NASA Apollo Lunar Excursion Module - This exceptional model will impress collectors and hobbyist with its high quality and detail. A great addition to your home or office collection. *In Stock - Ships in 2 Business Days*
 

The Lunar Excursion Module (LEM), also known as the Apollo Lunar Module, is the portion of the Apollo craft that lands on the moon and returns to lunar orbit. The 6.65 m module was designed to carry a crew of two. It is 6.4 m high and 4.3 m across and rests on four legs. During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union were in an astronautically engineering race. President Kennedy made exploration and lunar landing a top national priority.

As the program continued there were numerous redesigns to save weight, improve safety, and fix problems. The LEM is divided into two major parts: the Descent Module and the Ascent Module. The Descent Module contains the landing gear, landing radar antenna, descent rocket engine, and fuel to land on the moon. It also carries the water tank and the majority of the battery power and oxygen. The Ascent Module contains the crew cabin, radar and communications antennas, instrument panels, and guidance and navigation systems. The first LEM flight was on January 22, 1968, when the unmanned LM-1 was launched on a Saturn IB for testing of propulsion systems in orbit. On July 20, 1969, LM-5 Eagle, the LEM of the Apollo 11 mission, landed on the moon.