Luna 4
This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2008) |
Mission type | Lunar lander | |
---|---|---|
Operator | Soviet space program | |
COSPAR ID | 1963-008B[1] | |
SATCAT no. | 566[1] | |
Mission duration | 12 days (launch to last contact) | |
Spacecraft properties | ||
Spacecraft | OKB-1 | |
Launch mass | 1,422 kilograms (3,135 lb)[3] | |
Start of mission | ||
Launch date | April 2, 1963, 08:04:00 1/5[2] | UTC|
End of mission | ||
Last contact | April 14, 1963[4] | |
Orbital parameters | ||
Reference system | Semi-major axis 394,128 kilometres (244,900 mi) | |
Eccentricity | 0.772 | |
Periapsis altitude | 199 kilometres (124 mi)[5] | |
Apoapsis altitude | 694,000 kilometres (431,000 mi)[5] | |
Inclination | 65.0 degrees[5] | |
Period | 24.21 days[5] | |
Epoch | April 2, 1963[5] | |
Lunar flyby (failed landing) | ||
Closest approach | April 6, 1963, 1:24 UT[3] | |
Distance | 8,336.2 kilometres (5,179.9 mi) | |
Luna 4, or E-6 No.4 (Ye-6 series), sometimes known in the West as Sputnik 26, was a
Mission
Luna 4 was launched by a
The spacecraft did not perform a required midcourse correction manoeuvre, which resulted in it missing the Moon by 8,336.2 kilometres (5,179.9 mi) at 1:24 UT on April 5, 1963. It then entered a
Lunar surface close-up photography
The purpose of this experiment was to obtain information on the characteristics of the lunar surface. These characteristics included the amount of cratering, structure and size of craters, the amount, distribution, and sizes of ejecta, mechanical properties of the surface such as bearing strength, cohesiveness, compaction, etc. Determination and recognition of processes operating to produce the lunar surface features also were among the objectives of this photographic experiment.
References
- ^ a b c "Luna 4". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
- ^ a b Krebs, Gunter. "Luna Ye-6". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
- ^ LCCN 2017059404. SP2018-4041.
- ^ S. N. Vernov, A. Ye. Chudakov, P. V. Vakulov, Ye. V. Gorchakov, Yu. I. Logachev, G. P. Lyubimov, A. G. Nikolayev, 1964, Investigation of Radiation with the Flights of the "Mars 1" and "Luna 4" Interplanetary Automatic Stations, Cosmic Research, vol. 2, no. 4, translated from the Russian, https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/605513.pdf
- ^ a b c d e McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved May 3, 2018.