Luna 11
GSMZ Lavochkin | |
COSPAR ID | 1966-078A |
---|---|
SATCAT no. | 02406 |
Mission duration | 38 days |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft type | GSMZ Lavochkin |
Launch mass | 1640 kg[1] |
Dry mass | 1136 kg |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 24 August 1966, 08:03:21 UTC TsSKB-Progress |
End of mission | |
Last contact | 1 October 1966 |
Decay date | Late 1966 or Early 1967 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Selenocentric |
Periselene altitude | 1898 km |
Aposelene altitude | 2931 km |
Inclination | 27° |
Period | 178 minutes |
Epoch | 24 August 1966 [2] |
Lunar orbiter | |
Orbital insertion | 27 August 1966, 21:49 GMT |
Orbits | 277 |
Instruments | |
Imaging system for lunar photography Gamma-ray spectrometer Magnetometer Radiation detectors Infrared radiometer Meteoroid detector R-1 transmission experiment | |
Luna 11 (E-6LF series) was an
Overview
The objectives of the mission included the study of:
- lunar gamma and X-ray emissions in order to determine the Moon's chemical composition;
- lunar gravitational anomalies;
- the concentration of meteorite streams near the Moon;
- the intensity of hard corpuscular radiationnear the Moon.
137 radio transmissions and 277 orbits of the Moon were completed before the batteries failed on 1 October 1966.
This subset of the "second-generation" Luna spacecraft, the E-6LF, was designed to take the first photographs of the surface of the Moon from lunar orbit. A secondary objective was to obtain data on mass concentrations ("mascons") on the Moon first detected by Luna 10. Using the Ye-6 bus, a suite of scientific instruments (plus an imaging system similar to the one used on Zond 3) replaced the small lander capsule used on the soft-landing flights. The resolution of the photos was 15 to 20 meters. To reduce problems caused by damage to the film due to solar radiation it was planned to take all photos within the first 24 hours of lunar orbits.[3] A technological experiment included testing the efficiency of gear transmission in a vacuum as a test for a future lunar rover.[4]
Luna 11, launched only two weeks after the U.S.
References
- ^ a b Siddiqi, Asif (2018). Beyond Earth: A Chronicle of Deep Space Exploration, 1958–2016 (PDF) (second ed.). NASA History Program Office.
- ^ "NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Trajectory Details". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ISBN 185233746X.
- ISBN 185233746X.