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At least 253 records · Page 14

Summary of scientific results

Apollo 11 lunar mission results, discussing surface, seismology, laser ranging retroreflector, solar wind and rock samples

Calio, A. J.↗

Lunar cratering chronology

Apollo lunar rock sample solidification and impact rates, deriving cratering time behavior

Hartmann, W. K.↗

Superconducting rock magnetometer system

A three axis magnetometer system intended for use in the magnetic measurement of lunar rock samples was designed, fabricated and delivered to NASA Manned Spacecraft Center. The system has a four inch diameter room temperature sample access region and is fitted with three orthogonal magnetic field sensors enclosing this region. Two superconducting magnetic shields are incorporated, which are designed to eliminate external magnetic noise from the sense coils. A superconducting solenoid is mounted coaxially with the sample region and this provides axial magnetic fields up to 1,000 gauss. The system was designed for measuring magnetic moments of geophysical samples, especially remanent moments of lunar samples. The sensitivity of the system in all three axes is about 2 x 10 to the -7th power EMU square root HZ peak to peak, measured in the 0 to 1 Hz bandwidth.

Source record↗

Infrared spectrometry studies: Spectral digital data acquisition system (1971 version)

The construction of the Stanford Spectral Digital Data Acquisition System is described. The objective of the system is to record both the spectral distribution of incoming radiation from the rock samples measured by the spectroradiometer (Exotech Model 10-34 Circular Variable Filter Infrared Spectroradiometer) together with other weather information. This system is designed for both laboratory and field measurement programs. The multichannel inputs (8 channels) of the system are as follows: Ch 1 the Spectro-radiometer, Ch 2 the radiometer (PRT-5), and Ch 3 to Ch 8 for the weather information. The system records data from channel 1 and channel 2 alternately for 48 times, before a fast sweep across the six weather channels, to form a single scan in the scan counter. The operation is illustrated in a block diagram, and the theory of operation is described. The outputs are written on a 7-track magnetic tape with IBM compatible form. The format of the tape and the playback computer programs are included. The micro-pac digital modules and a CIPHER model 70 tape recorder (Cipher Data Products) are used. One of the major characteristics of this system is that it is externally clocked by the spectroradiometer instead of taking data at intervals of various wavelengths by using internal-clocking.

Lu, L.↗

Induced and permanent magnetism on the moon - Structural and evolutionary implications.

It is shown that the moon possesses an extraordinary response to induction from the solar wind due to a combination of a high interior electrical conductivity together with a relatively resistive crustal layer into which the solar wind dynamic pressure forces back the induced field. The dark side response, devoid of solar wind pressure, is approximately that expected for the vacuum case. These data permit an assessment of the interior conductivity and an estimate of the thermal gradient in the crustal region. The discovery of a large permanent magnetic field at the Apollo 12 site corresponds approximately to the paleomagnetic residues discovered in both Apollo 11 and 12 rock samples. The implications regarding an early lunar magnetic field are discussed and it is shown that among the various conjectures regarding the early field the most prominent are either an interior dynamo or an early approach to the earth though no extant model is free of difficulties.

Sonett, C. P.↗

Gas retention and cosmic-ray exposure ages of a basalt fragment from Mare Fecunditatis.

The Ar40-Ar39 gas retention age and the Ar38-Ar37 cosmic ray exposure age have been determined on a total rock sample of the basalt fragment B-1 returned from Mare Fecunditatis by the Luna 16 mission. This sample shows a large low-temperature loss of radiogenic Ar40 but defines a reasonably good high-temperature plateau at 3.45 plus or minus 0.04 b.y. This is presumed to identify the period of igneous activity in Mare Fecunditatis. This activity is found to be later than that in the area of Mare Tranquilitatis, but earlier than that in the area of Oceanus Procellarum and Mare Imbrium. The cosmic-ray exposure age was found to be 475 m.y.

Huneke, J. C.↗

Descartes region - Evidence for Copernican-age volcanism.

A model that suggests that the high-albedo central region of the Descartes Formation was formed by Copernican-age volcanism was developed from Orbiter photography, Apollo 12 multispectral photography, earth-based spectrophotometry, and thermal IR and radar data. The bright surface either is abundant in centimeter-sized rocks or is formed from an insulating debris layer overlying a surface with an abundance of rocks in the 1- to 20-cm size range. On the basis of these data, the bright unit is thought to be a young pyroclastic deposit mantling older volcanic units of the Descartes Formation. Since the Apollo 16 target point is only 50 km NW of the central part of this unit, evidence for material associated with this unique highland formation should be searched for in returned soil and rock samples.

Head, J. W., III↗

Third Lunar Science Conference.

Discussion of the nature and properties of lunar rock as deduced from the examination of Apollo lunar rock samples. The topics include the lunar crust, the Fra Mauro formation, the interior of the moon, lunar chronology, surface processes, and earth-moon environment.

Burlingame, A.↗

Sedimentology of clastic rocks from the Fra Mauro region of the moon.

A thin-section examination of sixteen clastic rock samples returned by the Apollo 14 mission from the Fra Mauro region of the moon suggests the presence of at least two distinctly different lithologies. Five of the samples (group I) are characterized by an abundant glassy matrix and glass particles and lesser amounts of plagioclase and pyroxene grains, and lithic clasts. The other eleven samples (group II) are relatively fine grained, very poorly sorted, and consist largely of pyroxene, plagioclase, and lithic clasts set in an abundant mineralic matrix. Group I and II lithologies were probably both deposited from impact generated base surges. The differences between them stem not as much from the basic sedimentary processes as from the differences in the magnitude of the events generating the base surges and the resultant difference in available detrital materials.

Lindsay, J. F.↗