The Apollo 17 Surface Electrical Properties Experiment antenna performance.

Abstract

The electrical properties of the lunar surface in the area of the Apollo 17 landing site were recently studied by the use of electromagnetic sounding techniques. The Apollo 17 Surface Electrical Properties Experiment was different from most other electromagnetic investigations of the lunar surface in that both the transmitting and receiving equipment was located directly on the lunar surface. The use of such inplace measurements of the electrical properties of the lunar surface is significant in that the exact structure and density of the soil contributes largely to the total electrical model of the moon. This paper will be concerned with a discussion of the transmitter antenna design problems for the Surface Electrical Properties Experiment as well as what is indicated by the returned lunar data about the transmitter antenna performance during the Apollo 17 mission.