Lunar Orbiter 3

"Lunar Orbiter-C"
NSSDC ID: 67-008A

Description:
The Lunar Orbiter 3 spacecraft was designed primarily to photo-
graph smooth areas of the lunar surface for selection and
verification of safe landing sites for the Surveyor and Apollo
missions. It was also equipped to collect selenodetic, radiation
intensity, and micrometeoroid impact data. The spacecraft was
placed in a cislunar trajectory and injected into an elliptical
lunar orbit for data acquisition. It was stabilized in a three-axis
orientation by using the sun and the star Canopus as primary
angular references. A three-axis inertial system provided
stabilization during maneuvers and when the sun and Canopus
were occulted by the Moon. Communications were maintained
by an S-band system which utilized a directional and an
omnidirectional antenna. The spacecraft acquired photographic
data from February 15 to 23, 1967, and readout occurred
through March 2, 1967. Accurate data were acquired from all
other experiments throughout the mission. The spacecraft
was used for tracking purposes until it impacted the lunar
surface on command at 14.3 degrees N latitude, 97.7 degrees
W longitude (selenographic coordinates) on October 9, 1967. 

Launch Information:
Launch Date/Time: 1967-02-05
Launch Site/Country: Cape Canaveral, United States
On-orbit dry mass: 385.60 kg
Launch Vehicle: Atlas-Agena D