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- Probe for sensing contact with the lunar surface as the Lunar Module (LM) landed on the moon.
- Consists of an aluminum tube with a switch at the end, and a spring-driven mechanism for rotating the probe to the extended position.
- The switch would activate two blue “Lunar Contact” lights on the LM control panel, alerting the crew to shut down the descent engine to complete the landing.
- The tube is covered with insulation made of gold-colored Kapton film, and black Inconel foil for the side facing the LM descent engine.
- A small access port near the end of the tube allowed access to the switch.
- NASA photo shows the Apollo 11 LM with its landing gear and lunar surface sensing probes extended. The landing gear at the front of the LM did not have a sensing probe to prevent interference with moon-walking astronauts as they descended the ladder.
- NASA photos show the +Y footpad of the Apollo 11 LM on the moon with the lunar surface sensing probe bent outward, and as the probe frames the bottom of Buzz Aldrin’s famous image. (The +Y position is to the right when facing forward in the LM.)
Also see:
Grumman engineering drawing for installation of sensing probe insulation:
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Grumman removal tag for this sensing probe:
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2.52 lbs. (1.14 kg)
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