+ 1970 News Releases (7.6 Mb PDF file) - NASA

'%TIONAL AERONAUTI'CS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
h,.NNEDSPACECRAFT
CENTER - Texas
September 24_ 1970
483-5111 MSC 70-106
HOUSTON_ TEXAS--The _ational Aeronautics and Space Administration
has modified its contract with RCA, Camden, N.J._ for final development
and production of lunar ccmmunications relay units.
Estimated value of %he cost-plus-fixed-fee contract is $3 million.
Total value of the contract is estimated at $10 million.
The lunar communications relay units (LCRU) will transmit astronaut
voice, television, and telemetry communications from the Moon directly
to Earth. The first of the flight units is scheduled for delivery in
June 1971.
Currently, these transmissions are relayed to Earth through the
lunar module. Beginning with Apollo 15, however, astronauts will ride
an electrically powered vehicle called the Lunar Rover which will take
them out of line of commuuications with the lunar module. The LCRU will
be carried on the Lunar Rover and will relay transmissions directly to
Earth. It will also receive voice communications and telemetry commands
from
Earth.
The relay unit will _onsist of a VHF AM receiver and transmitter_
S-band receiver and tran_nitter_ ¥_ voice antenna_ S-band low-gain
antenna and S-band high-g_in antenna. It will be powered by a selfcontained
battery or by lunar rover electric power. The entire LCRU
less antennas _11 have aa Earth weight of about 50 pounds (less than
nine on the Moon)_ and it will be packaged in a container about the size
of a small suitcase (13 x 21 x 5 inches).
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