|
Author
|
Topic: Condition of artifacts left on the moon
|
muirfield
Member Posts: 52
From: Portland, OR, USA
Registered: Jun 2005
|
posted 02-09-2006 12:07 PM
   
I read on one thread something about the condition of the photographs Charlie Duke left on the moon (a tribute to his family). It got me wondering, what would happen to artifacts left on the moon? Would they deteriorate over time? With little/no atmosphere, I guess things would not oxidize or rust, but they'd be getting hammered by solar rays. Any thoughts?Chris |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4208
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
|
posted 02-09-2006 12:32 PM
Chris,I suspect the Duke photo will be shot. The intense sunlight would have faded to image to zilch within a pretty short time-scale. Probably a year or two if I had to guesstimate not allowing for the effects of radiation. The paper would then have yellowed or even browned and curled in the heat. When parts of the Surveyor craft were returned during Apollo 12 they showed significant wear and tear after only a few years. The 30 years plus that have elapsed since the landings would have taken a pretty heavy toll on the artifacts. Regards, Rick. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2516
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
|
posted 02-09-2006 02:41 PM
Charlie Duke spoke at our bible study sponsored program last year and had mentioned that photo specifically. He said that no sooner had he taken the picture of it, than it started to curl up and turn black due to the 212 degree F heat plus intense sunlight. He then said he should have put it in the shade as it might have stood a chance there. |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
|
posted 02-09-2006 06:33 PM
quote:
Originally posted by GACspaceguy:
Charlie Duke spoke at our bible study sponsored program last year and had mentioned that photo specifically. He said that no sooner had he taken the picture of it, than it started to curl up and turn black due to the 212 degree F heat plus intense sunlight. He then said he should have put it in the shade as it might have stood a chance there.
Or perhaps buried it under some lunar dust. Which makes me wonder...what are the insulating qualities, if any, of lunar dust? |
Duke Of URL
Member Posts: 1316
From: Syracuse, NY
Registered: Jan 2005
|
posted 02-09-2006 07:30 PM
I'd think the UV would do as much of a job as anything else. |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
|
posted 02-09-2006 07:48 PM
From what I understand, scientists blieve the US flags left on the moon have most likely faded to nothing, if not literally crumbled to dust from the radiation. We may return only to find an aluminum pole standing in its place. |
muirfield
Member Posts: 52
From: Portland, OR, USA
Registered: Jun 2005
|
posted 02-10-2006 12:01 AM
That's too bad - I just assumed the landing sites would be preserved indefintely.What about the metal components like the LEM descent stage? Would they disintegrate? If so, what would happen to them, with no atmosphere to rust them etc? Chris |
advertisement