1.2 Status of Lunar Lander Technology Development Outside China
11
5) Landing cushion
To meet the requirements of large landing mass, the landing cushion mechanics was
powerful. It could work well under the condition that the vertical velocity was less
than 5 m/s, the horizontal velocity was less than 1 m/s and the slope of lunar surface
was less than 15 degree.
1.2.2 Development of Lunar Lander Technology
in the United States [1, 6−13]
The lunar exploration program of Unite States was initiated in 1958. The ultimate
goal of Unite States lunar exploration program was manned lunar landing. A series of
robotic lunar missions were implemented in early stages including impact, orbiting,
soft-landing and etc. Technologies for manned lunar mission were demonstrated and
environment properties of the Moon were acquired by those missions.
The first generation of lunar probes of the United States was the Pioneer Program
including 5 probes. The probes were designed to enter the lunar orbit, but all failed
because of different reasons. After that, the second generation—the Ranger Program
succeeded in lunar orbiting exploration. Nine Ranger probes were launched from
Aug. 1961 to Mar. 1965: The Ranger 1 and the Ranger 2 were failed; The Ranger
3, Ranger 4 and Ranger 5 sent back images of lunar surface; The camera onboard
the Range 6 failed; The Ranger 7 was the first probe that sent back photo close to
lunar surface; The Ranger 8 and Ranger 9 sent back high resolution images of lunar
surface before they impacted the Moon.
The third generation—the Surveyor Program probes were launched since 1965.
Surveyor probes succeeded in lunar soft-landing.
1. Brief Information of Surveyor Landers
The Surveyor landers could land on lunar surface and perform scientific exploration
and send back data to the Earth. Seven Surveyor landers were launched by the United
States, where five of them succeeded and two failed. The first four of five successful
probes landed on different locations near lunar equator, and the last one landed on the
high land of south hemisphere. Four probes survived the coldest lunar night and the
lifetime on lunar surface was longer than one month. All lifetime on lunar surface
of the five probes was over 17 months and over 87,000 images were sent back.
Six different types of chemical analysis were conducted to surface and subsurface
sample. The composition of lunar regolith was tested by digging or other means.
The mechanics, thermal and electric properties of lunar regolith were measured.
The exploration results profoundly expanded human knowledge of the Moon. The
mission goals of Luna 9 were including:
(1) Developing and validating the technology for landing softly on the Moon.
(2) Providing fundamental data for support of the Apollo Program.
(3) Adding to the scientific knowledge of the Moon by lunar exploration.
11
5) Landing cushion
To meet the requirements of large landing mass, the landing cushion mechanics was
powerful. It could work well under the condition that the vertical velocity was less
than 5 m/s, the horizontal velocity was less than 1 m/s and the slope of lunar surface
was less than 15 degree.
1.2.2 Development of Lunar Lander Technology
in the United States [1, 6−13]
The lunar exploration program of Unite States was initiated in 1958. The ultimate
goal of Unite States lunar exploration program was manned lunar landing. A series of
robotic lunar missions were implemented in early stages including impact, orbiting,
soft-landing and etc. Technologies for manned lunar mission were demonstrated and
environment properties of the Moon were acquired by those missions.
The first generation of lunar probes of the United States was the Pioneer Program
including 5 probes. The probes were designed to enter the lunar orbit, but all failed
because of different reasons. After that, the second generation—the Ranger Program
succeeded in lunar orbiting exploration. Nine Ranger probes were launched from
Aug. 1961 to Mar. 1965: The Ranger 1 and the Ranger 2 were failed; The Ranger
3, Ranger 4 and Ranger 5 sent back images of lunar surface; The camera onboard
the Range 6 failed; The Ranger 7 was the first probe that sent back photo close to
lunar surface; The Ranger 8 and Ranger 9 sent back high resolution images of lunar
surface before they impacted the Moon.
The third generation—the Surveyor Program probes were launched since 1965.
Surveyor probes succeeded in lunar soft-landing.
1. Brief Information of Surveyor Landers
The Surveyor landers could land on lunar surface and perform scientific exploration
and send back data to the Earth. Seven Surveyor landers were launched by the United
States, where five of them succeeded and two failed. The first four of five successful
probes landed on different locations near lunar equator, and the last one landed on the
high land of south hemisphere. Four probes survived the coldest lunar night and the
lifetime on lunar surface was longer than one month. All lifetime on lunar surface
of the five probes was over 17 months and over 87,000 images were sent back.
Six different types of chemical analysis were conducted to surface and subsurface
sample. The composition of lunar regolith was tested by digging or other means.
The mechanics, thermal and electric properties of lunar regolith were measured.
The exploration results profoundly expanded human knowledge of the Moon. The
mission goals of Luna 9 were including:
(1) Developing and validating the technology for landing softly on the Moon.
(2) Providing fundamental data for support of the Apollo Program.
(3) Adding to the scientific knowledge of the Moon by lunar exploration.