The artifact in the collection is an engineering model, S-10, used for thermal control tests. It was reconfigured to represent a flight model of Surveyor 3 or later, since it was the first to have a scoop and claw surface sampler. After receipt in 1968 it was displayed in Smithsonian's Arts & Industries Building and then was moved to its present location in Gallery 112, Lunar Exploration Vehicles, in 1976.

The Surveyor series was designed to carry out soft landings on the Moon and provide data about its surface and possible atmosphere. These were the first U.S. probes to soft-land on the Moon. Once landed they provided detailed pictures of the surface by means of a TV camera carried on each of the spacecraft. Later Surveyors carried the instrumented soil mechanics surface scoop seen on the artifact. These were used to study the mechanical properties of lunar soil. Some of the spacecraft were also equipped to perform simple chemical analyses on lunar soil by means of alpha particle scattering. There were seven Surveyor launches starting in May, 1966, all launched by the Atlas-Centaur rocket. All but two successfully achieved program goals returning over 88,000 high resolution photographs and invaluable detailed data on the nature and strength of the lunar surface.

Display Status

This object is on display in Destination Moon at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

Destination Moon

Object Details

Key Accomplishment(s)

First U.S. Probes to Soft-Land on the Moon

Brief Description

Surveyor was designed to soft land on the Moon and provide data about its surface and possible atmosphere. It took detailed pictures of the surface using an onboard TV camera. Seven Surveyors launched starting in May, 1966 and all but two were successful.

Country of Origin

United States of America

Type

SPACECRAFT-Uncrewed

Manufacturer

Hughes Aircraft Co.

Dimensions

Overall: 10 ft. tall x 14 ft. wide (304.8 x 426.7cm)
Support (base of extended landing gear): 14ft. (426.7cm)

Materials

Aluminum, mixed metals, phenolics

Alternate Name

Surveyor Lunar Lander

Inventory Number

A19700294000

Credit Line

Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

Restrictions & Rights

Open Access (CCO)
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.

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