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This question is spun off from a different question I posted, where I was told I should not combine questions into one.

I am interested to learn more about the Apollo Docking System. I know that the CM has a Probe that docks to the LM's Drogue. After these two components meet, twelve latches form a solid connection between the two modules, at which point the crew removes the probe and drogue to create a wide open tunnel between the two craft.

After removing the probe and drogue, these would have to be stored somewhere. Was there a designated storage solution for these to keep them undamaged and out of the way? Perhaps a special protective bag?

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  • $\begingroup$ Related: space.stackexchange.com/q/37534/6944 See the first link in the answer and the source document there for a detailed description. $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 2 at 11:09
  • $\begingroup$ @BradV there's a photo in the question I linked in the first comment that shows the probe and drogue floating in the lower equipment bay. It doesn't look like they are restrained so I doubt it was the final solution. I haven't researched this part of it - it makes sense to me that it would be stowed but I don't know the details that OP is asking for. $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 3 at 1:35
  • $\begingroup$ further answers in other directly related questions make my comments irrelevant and so I deleted them. $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 3 at 18:41

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As per Scott P. Sullivans "Virtual Apollo" (Apogee Books 2002):

The probe and drogue are then [sc. after the docking] removed and passed down to the CM, with the CM tunnel hatch, to be stored in the aft equipment bay.

In the drawings from the same book (created as CAD drawings by the author) this is referred to as "lower equipment bay" but I assume that is the one. Special bags are not mentioned.

Cutaway of Apollo Command Module

Mr. Sullivan is an engineer and technical illustrator with an interest in space exploration, so the books ("Virtual Apollo" and "Virtual LEM") are not any sort of official documentation, but as far as I can tell they are well researched and when they came out in the early 2000s there were not a lot of good internet resources and my copies are to this day my pride and joy ;-)

So not really new information compared to the comments, I just like to remind people of those lovely books.

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