 |
Luna 17
"Lunik 17 / Lunokhod1"
NSSDC ID: 1970-095A
Description:
Luna 17 was launched from an earth parking orbit towards the
Moon and entered lunar orbit on November 15, 1970. The space-
craft soft landed on the Moon in the Sea of Rains. The space-
craft had dual ramps by which the payload, Lunokhod 1, de-
scended to the lunar surface. Lunokhod 1 was a lunar vehicle
formed of a tub-like compartment with a large convex lid on
eight independently powered wheels. Lunokhod was equipped
with a cone-shaped antenna, a highly directional helical antenna,
four television cameras, and special extendable devices to impact
the lunar soil for soil density and mechanical property tests. An
x-ray spectrometer, an x-ray telescope, cosmic-ray detectors,
and a laser device were also included. The vehicle was powered
by a solar cell array mounted on the underside of the lid.
Lunokhod was intended to operate through three lunar days but
actually operated for eleven lunar days. The operations of Lunokhod
officially ceased on October 4, 1971, the anniversary of Sputnik 1.
Lunokhod had traveled 10,540 m and had transmitted more than
20,000 TV pictures and more than 200 TV panoramas. It had
also conducted more than 500 lunar soil tests.
Launch Information:
Launch Date/Time: 1970-11-10 at 14:44:01 UTC
|
 |