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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rage Guy" data-source="post: 20268079" data-attributes="member: 419876">A  rocket engine. But the trick is that the rocket stage that took off the  moon only needed enough fuel to bring the Astronauts (and soil samples  from the Moon) back to Lunar orbit, where the much more powerful  command-service module (CSM) was waiting to bring them back to Earth.  Also, the descent stage of the lunar lander acted as a sort of "launch  station" and was left behind.  Also, it should be noted that there are many different types of  rocket engines. The ones used to take off from Earth are very  maintenance-intensive, because we can afford them like that. For  example, they're powered by liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen, which  have to be stored so cold that they literally boil in the tanks and have  to be replenished continuously during the countdown.   The kind of engine used in the Lunar ascent stage uses hypergolic  fuel. This basically means storing two different chemicals that ignite  on contact, then making them come into contact on purpose - they don't  require an external ignition source, which removes a possible point of  failure. Much easier to operate, but much less powerful than a liquid  oxygen/hydrogen engine - but that's fine, because gravity is much weaker  on the Moon.  They didn't need a rocket like they did on Earth since the gravity on the Moon is about 17% what it is here.The  astronauts would start in a lunar parking orbit in the CSM (Command  Service Module) which the LM (Lunar Module) was attached to. When they  were ready to explore the moon's surface, they climbed in the LM,  detached from the CSM, and descended towards the moon using a descent  stage on the LM.After they were done, they used the descent  stage as a launch pad, fired up the ascent engine, and then would  rendezvous with the CSM. Once everyone was safely in the CSM (along with  any samples they collected), they detached the LM and went home.</blockquote>

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