Abstract
THE tendency of lunar soil to break into clods when disturbed was recognized from Surveyor 1 photographs1,2. Pictures of disturbances produced in bearing tests with the Surveyor 3 soil mechanics surface sampler3 suggested to some observers that the soil layer in Oceanus Procellarum tends to crack into thin flat “tiles” (Figs, 1a and 2a) and, therefore, that it consists of a thin, rather rigid crust over a softer substrate. Pictures of areas disturbed by the Apollo 11 closeup camera in Mare Tranquillitatis (Fig. 3a) and by the Apollo 12 lunar module descent engine in Oceanus Procellarum conveyed a similar impression4,5. None of the authors of these works were misled, and, indeed, they warned against this interpretation3–5. Nevertheless, photographs made by the Apollo 12 astronauts of the areas disturbed by Surveyor 3 help to clarify the matter.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Surveyor Scientific Evaluation and Analysis Team, Science, 152, 1737 (1966).
Christensen, E. M., Batterson, S. A., Benson, H. E., Chandler, C. E., Jones, R. H., Scott, R. F., Shipley, E. N., Sperling, F. B., and Sutton, G. H., J. Geophys. Res., 72, 801 (1967).
Scott, R. F., and Roberson, F. I., J. Geophys. Res., 73, 4045 (1968).
Gold, T., Icarus, 12, 360 (1970).
Gold, T., Pearce, F., and Jones, R., Lunar Surface Closeup Stereoscopic Photography, in NASA SP-235, 183 (NASA, Washington, DC, 1970).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
JAFFE, L. Physical Sciences: Cracking of Lunar Mare Soil. Nature 234, 402–403 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/234402a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/234402a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.