Surveyor 1

Surveyor 1 is the first lunar probe of the Programme Surveyor American to explore the the Moon. The program was managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA, using machines designed and built by the company Hughes Aircraft. It was launched the May 30th 1966, and lands successfully the June 2nd of the same year on the Océan of the Storms (it was the first lunar landing carried out by the the United States). The probe transmitted in all 11 237 images towards the Earth.

Description of the mission

The Surveyor probe was designed to carry out the objectives of the program, which comprised the first lunar landing by an American space engine. No particular instrument for experiments was carried, however considerable scientific informations were obtained. The probe was equipped with two cameras for the approach, which was not used and for the operations on lunar surface. More than 100 sensors were on board. The system of remote transmission transmitted images of the sole of the probe, and surrounding lunar ground. The probe also gathered data on the reflectivity radar of lunar surface, on the hardness of the lunar ground, and on the temperature of the probe for its use in the analysis of the temperatures of the lunar ground. The probe was launched the May 30th 1966, directly on lunar trajectory of impact. The engines were extinct 3,4 m with the top of the ground of the Moon. The probe fell freely from this height, landing the June 2nd 1966 on the Océan of the Storms, with the coordinates 2,45° S; 43,22° W (Coordinated selenographic). The probe transmitted data shortly after that it had touched the ground until the July 14th 1966, with a pause without operations during the lunar night (from June 14th to July 7th, 1966. The technology matters continued until the January 7th 1967.

Scientific instruments

Video camera

The video camera was composed of a tube Vidicon, lenses of 25 and 100 mm of focal Distance, obturators, filters, and diaphragms assembled along a tilted axis of roughly 16 degrees of the axis power station of the probe. The camera was assembled under one to mirroir which could vary in azimuth and of rise. The cover image by image of lunar surface was obtained on 360 degrees in azimuth and of +40 degrees above the normal plan of axis Z of the camera with -65 degrees in lower part of this plan. Two modes were used, one of 200 lines, the other of 600 lines. The mode 200 lines transmitted the first 14 photographs on an omnidirectional aerial and scannait a screen every 61,8 seconds. The remaining transmissions were made with the mode 600 lines with a directional antenna, and each screen was scannée every 3,6 seconds. Each image of 200 lines needed 20 seconds for a video transmission supplements and used band-busy of 1,2 Khz. Each image of 600 lines picture needed 1 second (face value) to be read vidicon and required band-busy of 220 Khz for the transmission. The transmission of the data was converted into a signal of standard television signal for closed circuit and diffusion on public television. The images of television were posted on Earth by a monitor with coated slow phosphorus sweeping with long persistence. Persistence was selected to be optimal at the maximum rate of screens nominal. A screen of identification was received for each screen coming from the probe and was posted in real-time ata rate compatible with the image of arrived. These data were recorded on a video tape recorder. More than 10.000 images fur taken by Surveyor 1 before the lunar sunset of June 14th, 1966, of which panoramas with narrow angle, studies photometric, studies of special zones and photographs celestial. The probe answered the ordering of activation of the camera on July 7th and, until July 14th, 1966 returned nearly 1000 other screens.

Pressure pick-ups

The pressure pick-ups were assembled on the shock absorber of each foot to record the maximum thrust load with the impact of aterrissage of the probe. It was conceived for a force being able to go up to 7,8 kN.

Trophy Collar of 1967

In 1967, the Trophée Collar was granted to Lawrence Hyland, in the name of Hughes Aircraft and of the team of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA for “the greatest success in aeronautics or astronautics in America with regard to the improvement of the performance, the effectiveness, and the safety of an air or space vehicle, of which the value at summer thoroughly shown by the real use the previous year. ”

External bonds

Results of the program Surveyor 1969
Surveyor I - preliminary Report/ratio - 1 {{E}} June, 1966
Report/ratio of mission Surveyor I part II - scientific Data and results - Sept. 1966

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