Astronomy: Surveyor

The Surveyor moonlanders performed various tests to research the Moon's surface composition. The Surveyor 3 carried a shovel to dig in the dust. Surveyor 5 had an instrument to provide clues of the rock composition of lunar maria. It landed 25 kilometers from the future Apollo 11 landing site in the Sea of Tranquility. The Surveyor 6 landed in the Central Bay area and found basalt, like Surveyor 5. The Surveyor 7 was sent to the crater Tycho in the Southern highlands. Here it found other rock types that - like the basalt - is further evidence that once the Moon had been heated from the inside. Heavier elements sank to the interior, lighter elements surfaced and formed these rocks. The research of the Moon's surface made the path for the Apollo missions. After pictures from the Rangers, the Surveyor missions proved the theory wrong that the Moon was covered with a thick cloud of dust caused by the years of incoming meteorites. A manned mission to the Moon was possible. Related subjects >> the Moon >> Origin of the Moon >> Ranger missions >> Apollo missions >> Zond missions >> Luna missions

The Surveyor moonlander examined the Moon's surface to determine the possibility of a manned landing on the Moon < JPG image 505 X 306 pixels >