Results are presented of engineering tests of the Surveyor III television camera, which resided on the moon for 2 and 1/2 years before being brought back to earth by the Apollo XII astronauts. Electric circuits, electrical, mechanical, and optical components and subsystems, the vidicon tube, and a variety of internal materials and surface coatings were examined to determine the effects of lunar exposure. Anomalies and failures uncovered were analyzed. For the most part, the camera parts withstood the extreme environment exceedingly well except where degradation of obsolete parts or suspect components had been anticipated. No significant evidence of cold welding was observed, and the anomalies were largely attributable to causes other than lunar exposure. Very little evidence of micrometeoroid impact was noted. Discoloration of material surfaces -- one of the major effects noted--was found to be due to lunar dust contamination and radiation damage. The extensive test data contained in this report are supplemented by results of tests of other Surveyor parts retrieved by the Apollo XII astronauts, which are contained in a companion report.
Test and Evaluation of the Surveyor 3 Television Camera Returned from the Moon by Apollo 12
1970-12-31
Report
No indication
English