NASA's Lunar Orbiter 3 Mapping the Moon's Surface and Paving the Way for Future Exploration
2NASA's Lunar Orbiter 3 was launched on February 5, 1967, with the mission of mapping the moon's surface in high detail to aid in the selection of landing sites for the Apollo missions. It was the third spacecraft in the Lunar Orbiter Program, following Lunar Orbiter 1 and Lunar Orbiter 2, which had already mapped approximately 75% of the moon's surface.
Lunar Orbiter 3 was equipped with a camera system that could take high-resolution images of the lunar surface. Over the course of its mission, the spacecraft took over 1,500 photographs of the moon, covering about 70% of the surface that had not been previously mapped. The images were captured with a resolution of up to 2 meters per pixel, allowing for unprecedented detail of the moon's surface features.
The photographs taken by Lunar Orbiter 3 were used to create detailed maps of the moon's surface, which were crucial for selecting landing sites for the Apollo missions. The maps helped NASA identify areas that were flat and relatively free of boulders, which were important criteria for safe lunar landings.
In addition to its mapping mission, Lunar Orbiter 3 also conducted experiments to measure radiation levels around the moon and to test the spacecraft's communication system.
Lunar Orbiter 3 completed its mission on October 9, 1967, after transmitting all of its data back to Earth. Its legacy includes a wealth of information about the moon's surface and the invaluable role it played in paving the way for future exploration.