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Observations on the lunar surface disturbed by the footpads of Surveyor 1

1967; American Geophysical Union; Volume: 72; Issue: 22 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1029/jz072i022p05721

2156-2202

Alan L. Filice,

Space Exploration and Technology

Differences in mean particle size of disturbed versus undisturbed materials in the vicinity of the Surveyor 1 footpads explain the albedo differences seen in Surveyor 1 footpad photographs. Decrease of albedo with increase in particle size is shown by laboratory measurements reported elsewhere and agrees with the Surveyor 1 observation that the darker ejecta is coarser than the surrounding finer grained brighter material. This interpretation of the data also implies that, at the location of Surveyor 1, there exists a lunar surface layer which is very fine grained and less than 5 cm thick. The material at the landing site is basic or ultrabasic in composition.