In 2012 AwE130 reported a discovery that was described as amazing

In 2012 I examined some footage from Apollo 11 and observed details that were absent in the Hasselblad still images. The 16mm film shows the Landing Point Designator (LPD), a set of scribe marks on the inside and outside windows of the Lunar Module. The Commander looks through the LPD and the angle tells him where to look along the vertical scale to find the place where the computer thinks they are going to land. This raises the question of why the LPD markings are visible in the 16mm footage but not in the Hasselblad still photographs. The initial response I received from the Apollo Historical Archive on the NASA website indicated that the Hasselblad camera was oriented in such a way that the LPD would not appear in the frame. I found this explanation unconvincing and subsequently uncovered evidence suggesting that the LPD should have been visible in the Hasselblad photograph. The accompanying image on the left illustrates the comparison between the 16mm film footage (with LPD) and the Hasselblad still image AS11-39-5843 (Without LPD), revealing that both cameras were nearly at the same position. However we aquired definitive evidence with the discovery of a small reflection in Apollo 11 image AS11-39-5843, which had remained unnoticed by NASA for over four decades.

The Reflections

Analyzing the Apollo 11 photograph AS11-39-5843 NASA reveals a small reflection on the thruster. When this reflection is magnified a portion of the LPD lines can be discerned, suggesting that the LPD was within the camera's field of view; otherwise, the reflection would not exist. Move your cursor over the image below to locate the LPD's reflection. I shared this discovery with a contact at the Apollo Historical Archive on the NASA website and received a response via email within a few hours.

LPD Reflection

AS1137-5548

I have also reported reflections of the LPD seen in other Apollo 11 photographs, with AS11-37-5548 being particularly notable. Hovering over the image below reveals the number 2 displayed upside down alongside the LPD's lines. This finding prompts several questions, such as the reason for the upside-down number, the clarity of the reflection in the RCS Thruster and the positioning of the Hasselblad camera. Our contact suggests that it should be possible to determine the camera's position. If this assertion is true then this information has been withheld from me and the rest of the world since 2012, when I first informed them. It begs the question of whether calculations have been made that indicate the Hasselblad camera was situated in an implausible location, implying that the footage may have been produced in a controlled studio setting.

1950 december 13
LPD Number 2 Reflection

The Apollo 11 Landing Point Designator (LPD) And The Impossible Camera Shots!

I will now explain my reasons for believing that this footage was filmed in a studio rather than on the moon. A significant element to consider is the glare shield, which is clearly visible in Apollo 11 mission photo AS11-37-5529. This glare shield was installed between the front windows and the control and flight display panels to prevent sun light from interfering with the control and flight display panels lightings. Also see the images of the Lunar Model simulator. It is evident that the glare shield remains in a fixed position and was not detached during the Apollo 11 mission.

Maybe there was a very good reason for the Apollo Historical Archive to first suggest that the Hasselblad camera was oriented in such a way that the LPD was not in the line of sight. They understood that capturing the photographs with the LPD in the line of sight would be impossible without first removing the glare shield. We raised this concern with both NASA and the Apollo Historical Archive, but I have not yet received any response from either entity. Twelve years have passed, and the silence remains palpable.

Below you can see the 16mm film footage that shows the LPD. The Lunar Module front window was made of two transparent plates approximately 1 inch apart. The LPD is marked on both the inside and the outside window. When you look at the LPD you notice the spread between the two LPD marks which would only be seen if it was filmed under an extreme angle and away from the window. There are many more problems with the LPD photographs and film material which I will address in future articles.

Credit to NASA for the photo and film material I used in this article.

 
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