[* “LEM” refers to the lunar excursion module, the lunar lander. The word “excursion” was insisted upon by Owen Maynard and others at Langley who wanted to emphasize its limitations. Eventually headquarters shortened the official title to lunar module, and the official abbreviation was shortened to LM. Everyone continued to call it the “lem,” so we have compromised with purity by spelling it “LEM” throughout the book. The “SLA” was the spacecraft lunar adapter, the slanted section just below the C.S.M. that contained the lunar module during the launch. SLA is pronounced “slaw,” as in cole.]
