Apollo Applications Program

The Apollo Applications Programme (AAP) was established by NASA headquarters in 1968 to develop science based manned space missions using surplus material from the Apollo Lunar Landing Programme. Initially the AAP office in Washington was an off shoot of the Apollo X bureau that was developing technology concepts for mission proposals based on the Saturn V booster such as a Space Station, the Grand Tour and Mars Lander probes and a manned lunar base. When procurement of Saturn Vs other than those required for the Lunar landing was stopped in 1968 focus shifted to AAP. Aside from attempting to show that Apollo presented value for money NASA and the main contractors also hoped to put-off the inevitable scaling down of staff and facilities following the completion of the first moon landing.

Three AAP proposals were selected for development:

The Apollo Telescope Mission would be an earth orbiting mission for Solar Observation. The Telescope would be based on a modified Lunar Module ascent stage and launched using a S-1VB. The Telescope would be docked to a CSM with a three man crew. Solar panels on the Telescope would provide additional power allowing an extended mission of 21-28 days. The Telescope module would include a pressurized compartment providing additional living and workspace for the crew.

The Apollo Manned Survey Mission proposed an Earth observation science module also based on the Lunar Module ascent stage and would also have been launched using a S-1VB vehicle into a high inclination orbit. It was also proposed that a surplus Saturn V would launch a manned lunar survey mission to establish suitable sites for later manned landings.

The Wet Workshop concept provided for a low-budget earth orbiting space station. A modified S-1VB would be launched into orbit the second stage carrying a docking module and large solar panels. An Apollo CSM would then be able to dock with the Second stage and enter the now empty fuel tanks which would provide a workshop in space. The interior space could be pressurised and it was also suggested that the Apollo Telescope and Survey Mission modules might be docked to the Wet Workshop to create a modular space station.

Originally AAP missions would alternate with Apollo Lunar missions starting in 1969. However when NASAs 1969 budget was cut focus was shifted to the Skylab dry workshop space station proposal which managed to accomodate the equipment already specified for the AAP missions.