Objectives of Apollo Geological Field Investigations & Proposal for

61 Pages·2007·4.39 MB·English

PROJECT APOLEO

FIELD GEOLOGY PUNNING TEAM

OBJECTIVES OF APOLLO GEOLOGZCAL FIELD INVESTIGATIONS

AND

PROPOSAL FOR DEVELOPMENT OF AN APOLLO FIELD EXPLORATION SYSTEM

BY

Edwin N. Goddard, J. Hoover Mackin,

Eugene M. Shoemaker and Aaron C. Waters

Fiscal Years 1965-66
March 1965
PIW0,JEC'IC APOLEO

FIELD GEOLOGY PUNNING TEAM

OBJECTIVES OF ABOELO GEOLOGICAL FIELD INVESTIGA.TEONS

AflD

PROPOSAL FOR DEVELOPMENT OF AN APOLLo FIELD EXPLOMTTBN SYSTEM

BY
Edwin N, Goddard, J, Hoover Mackin
Eugene M, Shoemaker and Aaron C: Waters
Fiscal Years 1965-66

March 1965
Page
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Objectives of Apsllo geological field investigation 1
Introducti~n
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Fine structure of the mare surfaces
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Concept of field geological exploration system
Selection of samples
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Apolio field exploration system
-,,=,-----------
Equipment carried by astronaut
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Lunar surveying staff
--m----m-------------w3-m--ma----~-,----
Staff tekev-jsion camera
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Scientific functions
--mm---------------m-m~c.2m-
General subsystem specifications
--c-------m----
Stereometric film camera
-------------------mt--------
Scientific functions
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General subsystem specifications
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Tracking and orientation subsystems
Staff ~rackings ubsystem
-------=,-~------'m---~-7-mxJ~-
Scientific functions
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General subsystem speeifieations
Staff orientation subsystem
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Scientific functions
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General subsystem specifications
--=-----------
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Auxiliary orientation instruments
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Scientific func$ions
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General specifications
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CON1CENTS -Csnt inued

Page

Physical properties module
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Gama ray fluxmeter 23

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Scientific functions 23

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General subsystem specifications 24

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Suscegt ibility-conduct ivity induct ion balance 24

Scientific functions 24

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General subsystem specifications 25

Penetrometer
25

Scientific functions 25

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General subsystem specifications 26

Ancillary equipment
26

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Sampling tools and containers 26

Scientific function ------------------------*-- 26

---
General sample and equipment specifications 26

Auxiliary light module
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Scientific function 2%

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General module specifications 28

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Instrument and sample carrier 28

General functions 28

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Audio communications equipment 29

----------------------m-----
Scientific functions 29

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Equipment on LEN 30

Surveillance subsystem ----------------------*------------ 30

Exploration periscope 30

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Page
Scientific functions 30
----------------------m--
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General periscope specifications 31

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Surveillance televisi.on subsystem 31

Scientific functions 31

---------------------em--
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General subsystem specifications 31

.......................
Electrmechanical camera subsystem 32

Scientific function 32

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General subsystem specifications 33

Tebesnetering equipment 33

---m---------------m~---w--------m~-mm~m
Scientific functions 33

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Telemetry alternatives 36

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Data handling equipment ~~--~-----~-----~~~sasa-sa-sacncncncncncncncncncncncncncncn
38

Instrument development plan 40

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Work plan 41

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General 41

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Contract preparation and monitoring 42

Lunar surveying staff 42

--.-e-------------.------------mm---e
Staff television, subsystem 42
----m-m------m---m-----
42

--------
Staff tracking and orientation subsystems 45

.......................
Physical properties module 45

Ancillary equipment 46

---------------------m--m------m-m
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Sampling tools and sample containers 46

Auxiliary light 46

--m--.--.----.----m----mmm-m--~-~m~wm
iii
CONTENTS --@anti nued

Page

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Carrier for instruments, tools, and samples 46

Surveillance system 47

------m---------------------~-mmm~--~
Exploration periscope 47

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....................
Surveillance television camera 47

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Electromechanical camera subsystem 47

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Assembly and use sf a breadboard system 48

Breadboard instruments 48

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Staff television subsystem 48

Stereometric filmcamera 50

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Tracking and orientation subsystems 50

....................
Physical properties components 50

Explorati,sn periscope 51

-----------------D.--m-mmm----
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Surveillance television camera 51

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Electromechanical camera subsystem 51

Field testing of prototype instruments 51

--,------------------
Operating budget 52

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Page
Table 1, Estimated flight mass and power requirements for the
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Apollo field exploration system
Table 2, Nature and accuracy of data to be obtained from the
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Apollo field exploration system
Table 3, Estimated maximum telemetry requirements for the Apollo
field exploration system
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Table 4, Recommendations for instrument development contrasts
Table 5, Sumary budget for breadboard instruments and supporting
equipment t o be used for development sf operational
............................
and analysis techniques
Table 6, Summary of estimated operating costs for the field
geology team, FY 1966
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FIGURE
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Figure 1, Lunar surveying staff concept fsl.lows page 16
PROPOSAL FOR. PROJECT APOLm GEOLOGICAL FIELD INVES-TIGA-TIO NS
by
Edwin N, Goddard, J, Hoover Mackin,
Eugene M. Shoemaker and Aaron C, Waters
OBJECTIVES OF APOLLO GEBWGICAL FIELD INVESTIGATION
INTRODUCTION

Project Apollo will present the first opportunity for field investi-
gations on the Moon. The broad objective of the advance planning of
these investigations i s to enable the astronauts to obtain the maximum
amount of information during the necessarily brief landings, under the
constraints imposed by space flight and the conditions on the Moon's
surface,
Any assemblage of topographic features or materials on the Moon, as
on the Earth, is apt to be the result of some process or event which mod-
ified to a greater or less extent features or materials formed by earlier
events, which in turn modified still earlier features or materials formed
by earlier events, and so on into the past; anything more than a super-
ficial understanding of most lunar problems therefore depends on the
working out of the formative sequence of events.,-that is, the approach
znust be in part historical, Because it will not be possible for the
astronauts directly to observe most of the processes tha% formed the
surface of the Moon, the nature of these processes must be inferred from
the observable products, interpreted in the light of physical laws. In
these and other respects most lunar geologic problems are closely analo-
gous to those of the Earth; methods of investigation developed over a
period of about 200 years of dealing with these problems on the Earth
are directly applicable to studies on the Moon, The innovations made
possib1.e by modern technology are largely madifications sf these proven
methods,
Perhaps the most basic element sf the geologic approach is an
intensive effort to increase the efficiency of the investigator in the
field by obtaining in advance as much information as possible regarding
the area and the problems of its geologic structure, and carrying the
analysis of that information as far as possible before going into the
field, One obvious purpose of this preparatory work is to be sure that,
to the extent that the problems can be anticipated, the field equipment
to be taken to the Moon will be tailor-made to study them. Equally im-
portant is the preparation of what may be called the mental field equip-
ment of the astronaut to the end that he spends his time, not in an
impossible attempt to see and collect everything a t random, but in an
intelligently directed seeking-out of criticah evidence, However
thorough the preparation, it is of course likely that problems will be
----
encountered which were not anticipated attainment of maximum effi-
ciency in the field simply requires carrying analysis of a l l available
data as far as possible, so as to reduce the unexpected to a minimum.
In general, the need for preparation of the mechanical and mental
field equipment for field work on the Earth varies directly with (a) the
complexity of the area, (b) the brevity of the time that can be spent in
the field, and (c) the difficulty of access, If a man is working in his
own back yard, for example, it is not very serious if he has to make
several trips to obtain the evidence that could 'l-ave been gathered in
one trip if he had been aware of the problems, Lunar problems may prove
to be less complex than those of the Ea.rt%~b, ut the ~ t k trc,m factors,
time available and access, place a premium on efficiency the field
in
that is incomparably greater than in any earthbound expedition,
Lunar geologic mapping by the Astrsgearlsgy Branch of the Geological
Survey makes it clear that there are a variety of assemblages of topo-
graphic features on the Moon, and that these features consist of rnateri-
als differing in composition, structure, and age; %bere are on the Noon,
as on the Earth, distinctive topographic and geologic provinces, each of
which will present different problems, This means that the planning for
each landing must be focussed as sharply as practicable on the specific
----
problems of the terrain where the landing is t o be made each type
of terrain will require a somewhat different equipment package, both
mechanical and mental,
A mare floor may be selected for the f i r s t manned landing, primar-
ily because the relatively low relief of the maria offers what seems, at
present, to be the safest conditions for setting down the LEN, The
origin of the maria is a many-sided problem that xi11 not be solved by
studies i n any one place; if the landing site is on a relatively flat
surface a considerable distance from the nearest crater rim or other
major escarpment, the investigations will necessarily be limited to that
surface. The most immediate question will be the composition, fine
structure, and thickness of a superficial layer of fragmental material
believed by many students of the Moon to have been formed by the impact
of objects of various sizes over a very long period of time. Closely
related to the origin of this material, is the distribution and range
in size and shape of craters which pock-mark the surface, as seen in the
Ranger VHL photographs. A second question is the nature of the material
beneath the surficial layer; whether it is (1) solid rock, perhaps the
impact-modified surface of a flood of lava, or (2) detrital material,
laid down a t the time of formation of the maria or later. These prob-
lems are outlined below with a view to developing as far as possible
questions of field procedure that may con£r ont. the astronau~,s
FINE STRUCTUW OF THE M.RE SSwA.CES
Models of the local fine structure of the maria can be derived from
physical studies of the Moon's surface, by means of telescopic photomet-
ry, radiometry and reflected microwave signals, and observations of the
lunar crater distribution in combination with empirical knowledge of the
phenomenology of cratering, cratering theory, current data. on. the flux
of meteoroids i n the vicinity of the Earth, and estimates of the effects
of other processes acting on the lunar surface, such as sputtering pro-
duced by solar bombardment. From such studies we already know that the
lunar crust is demonstrably heterogeneous in composition. The fine
structure of the surface also may be expected to be heterogeneous.