Speculation still on Soviet moon-rover

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32458, 19 November 1970, Page 17

Speculation still on Soviet moon-rover

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright)

MOSCOW, November 18.

Russia’s remotely-controlled moon vehicle, Lunokhod 1, was due to continue to explore the lunar surface today, as the first wheeled traffic on the earth’s nearest neighbour. Its exact functions and purposes have not been disclosed, and they remain for the time being a matter of world-wide speculation. The eight-wheeled moon-rover —variously described by observers who saw a model of it on Moscow television last night as “a bathtub on wheels” and “sophisticated casserole dish”—is the first self-propelled vehicle to be landed on the moon.

There has been no word yet on how far the machine—which is controlled from earth and is powered by solar batteries charged through a reflector in its domelike top section—will roam from the landing site, in the Sea of Rains. There has also been no indication whether it will be loaded again on Luna 17, the carrier craft, and blasted back to earth, or whether, its tasks completed, it will be left on the moon. The Tass news agency suggested last night that such a vehicle could carry out various tasks, including finding out the composition of moon rock, photographing the lunar surface, and studying its relief. Lunokhod 1 is equipped with television cameras, radio equipment and scientific apparatus for transmitting data back to ground control? It would also be possible for the moon vehicles to set up long-term scientific equipment at various points to measure seismic activity, radiation and magnetic fields, Tass suggested. Lunokhod 1 left its mothership a little more than two

hours and a half after Luna 17 had landed on the moon early yesterday. The spacecraft went into o rbit round the moon on Sunday after a five-day journey fr om earth. Lunokhod 1 also tas French made laser reflectors which will form one end of a radiointerference meter based both on the earth and the moon. Reports from Paris say that the apparatus would reflect laser beams directed from observatories in Southern France and the Crimea. The Soviet Union ground control is monitoring on a television screen the movements of each of Lunokhod I’s eight independently-driven wheels. The Government newspaper, “Izvestia,” reported yesterday that the designers preferred this lay-out to caterpillar tracks because of the lesser risk of breakdown. Signals from the vehicle, which is stated officially to be functioning normally, are taking a second to reach the earth, and another second to go through radio transmitting and receiving devices. U.S. reaction United States space agency officials said today that the latest Soviet Union success was a further clear indication that the Russians were ex-

ploiting their advanced technology for a broad range of objects. A brief statement from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, seemed designed mainly to emphasise the continuing Soviet Union challenge in space, and, indirectly, the need to continue the pace of the United States’ own space programme, which has been suffering budget cuts from fiscal-minded Congressmen. American experts, generally feel that the United States manned flights have been far more significant than the Russian achievements; they are due to be resumed on January 31, with the nine-day Apollo 14 programme. The cabled photograph gives an artist’s impression of Luna 17 on the surface of the moon, with Lunokhod 1 on the top of it