Surveyor 3

USA

International Sat. n°:

USA satellite n°:

Launch data:

Designation  02756 / 67035A
Launch date  17 Apr 1967 - 07:05 UT
Launch site CC, LC-36B
Launch vehicle  Atlas-LV3C Centaur-D (AC-12)
Mission  Moon landing probe
Operator  
Heliocentric orbit
Perihelion / Aphelion  
Incl. to ecliptic  °
Period   min

Surveyor 3 as photographed by the crew of Apollo 12 - Credit: NASA.


Surveyor 3/Apollo 12 Surveyor 3 with astronaut; Apollo 12 Lunar Module in the background - Credit: NASA.

Spacecraft data:

Prime contractor  
Customer  
Platform  
Mass at launch   kg
Dry Mass  kg
Basic shape  
Dimension  
Solar array  
Stabilization  
DC power  

Decay:

Out of service:  
Cause:  
Safe landed on the Moon:  20 Apr 1967
Lifetime: days

Mission details:

Surveyor 3 transmitted 6,326 TV pictures of the surrounding area to Earth. But its biggest achievement was scooping up shovelfuls of lunar soil and conducting experiments to see how the soil would stand up to the weight of an Apollo lunar module. Scientists found the soil to have a consistency similar to wet sand, solid enough for the needs of the upcoming Apollo missions.
A lonely Surveyor 3 A lonely Surveyor 3 on Lunar Surface; Apollo 12 LM in the distance. - Credit: NASA.
Ref.: #1, #6r, #7, #8, #14 - update: 31.08.11 Home