Showing posts with label Lunokhod 1. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lunokhod 1. Show all posts

Thursday, November 10, 2022

Luna 17 launched 1970



Luna 17, launched November 10, 1970, delivered Lunokhod 1, the first robotic rover to the moon.  The spacecraft reached the moon November 15 and landed on Nov 17.  Lunokhod 1 had eight wheels that could be controlled independently and could travel up to 100 m/hr or about 0.062 mph.  

During its mission, it traveled 10.5 km, returned over 20,000 images, and performed 25 soil samples.  The last communication with Lunokhod 1 occurred on September 14, 1971.  On October 4, attempts to reestablish contact ceased.

Friday, November 17, 2017

Lunokhod 1 (Луноход), first rover on the moon, lands 1970


On November 17, 1970, Lunokhod 1 (Луноход, which is 'moon walker' in Russian) landed in the Sea of Rains on the moon.  It is the first lunar rover to explore the moon's surface.  It was launched on November 10 and carried into lunar orbit by Luna 17 spacecraft.

Lunokhod 1 would run during the lunar day, using solar panels to power it, and then hibernate at night.  It had a radioactive source to keep its instruments heated during the lunar night.

It operated for almost a year, the last communication received September 14, 1971.  The Soviets finally ended the project October 4, the anniversary of Sputnik 1. Lunokhod 1 travelled about 6 1/2 miles, returned more than 20,000 TV images, 206 high-resolution panoramas, and performed 25 lunar soil analyses.

Lunokhod 1's final resting spot was unknown until April 2010, when a team from University of California at San Diego located it and is being used for determining Earth-Moon aspects.