Surveyor 1

Surveyor 1 was the first probe of the U.S. space agency NASA as part of the Surveyor program. The Surveyor program was the successor of the Ranger program. The results of the program should prepare the first manned moon landing. With Surveyor 1 should be proved that there is a probe possible healing to land on the moon and from there send images and data back to Earth. In addition, the channels of communication should be reviewed and the performing of course corrections are practiced on the direct route to the moon during the flight. Surveyor 1 was the first U.S. probe that landed softly on the moon and transmitted data and images.

Mission

Surveyor 1 was launched on 30 May 1966 aboard an Atlas - Centaur rocket from the launch pad LC - 36 of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. In contrast to the Ranger missions did not prepare a Park Orbit. That is, the probe took after separation from the upper stage right course for the Moon. On May 31 there was a minor course correction. After 63 hours of flight Surveyor 1 lit at a height of 75 kilometers above the lunar surface, the braking engines and thereby decreased the speed of 2612 m / s to 110 m / s At an altitude of about 11 kilometers above the surface of the Doppler radar and altimeter took over the further landing. Was held back from now with vernier engines. At a height of 3.4 meters, the engines were stopped and the probe put the last few meters back in free fall. On June 2, 1966 at 06:17 UT clock Surveyor sat about 100 kilometers north of the crater Flamsteed in Oceanus Procellarum with a residual velocity of about 3 m / s.

After a functional test Surveyor submitted 1, the first of a total of 11,240 images. In addition, data were on the reflectivity of the lunar surface, collected the strength of the surface and the temperature of the probe and transmitted. The temperature of the probe conclusions should be drawn to the surface temperature of the moon. Surveyor 1 survive the lunar night without prejudice and sent the next lunar day again data and images. On 14 July 1966, a sudden voltage drop was noted in the batteries, but it was possible to retrieve 1967 data from the probe until January 7.

The mission was a success.

Trivia

In images of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter was launched in 2009, the landing site of Surveyor 1 can be seen.

External links and sources

Description of the mission Surveyor 1 on nasa.gov (English)
Description of the Surveyor program

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