NSSDCA ID: 1967-035A-01
Mission Name: Surveyor 3The TV camera consisted of a vidicon tube, 25- and 100-mm focal length lenses, shutters, filters, and iris mounted along an axis inclined approximately 16 deg to the central axis of the spacecraft. The camera was mounted under a mirror that could be moved in azimuth and elevation. Camera operation was totally dependent upon the receipt of the proper command structure from earth. Frame-by-frame coverage of the lunar surface was obtained over 360 deg in azimuth and from +40 deg above the plane normal to the camera Z axis to -65 deg below this plane. Both 600-line and 200-line modes of operation were used. The 200-line mode transmitted over an omnidirectional antenna and scanned one frame every 61.8 sec. A complete video transmission of each 200-line picture required 20 sec and utilized a bandwidth of 1.2 kHz. The 600-line pictures were transmitted over a directional antenna. These framed were scanned every 3.6 sec. Each 600-line picture required nominallly 1 sec to be read from the vidicon and required a 220-kHz bandwidth for transmission. The data transmissions were converted to a standard television signal. The television images were displayed on earth on a slow scan monitor coated with a long persistency phosphor. The persistency was selected to optimally match the nominal maximum frame rate. One frame of TV identification was received for each incoming TV frame and was displayed in real time at a rate compatible with that of the incoming image. These data were recorded on a video magnetic tape recorder. The camera returned 6315 pictures between April 20 and May 3, 1967, including views of the spacecraft, lunar surveys, and views of the soil mechanics surface sampler and of the earth during solar eclipse.
The Apollo 12 Lunar Module landed near the Surveyor 3 spacecraft in November, 1969 and the astronauts examined the spacecraft and brought about 10 kg of parts back to Earth, including the Surveyor 3 camera, which is now on display in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
Questions and comments about this experiment can be directed to: Dr. David R. Williams
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Mr. Raymond M. Batson | Other Investigator | US Geological Survey | |
Dr. Eugene M. Shoemaker | Principal Investigator | California Institute of Technology |