Detailed Landing Procedures

  • Select various video, sound, texture, and other options in the Startup and Advanced dialogs.  For more information see Startup Settings.
  • After selecting a Mission and Flight from the startup dialog, select Continue to begin the flight.
  • A loading window appears and displays the progress of the various elements being initialized and loaded. At the conclusion of initialization the program will begin in either a windowed or fullscreen mode (depending on your initial selection).
  • After a brief intro ‘fly through’ sequence (can be stopped with the space bar), the program will settle down to the opening view.  EL3D is paused and ready for flight.  The menu is shown on the left and clicking Start or F5 will begin the flight and the menu will disappear.  If you want to see the menu again, press F6.  Pressing F6 or Esc will hide the menu. 
  • If this is your first time you may wish to view a replay and ‘ride along’ for the first time:
    • Viewing Replays
      • From the menu click Load.  A box appears with the current available replays.  Select one by clicking on it.  Pressing OK returns you to the menu.  Begin the replay by pressing Start Replay.
      • As the replay plays you can select various views to watch the flight from different angles.
      • Also use the space bar to select various view overlays.
      • After landing you can see the ‘score’ of the recorded replay by using the space bar to bring up the score display.  In Spot view you can see the flight path overlaid on the screen.
  • Note: If your EL3D installation is not registered you will not have the following capability.  See the P66 flight below.  If you are registered and have selected a longer mission (P64) you will be at about 7000’ to 8000’ and traveling at anywhere between 325fps to 500fps (mission dependent).  You should select a window view such as Virtual View 1 (key 1), Cockpit View 1(key 4) or Cockpit View 2(key 5).  This allows you to see through the front window and your eye is aligned with the Landing Point Designator (LPD).  The LPD consists of markings inscribed on the outside and inside window panes.  These markings correspond to the angle reported by the DSKY.  If you cycle the view overlay options with the space bar you can overlay the DSKY on the screen or just have an information bar at the bottom of the screen.  In any event, the angle is reported by the right-hand side two digits of Register 1 in the DSKY or in the info bar at the bottom.  This angle corresponds to the computed landing point.  Sighting through the LPD at this angle will show you where the LM is going to land on this trajectory.  In Virtual View 1 you can move your ‘head’ by using the POV hat on your joystick or the A, D, W, X,Q,E keys.  You will notice that the lining up of the inside and outside scribe marks in like lining up the sights of a handgun.  The way to vary the trajectory is as follows:
    • Press PRO on the DSKY.  The DSKY stops the flashing and indicates the AGC is ready to accept landing point re-designation.
    • Look through the LPD at the angle reported by the DSKY and decide if the landing spot is acceptable.  If you don’t like what you see you can move the controller out of detent and ‘nudge’ it in the direction you would rather go.  Side-to-side trajectory changes are about 2deg per nudge.  Fore and aft in-plane changes are about 1/2deg per nudge.  You will notice the LM bank or pitch appropriately to respond to the new landing target.
    • LPD re-designation is available through most of P64 flight.  The left-hand side two digits of Register 1 of the DSKY will tell you how many seconds are left for re-designation.  As the end of P64 flight approaches the landing target will move off the bottom of the LPD.  P66 flight is imminent.
    • P66 Final Approach.  This is the final terminal phase of flight and starts between 350’ to 500’ above the ground (mission dependent).  The P66 program is started automatically when P64 has concluded.  When flying with the Primary Navigation Guidance System (PGNS, pronounced “pings”) switch in Auto (learn about the switches and their functions here), the program automatically nulls the horizontal velocities and slows the descent rate to 3fps.  The landing will then occur automatically.  Of course no commander ever let the LM land automatically, so switching the PGNS switch to “Attitude Hold” (default is SHIFT+G key, twice) allows manual flight control of the LM attitude.  If you selected a P66 flight from the Flight combo box, the PGNS key is already in Attitude Hold (this includes the non-registered Apollo 11 P66 flight).  If you were in P64 flight then you will have to manually select Attitude Hold.  Some guidelines to follow in P66:
      • Use the controller to ‘fly’ the LM to a safe landing on level ground.
      • Adjust the Rate of Descent (ROD) with the up or down ROD switch either on your joystick or the “minus” or “plus” keys.  A click of the ROD switch changes the ROD about 1fps.  The AGC calculates all of the vectors and maintains the ROD even while you are maneuvering.  All of the actual moon landings were done in this automatic throttle setting.  You can try switching to manual throttle (T key) and handle all of the throttle adjustments manually.  Your score gets bonus points for manual throttle use.
      • As you get very close to the ground the dust becomes very thick and it may be hard to see positive ground reference points.  This is where it might be better to fly under IFR (borrowing a term from aviation meaning Instrument Flight Rules or flying solely on instruments when in clouds).  Use the X-Pointer and FDAI ball to keep your horizontal rates nulled.
      • When the Contact light comes on you can kill the engine (K key).  The contact probes extend about 6’ below three of the pads.  They sense touching the ground. On Apollo 11 they landed with the engine on even though it was not exactly NASA procedure.  NASA had decided that it was better to shut the engine off at a safe altitude and fall the few feet to the surface rather then risk damaging the engine while it was running in case there was a big rock under the LM. 
      • You Landed!
  • If this was a particularly noteworthy landing you might want to observe details of your score or save the replay for later viewing. 
    • If you wish to save the replay press F6 to bring up the menu.  Select Save Replay and then type a label you would like to call it and click OK.
    • If you want to look at details of your score and flight trajectory, select a Spot View and then press the space bar a few times until you see the score display pop-up.  You will also see your flight path while under P66.  See Scoring for details on this display.
  • P68 Landing Termination program.  Use the DSKY to select the P68 program (V37E68E).  To learn how to use the DSKY click here. This readies the LM for surface operations.
  • Once safely on the lunar surface you will probably want to explore your surroundings with an EVA (Extra Vehicular Activity).  Press 0 and you will be looking out the open hatch.  Move forward/backward with the joystick or W or X keys.  As you move out onto the porch or down the ladder you may want to stop and listen to the words of an actual astronaut as he comments on his progress and impressions.  At the bottom of the ladder step off (forward) and have fun exploring.  The POV hat or arrow keys will change you head view.  Moving the joystick or A,W,D,X keys will allow you to walk.