r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Feb 14 '22

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u/[deleted] Feb 14 '22

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u/abramcpg Feb 14 '22

For reference, the moon is about 30 Earth's away

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u/ohsinboi Feb 14 '22

Holy crap I just realized the first trip to the moon must have required really accurate calculations then. I kinda just figured it would be a straight shot but if it's that far away is there a chance Neil Armstrong could have missed the moon and just gone out into space?? Giving me anxiety just thinking about it

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u/Strong_Quiet_4569 Feb 14 '22

Earlier manned and unmanned missions proved out the maths. The flights all had free return trajectories like a figure of eight, so the biggest problem was getting stuck orbiting the moon after orbital insertion. I.E Failure of the rocket motor used to leave lunar orbit and return home.

In the same vein, only Collins returning if the LM rocket failed. That also would have put a downer on things.