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Author
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Topic: ALSEPs on cancelled Apollo landings
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Fra Mauro
Member Posts: 1624
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 05-16-2016 10:19 AM
   
Does anyone know if the ALSEPs on Apollos 18-20 were going to include any new experiments that never got to the lunar surface? |
Headshot
Member Posts: 891
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 05-18-2016 07:31 AM
I do not know, but one way you can determine the answer is to compare the experiments listed in the Lunar Surface Experiments Mission Assignment SE-3 Table provided in the July 1970 revision of the Apollo Experiment Program Plan (PDF) to the table of actually flown experiments listed in Appendix 5 of "Where No Man Has Gone Before." Remember to compare the experiments and not just assume the experiments for the H-4 Apollo 15 and the J-4 Apollo 19 flights were eliminated. Some experiments flew on multiple missions. |
Go4Launch
Member Posts: 549
From: Seminole, Fla.
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 05-18-2016 08:37 AM
According to Apollo: The Lost and Forgotten Missions by David Shayler (2002), "From Apollo 17 there were plans for an Extended Life ALSEP (ELLSEP) costing $29.1 million for three packages." These would double the earlier design life of ALSEP. |
Headshot
Member Posts: 891
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 05-19-2016 12:13 PM
Sadly, the ALSEP packages that were emplaced on the lunar surface were shut off in 1977 before reaching their design lifetimes due to that political catch-all, "budget" reasons. |
Orthon
Member Posts: 144
From: San Tan Valley, Arizona 85143
Registered: May 2002
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posted 05-19-2016 06:26 PM
Considering the effort that it took to place them there, I find it an atrocity that they were shut down. |
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Member Posts: 891
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 05-19-2016 07:15 PM
Agreed, although I use the word "obscenity" to describe this incredibly short-sited, stupid act.It will be interesting to see if NASA uses the same excuse to shut down a working Mars rover in the future. |
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