# Apollo question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apollo-question/52497>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 31, 2001, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apollo-question/52497 "2001-01-31T02:32:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![castle\_bravo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@castle\_bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/castle_bravo)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2001, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apollo-question/52497/1 "2001-01-31T02:32:55Z")

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I have been trying to figure out what the delta-V is for a spacecraft to return from lunar orbit to Earth. I can not find this info in any of the space travel books I have, and I don’t know how to figure it out using math. If anyone could point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it.

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**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2001, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apollo-question/52497/2 "2001-01-31T03:07:14Z")

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I remember a book in my Thermodynamics class that might have what you’re looking for. IIRC, it mostly contained thermodynamic cycles and properties for different types of engines, but there were a few pages on the Saturn V rocket that was used on the Apollo missions. There was definitely a graph showing the mass, velocity and altitude of the rocket starting from the launch, it looked like it was copied from the orignal draughtsman’s calculations (the amount of weight a Saturn V burns off in the first two minutes is staggering). The book was hardcover, plain red, and horizontal format (6" high and 12" long). Check a Physics library (Thermodynamics section) for reference books on the performance of different engine types.

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**Author:** ![JimOfAllTrades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@JimOfAllTrades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimOfAllTrades)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2001, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apollo-question/52497/3 "2001-01-31T03:51:51Z")

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Try this link:

[http://www.apollosaturn.com/gcomputer.htm](http://www.apollosaturn.com/gcomputer.htm)

If I’m reading this correctly, it indicates a delta-v of 3292.7 fps for TransEarth injection (which I think is the maneuver to leave lunar orbit and return to earth).

There’s a bunch of other interesting stuff on that same page.

Ugly