Apollo Lunar Module (ascent engine)

Factual Questions
1

I vaguely remember seeing an advertisement back in the 70’s or 80’s for Winchester Primers being used on the Apollo Lunar Module, something like “If you only have one shot make it count.” If I remember reading it right they only had one that would fire the ascent engine. Can’t find anything on Google to back me up, and a friend thinks I’m nuts

2

I seriously doubt that NASA used a mechanical primer to ignite an engine.
Google says that the engine was fueled by NTO/Aerozine-50, which is hypergolic (ignites on contact).

3

Maybe they were thinking about the detonators on the SLA?

The Service Module was bolted to a flange at the top of the longer panels, and power to the SLA multiply redundant pyrotechnics was provided by an umbilical. Because a failure to separate from the S-IVB stage could leave the crew stranded in orbit, the separation system used multiple signal paths, multiple detonators and multiple explosive charges where the detonation of one charge would set off another even if the detonator on that charge failed to function.

4

There were also explosive bolts holding the ascent and descent stages together until takeoff. No engine ignition system was present (ullage burn excluded).

5

Here is a schematic of the engine. << http://www.spaceaholic.com/vpa_schematic.jpg >> (no primer)

I agree that a mechanical primer to ignite an engine would be a bad idea. If I’m right about the Winchester advertisement, they many have stretched the truth and only had a small part (if at all) in testing ?

also I did send Winchester an Email asking them. no response yet

6

As I recall reading somewhere, the ascent engine system was designed to be as simple as possible to eliminate as many points of failure as possible. As quoted above, you just had to bring the two fuel components into contact, so no need for any “primers”.