2006-12-06 16:23:05 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
It's not a characteristic of the moon, but its distance from Earth, and exact orbit around the Earth needed to be known before we could launch. Its mass defines gravity, which describes how powerful the launch engines on the Lunar Lander had to be, so the Mass needed to be known.
Knowing that it was airless was essential in planning. The planner's didn't know if the moon was covered in sediment - they feared that the lander would sink, like if it hit quicksand. They took their best guess and hoped that the landing area was solid.
2006-12-06 16:41:00 · answer #1 · answered by John T 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The first was surface composition. there was a valid fear that the sediment might be present in depth or layers that would effect a landing. this was the purpose of the surveyor landers, to determine the surface composition and soil in several places on the moon, before man landed there. In fact, Apollo 12 astronauts brought back a camera mounted on a surveyor craft that they had landed next to. so in reality, at least one object left on the moon came back to earth for study.
The second was the natural radiation, cosmic particle, or solar flare material activity. due to its lack of atmosphere, the moon doesn't have a layer of protection like we have. so this environment had to be studied.
finally the seismic stability of the ground had to be studied. did the moon have massive quakes? did the land move or as it stable? big questions to answer before our arrival.
2006-12-08 01:30:51 · answer #2 · answered by centurion613 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Atmospheric conditions, rate of gravity, surface composition?
2006-12-07 00:46:10 · answer #3 · answered by jay_fox_rok_god 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I'd imagine it would be important to know whether or not it had an atmostphere or magnetic field.
2006-12-07 00:33:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋