The Lunar Excursion Module (later shortened to Lunar Module) was the two-stage vehicle designed to carry two astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface of the Moon and back. It consisted of a descent stage with landing gear and a rocket engine to slow the descent, and an ascent stage with its own engine to return the crew to the Command Module.
Heard on the job
The LEM descent stage was left behind on the lunar surface to serve as a launch pad for the ascent stage.
Insider tip
Though officially renamed the Lunar Module (LM) by NASA before the Moon landings, astronauts and engineers continued to pronounce it "lem" during the missions.
Also heard as
- Lunar Module