Soviet Lunar Images |
Soviet Lunar Images |
Jun 28 2005, 04:49 PM
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Solar System Cartographer Group: Members Posts: 10191 Joined: 5-April 05 From: Canada Member No.: 227 |
Here's another very interesting and little known topic, so this is a chance to ask or to post about it.
I am looking for information on the Soviet Union's lunar missions. Actually I have lots already, but you can always use a bit more. Specifically, consider this question: what areas were photographed by the Soviet lunar orbiters, Lunas 12, 19 and 22? First I must say that these were NOT systematic mapping missions, they were tests of experimental imaging systems, and the SU never undertook any systematic mapping of the Moon. So coverage is limited. I have searched high and low for images from these missions, helped especially by the extremely talented and knowledgeable Don Mitchell. For this post I'm going to stick to Luna 19, coming back to the others later. Between us, Don and I have located five Luna 19 images, often of very poor quality (photocopies of prints from magazines, microfilm of russian newspapers, etc.) I reprojected them into approximate mapping geometry and then searched for their locations on the Moon. Result, the first ever (AFAIK) index map of Luna 19 coverage. When I was in Moscow I asked for this but got nowhere, and I'm not sure they ever did it, or certainly didn't publish it. The area often reported as the focus of Luna 19 images refers in fact only to one orbit. So, here's the index map; and if anybody can track down any OTHER Luna 19 images I would be VERY grateful for the information. Phil -------------------- ... because the Solar System ain't gonna map itself.
Also to be found posting similar content on https://mastodon.social/@PhilStooke Maps for download (free PD: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...Cartography.pdf NOTE: everything created by me which I post on UMSF is considered to be in the public domain (NOT CC, public domain) |
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Guest_BruceMoomaw_* |
Dec 30 2005, 02:32 AM
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Guests |
Additional note: that Mechta ("Daydream") name for the first Luna probe was certainly Korelev's idea. He had a taste for inspirational names with no ideological element whatsoever; thus also Sputnik ("Traveling Friend"), and Vostok ("East", which has long been a Russian slang term for "Dawn", as in "dawn of a new era for mankind". I shudder to think what names the Soviets might have given their probes if the Chief Designer had had less of a personal disdain for Communism (thanks to his near-death experience under Stalin).
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Dec 30 2005, 09:07 AM
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Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8784 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
QUOTE (BruceMoomaw @ Dec 29 2005, 07:32 PM) I shudder to think what names the Soviets might have given their probes if the Chief Designer had had less of a personal disdain for Communism (thanks to his near-death experience under Stalin). The mind reels..."Glorious Smolensk Tractor Works Collective Effort 1" might well have been the first succesful Venera! -------------------- A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
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Dec 31 2005, 12:47 AM
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2488 Joined: 17-April 05 From: Glasgow, Scotland, UK Member No.: 239 |
QUOTE (nprev @ Dec 30 2005, 10:07 AM) The mind reels..."Glorious Smolensk Tractor Works Collective Effort 1" might well have been the first succesful Venera! Er... ...'Minuteman'. 'Columbia'. I could go on... When, centuries from now, the victors (whoever she and her sisters may be) write the history of space colonisation, I hope the nomenclature of our own cultural imperialism stands up as well under their gaze as Korolev's charming and life-affirming names for his glorious efforts! Bob Shaw -------------------- Remember: Time Flies like the wind - but Fruit Flies like bananas!
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