CaltechAUTHORS
  A Caltech Library Service

Movement of Surveyor 3 spacecraft

Scott, R. F. and Lu, T.-D. and Zuckerman, K. A. (1971) Movement of Surveyor 3 spacecraft. Journal of Geophysical Research, 76 (14). pp. 3414-3423. ISSN 0148-0227. doi:10.1029/JB076i014p03414. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20141107-085448222

[img]
Preview
PDF - Published Version
See Usage Policy.

1MB

Use this Persistent URL to link to this item: https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20141107-085448222

Abstract

An examination of the position of the Surveyor 3 spacecraft as it appeared in the photographs taken by astronauts C. Conrad and A. Bean of the Apollo 12 lunar mission in November 1969 suggested that some changes had occurred in the spacecraft's attitude since the Surveyor operation of April 1967. A detailed study was made by simulating in the laboratory the position of one of the Surveyor spacecraft's footpads and its imprints in the lunar surface. Photographs were taken both from the location of the original Surveyor television camera and from the estimated position of the astronauts. It was found to be impossible to match the footpad and imprint positions and attitude in pictures taken from the two points of view. Consequently, it is tentatively concluded that the Surveyor spacecraft moved a few inches at some time between May 1967 and November 1969. It seems most likely that this movement occurred as a result of a relatively sudden failure of one or two of the shock absorbers on Surveyor's landing gear, since 2 out of the 3 shock absorbers were collapsed at the time of the astronauts' visit.


Item Type:Article
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/JB076i014p03414DOIArticle
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/JB076i014p03414/abstractPublisherArticle
Additional Information:Copyright 1971 by the American Geophysical Union. (Received October 20, 1970.) Part of the work described here was supported under NASA grant NGR-05-002-118.
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
NASANGR-05-002-118
Subject Keywords:Moon: Exploration
Issue or Number:14
DOI:10.1029/JB076i014p03414
Record Number:CaltechAUTHORS:20141107-085448222
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20141107-085448222
Official Citation:Scott, R. F., T.-D. Lu, and K. A. Zuckerman (1971), Movement of Surveyor 3 spacecraft, J. Geophys. Res., 76(14), 3414–3423, doi:10.1029/JB076i014p03414.
Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:51416
Collection:CaltechAUTHORS
Deposited By: George Porter
Deposited On:07 Nov 2014 17:49
Last Modified:10 Nov 2021 19:10

Repository Staff Only: item control page