Microcrater investigations on Surveyor 3 material

Abstract

Screws 9 and 23 from Surveyor 3 were examined with a scanning electron microscope for micrometeorite impact features. Six craters on one of the screws appear to be low velocity impact craters, and a flux for about 0.12 sq cm was calculated to be 0.005/sq m/sec for particle diameter or = 1 micron. Two interpretations are considered: (1) The impacts were produced by interplanetary particles and the flux indicates that deviation from the normal distribution exists only for particles below 1 micron in diameter. (2) Most of the craters were produced by secondary lunar debris, and the flux represents the upper limit for interplanetary particles.