Luna 17
Courtesy of NASA's National Space Science Data Center
Launch Date: 1970-11-10
Launch Site/Country: Tyuratam (Baikonur Cosmodrome), U.S.S.R.
Launch Vehicle: Proton Booster Plus Upper Stage and Escape Stages
On-orbit dry mass: 5600.00 kg. (12,320 lb.)
Description
Luna 17 was launched from an earth parking orbit towards the Moon and
entered lunar orbit on November 15, 1970. The spacecraft soft landed on the
Moon in the Sea of Rains. The spacecraft had dual ramps by which the
payload, Lunokhod 1, descended 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 10.54 kilometers
(6.55 miles) 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.
Space History
Views of the Solar System Copyright © 1997 by
Calvin J. Hamilton. All rights reserved.