CCCP Lunar Program - Luna-10 commemorative stamp.
March 31, 2021
Exactly 55 years ago, on March 31, 1966, the automatic station "Luna-10", created at the S.А. Lavochkin (now - Scientific and Production Association named after S. A. Lavochkin, part of the State Corporation "Roscosmos"). A few days later, it entered a stable orbit of the Moon and became its first artificial satellite in history!
Since 1958, a program aimed at studying outer space using interplanetary vehicles has been actively developing in the USSR. In 1966, the Soviet apparatus "Luna-9" (also produced by NPO Lavochkin) made a soft landing on the moon for the first time in history. Thanks to this, scientists learned a lot about its surface, but there was an acute question of a comprehensive study of the circumlunar space using orbiting satellites. To do this, NPO Lavochkin developed the Luna-10 apparatus.
The main goal of the Luna-10 interplanetary journey is to gain a foothold in the Moon's orbit, explore the circumlunar space, as well as the chemical composition of its surface on the visible and reverse sides. Entering orbit is not an easy task, as most circumlunar orbits are unstable. If the device flies too high, then it may just fly by, and if it is too low, then it risks falling to the surface of the moon. Despite this, a few days after launch, the device entered a stable orbit of the Moon, and became its first artificial satellite in history!
While Luna 10 was in orbit, scientists received direct data on the lunar surface and near-lunar space. By the nature of the reflected gamma radiation, we learned the general chemical composition and type of rocks that occur on the lunar surface. The device transmitted data on the intensity of the lunar magnetic field and the absence of radiation belts in its orbit. Analyzing the trajectory of the apparatus, scientists first discovered anomalies of the Moon's gravitational field: in some of its areas the attraction was stronger than in others. Flying over them, the device accelerated, which was displayed on the trajectory of its movement.
So scientists made the first map of the distribution of the Moon's gravitational field. These discoveries anticipated subsequent ones: years later, zones with anomalously strong gravity were called mascons and were described in detail using data from the Lunar Orbiter. It is assumed that the mascons were formed due to the excess density of matter in the area of impact craters, which, after their formation, were filled with molten mantle from the interior of the Moon.
In total, the Luna-10 station was actively functioning for 56 days, 219 communication sessions were conducted, which constituted an absolute world record. During this time, the apparatus fully fulfilled the scientific program entrusted to it, having completed 450 revolutions in the orbit of the Moon by the end of its active existence. The Soviet apparatus "Luna-10" was the first step in the study of other planets of the solar system from their orbit. Thanks to the project, extensive scientific information was obtained, which determined the success of future interplanetary missions.
ROSCOSMOS Press Release: https://www.roscosmos.ru/30546/
Images, Text, Credits: ROSCOSMOS/CCCP Lunar Program/Orbiter.ch Aerospace/Roland Berga.
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