SPACE EVENT REPORT
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
directorate of science and TECHNOLOGY
SPACE EVENT REPORT0
ARY
the llrsl successful lunar landor. wni_ launched from tnooion
The Soviet-announced landing. aboul four degrees east of lhe termlrtalor in tho duylil portion of the moon. Alter landing, Ihe probe transmitted pholorscsimitc pictures of the luruw Landscape and radio Uon background
ai launched wl'h ihe normal spaceanenlk third stage and an interplanetary fourth stage. According to Soviettho paylood consistedunar station" weighingropulsion system for mid-course and soft landing, aad compartments carrying at-Uiude-cootrol and ai^danoe systems. The lunar stauon separated torn Ihe reirovehlclerior to touchdown.
as the first successful lunar attempt of tho wive which used the parking orbit technique. In the overall Soviet lunar pcogretn, there have beanuccesses out ofttempts.
DATA
Soviet Pre >s
The initial Soviet announcement ol tho launch olnd one ol the lllght progress repoita are prosented below. Select press releases are presented In tbe Appendix together with photographs ol the spacecraft and the lunar panoramaby the probe.
Launching
Moscow TASS Intornal Service in1 [an 66
(Text) Moscow--The Soviet Union Kasuna-9
automatic station.
The station Is streaking toward the moon along aclose to tha calculated one. All the equipment on board is
functioning normally.
On board the station is scientific, telemetnc, and other measuring apparatus, which is switched on automatically ln accordance with the fllghl program as well as on orders fiom earth.
According to dale of the coordination and calculating canter, thetationilometers Iron the earth today0 Moscow time andoint on the oaithegreesinutes north andegrees east.
^Icw in English lo Eastern Northeb 66
(Text) The latest Soviet automatic moons continuing Its flight. Tho Soviet news agency reported thai Its trajectory is close to estimated and that tho apparatus Isnorxelly. The previous Soviet moon probe loroft landing on the moor, was made In December. Earlier, three similar launchlngs were made, duringot ol valuableasolt landing Is an extremely complicatedwhich cannot be rehearsed on earth. That is why repeated launchtngs are needed.
APPENDIX
Moscow TASS International Service ineb 66
(Text) The soft landing on the moon accomplished on Thursday evening by the Soviet stations one of the most difficultproblems of cosmonautics. The development ol soil landing automatic stations will allow data to be obtained about physicalon the moon ond the properties of Its surface ond relief. Only such stations can furnish reliable Information on the nature of the soil and its peculiarities.
The soft landing or. the moonecessary stage (or the further development of cosmonautics and man's winning of the moon.
l the automatic station Itself, which nas to be landed on the surface softly enough for the apparatuses to fully preserve their ability to function, ansystem, and compartments containing the apparatuses directing the flight.s an airtight containeradiorogramystem ol thermoregulation, scientific apparatuses, and energy supply sources. The stationelevisionegrcc view and transmission of pictures of (heto earth.
Mounted on The station's body are antennas which openafter the station settles on thehock.-absorbing system, and metal potal-llkc screens protecting the television unit from possible damage during landing.
Just before touching down tho station detaches Itself and landiistance from the engine Installation. At the first stage of the flight, theith an engine block designed for subsequentwos launched on an orbit of on earth satellite. On the second stage It was putrajectory to the moon. The third stage was the correction of the flight trajectory, Insuring the station's contact wilh the surface of tho moonreplanned oroa ol the Occai of Storms: the fourth stage--braking and soft landing.
The date oi the station's launching,anuary, was tln-.ed to coincide with the beginning in the target area ol the lunar morning when the temperature conditions are most favorable for the operation of radio-technical and television equipment.
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It has Seen estimated that the station canaximum payload it the tlights for about three to (our days. When the duration of the flight wasalf days-due consideration was made for the cemarx) that during landing and !or some lime after the station should be -oar the culmination point over the horizon of tho controlon earth.
During the station's flight its trajectory was correctedebruary. The correction was started or. radio command from earth, while the further operation of all systems went on automatically.esult of lhe correction thehanged in thedirection2 meters per second, and Its trajectory, which passedistance of0 kilometers from the center oi the moon, began to pass practically through the planned point ofin the area of lhe Ocean of Storms.
The initial data for the landing was calculated fromresults of trajectory measurements in the coordinating and computing center.0ebruary this data was transmitted to the station.
At an altitudeilometers the station, togetherengine installation, was oriented strictlyhe rr-< "
fixed on the sun and theswitching on the braking system. The broking system was ignited an radio cctr.Taand--altimeter ot an altitudo of aboutilometers Irom the surface of theefore landing.
During the operation of the retrcmcket the shock-absorbing system was readied ior landing. The landing directing systemeacceleration of the spaedeters per second to several meters per secondow altitude over the surface.
During landings the station with the shock-absorblug system was detached from the engine installation and landed nearby. The station landed on the moonebruary a:oursinuteseconds, and the antennas unfolded four minuteseconds later, beginning the first communications link, On orders from earthegan its first scanning of the landscape andf its pictures to earth at four hoursinutesebruary.
The communications sessions showed that all the systems of the station were operating normally, the capsule remained airtight after landing, and the system of thermoregulation Insured the planned temperature regime. The apparatuses were reliably controlled by commands from the earth.
The area chosen it* :he landing is typical in many respects and Is of obvious interest lor detailed studies, the results ol which can be extensively used In future space experiments.
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The landing of trie Soviet automatic station brings closet the day when man will step down on the surface of the moon and when scientific stations and observatories will be set up there.studies can be conductedhe help of station? similar tond studies of lhe moor, itself willpecialervice insuring Che safety of distant manned space flights will be established on the surface of lhe moon.
tt Is nowo foresee the tremendous impact of the development of science oi the new knowledgeto be obtained a: the scientific stations of the raoon. On- thing is definite--this willew stage in the development of many branches of scler-.ee and engineering.
London Reuters ineb fifi
(Excerpts) Moscow--Russia Inflight unveiled high-quality television photos ol tho moon and sold they yielded rich material on the mysteries of the lunar surface -
Tworelayed yesterday, oneshown on Moscow television screens late tonight,ours afteroft-landed on the mcon.
The pictures, showing remarkably clear stretches of pebble-covered surface, small craters, and ever, part of the Russianwere similar to photos Intercepted by Britain's fodiell Rank radio telescope station yesterday.
Tonight's television show was the First glimpse Russians were given of the spectacular pictures relayedistance ofiles by their own historic mooncraft.
The second photo displayedertical stripe,as the spacecraft's antennae, and an object said lowo-sided mirror reflecting pari of the iunar surface.
Three scientists who discussed the pictures said they showed lhat the sponge-like but firm ground of the moon would hold oven bigger spacecraft than Luna-9.
The pictures were shownpecial bulletin withoutduring the peek evening viewing period. They were repeated several times, about three hours aftere to start its last contact with ground controi.
The scientists who spoke afterward said the relayore or less level surface, like volcanic rock,ponge-like structure resembling lava which had cooled quickly.
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The photos dispelled theories ir.fit tha moon wae covered with thick dust, but the presence of atones and pebbles made it possible to speculate about ibe eicact nat-jro ol the mysterious lunar surface.
ameras were focused on nearby sections of tha moon's panorama lying southeast of the point where the moonship glided downoil landing Thursday night. In the area ol Ihe Ocean ol Storms.
The pictures ohowod details between one and two twenty-fifths ol an inch In ilu, TASS sold.
The firs: photographtoneong black shadow, about six inches in site and lying about sue lee: from the spacecraft. Bigger stones could be seen ln the distance,roup ol large depressions and hills at the far lot:.
TASS said tho moon-ship was perched on tho eastern edge ol the Ocean of Storms. near the lunar equator, whore the surface wan
comparatively snootx.
The sun was about seven degrees over Ihe moon's horizon, and the TV camera on board the capsule was Inclined toward then.
Later pictures, with the sun at various heights over tha horl-ron, provided rich material for studies ol the structure of the lunar surface. It said. TASS said they wore of "extreme scientillc value."
The photos, screened0 hours local time, showed an almost uncanny panorama ofrange cavities, pinnacles, and deep contrasts of shading, soffiet.mes brightly illuminated, oftenhadow, the scone topped by Jot-block lunar sky.
"On Iho Earth-Moor.y Am. Trilosov and Yu.
(Translation) On6 the Soviet automatic stationas launched. ebruary atrsr.lnec Moscow lime Itial', landing on the moon. On the same day alrslnec tho first moon-earth radio communications session ir. the history ol mankind waa hold, andebruaryrs SO mln television tranamlinon of the first pieties of the lunar landscape to the earth was begun.
Tho flight olroused enormous interest In the Sovlel people. In reply to the requests of readers. Frauds publishes the report ol Am. Trifonov and Yu. Vosil'yeva as to how this historic flight was accomplished.
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in Orbit
It is the evening ofanuary. We proceedur habitual "observation point"tho coorditvating-compuicr center (CCC)-At the cosmodrome che last stage in the preparation and launch cf automatic stations In progress. The launch rocket with the station ts en the launch pad.
It ts pre-launch time in the CTCC... Despite all outerof calmness, tension is growing in the operation of all subdivisions. Continuous commun(cations are maintained with the cosmodrome. From it arrives information concerning the results of pre-launch tests, refined data ase state of onboard sys'-cms, and the adjustment (setting) ofheck Is beingof the readiness of command-measuring points, and ihe state of oil equipment of measuring, tracking and observation.
Communications are being maintained with the largeof the nation which are taking an active part in thisA check Is being conducted of the readiness of the special ships located far from native shores. These ships will receiveconcerning the operation of the launch rocket and the lunar station during those stages of orbiting when ground-basedpoints located on the territory of our nation will no longer be able to "see" them.
All services of the CCC verify their preparedness.
n the Illuminated control panel appears the exact time of the liftoff.ff of the seconds of flight beings.media for control of the trajectory and the Telemetry stations uninterruptedly follow the launch rocket from the moment it breaks free of the earth. Dataontinuously on the progress of the flight, on the parameters and limes of operation of the engines of all stages of the launch rocket, and on the operation of all systems of control and stabilization.
The data from trajectory measurements are. they are sent directly in the process of measurement lo the computers. Operators at the computer centers quickly set about processing the first orbital measurements. The Initial parameters of the earthare determined. Yes. it is definitely an earth satellite. As it is already known to our readers, in the first siage of flight thetation, together with its rocket unit which is designed foracceleration of the station. Is placed in the orbit of ansatellite.
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Specialists evaluate trie factual intermediate orbit. Its demotion from the computed la comparatively small.
And now the next and extremely important stage of the flightsecondlaunch of the cosmic rocket from the orbit of an artificial earth satellite. Although similar launches have already been made in the Soviet Union repeatedly, the requirements lor reliability and precise operation of all systems and units of the rocket are high and the significance of eachin the outcome of the entire launch makes this atage of flight extremely critical. Ignition failure orecrease in the time of operation of the engine of the ejection rocket unit or inaccurate stabilization of thethe lunar station will remain "nothingatellite of the earth.
The time to the Ignition of the ejection rocket uniteasured In seconds. Now it hashe second launchuickly the measuring points report: all systems of the ejection unit operated normally, commands for ignition andof the engine occurred at the computed times, the orientation system is in order, the flight trajectory is in complete agreement with the computed. Stationas left the temporary orbitatellite and is headed toward the moon. Testimony to this effect was given by signals generated In the ether by the shortwave.
The gtetipn Flies Towaed the Moon
In the control room of the CCC data characterizing theof the station light up on the control panel.
The control group generalizes all the data obtained during the ejection and presents the first official conclusion: all stages of the rocket functioned normally, relgnillon proceeded successfully, the station Is flying toward the moon, all aggregates and systems are normal and ready for future stages of the flight.
However, the conclusion that the flight Is progressingand that thetation is flying toward the moon is now no longer sufficient, According lo the lllght scheme, thetation is at first placedrough* trajectory to the moon.orrection of tho flight is made tt will be directed to the assigned region of the moon with an accuracy of several tens of kilometers.
Hence, the next tasks cf all the services, especially the CCC which controls the flight of stationill be as follows In the next immediate communication sessions: maximal precise determination of the flight trajectory, computation ot the magnitude of the correction impulse and initial data for orientation of the axis
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ot ihe engine unit in space, establishment of the time for making lhe correction. And of course as always, uninterrupted systematic monitoring of the condition of all systems and aggregates of the station, and tho accuracy and precision of operation of onboard
automatic equipment.
Now the burden of Ihe operation ta transferred to the specialized points of tbe command-measuring complex which are equipped with powerful antennaspecial 'long-range*designated for controlling distant cosmic objects.e of ineuo points, which Is located in che South of the nation, becomes the basic, main point. Specifically, here will be conducted All tho basic operation, in the control of the station in flight, and after its landing -Earth-noon and reverse' conmurucations will be established.
In accordance with the situation, we shall makene cf us will remain in the CCC and the other will fly to thethe basic control point of thotation.
At the Main Control Point
L'pon arrival in the territory of the point, attention is drawnulti-ton and yet an amazingly light and Intricato constructioneight of several tens of meters. Tills is in fact the "mam" antenna with which the earth will hold communications with thetation. Still staring unconsciously at it. we enter awhich standi Inith It and in which the apparatuss located.
Together with one ot the directors of the flight we walk about the equipment rooms. The first one is the command point from which commands will be sent to the station and which will monitor their execution. Here on the screens of oscilloscopes is displayed the receiptignal from the station. And now horn is the room where television Images from the surface of the moon will be received
for the first time.
"As you can see. the image being received is being recordedpecialays Ihe director of the television point. "We can ovaluote the quality of the Imagehe process ofand moke lhe required adjustment of the incoming signal. These images are simultaneously recordedilm. and in theof duplication are recorded on special tape recorders.ery detail oi the Image is very valuable and, of course, we strive co take all measures here so thacit of cho lunar landscape would be
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lost duo to 'earth' causes. The television images which will he obtained shouldircular panorama of the portion of the moon at the landing location of the station. Before you Is one of the control panoramas with an Image of tho portion noor the ground-based station."
After posslng about the equipment wc observed the process
of checking all of the Instruments prior to the beginning of the next session. The checks are accompanied by sequential reports over loudspeakers as to tho readiness of the large anmnna, and thereceiving, measuring, command, television, and other equipment.
We roturn to the command point. Arriving there at this time are reports from all tho organizations and services participating in the session. Into the control point flows information as to theof the services of the CCC. of the facilities for automaticof trajectory Infomalion to the computer centers, and ol the computing machines and lines ol communication.
As ai the cosmodrome the participants ln tho operation of Iho service are informed as to the tune remaining before the beginning ol the next communications session. Readiness five minutes: Over the loudspeaker syhtom is heard the command of the director:to their posts. Report when ready for operation." Silence falls, and then concisely and briefly, as If military commands, come tho following reports: "the fifteenth Isthe third Is ready."
"the seveoth is
The director gives the following order; "Command point pro-pare to transmithe reply cones: "Command pointnd again there is silence. The only sounds are the low noises of operating equipment and the ruutllng of automatic recorders The large antenna lightly and smoothly starts to move and. at aassigned target designationd been fed into Itsmechanisms, begins to slowly follow the movement ol Luna-9.
At the exact plonnod time we hear the following: "At IS hrsec give tho commanduration oln the screen of the oscilloscoperace which tolls ol the positive receipt of the reply signal fromnd almost at tha same time is hoard the report: "Weater, in strict agreement with the graph lying before the directory, the scneduled communications sesston Is executed. Usually It begins with the recalpt of telemetry.
MJ
Above oil it muet be dotormlned what the "stole ol health" of ino station is.ln. In the course of receiving tole-aetrlc information, the director of the telemetry group reports over the loudspeaker on the values of the most important parameters determining the condition of tho station. Al the end ol the report we hoar lhe following: "All station parameters are normal."
Afterword tho trajectory measurements ore perlomed. The computer centers receive the next portion of Information which makes it possible to refine the (light trajectory. The short session is completed, Tho director ol the session gives the command to switch off the equipment and then gives orders for preparing lor tha next session.
Taking odvantage of the break between sessions, we switch to (he CCC where ihe second author of this report is located. Everything is already known at the CCC. Its operattonel-englneor-ing groups had boon switched In lo the communications system over which the entire session had been carried. The results of telemetry measurements had also been transmitted. They are Illuminated on the large signal panel In the CCC and are belnr analysed by.
Data obtained from tho trajectory meosuremonta had been transmitted to the computer centers and were already being At the CCC ere arriving reports from measuring points on the execution of the session end Information concerning theof ground-Dosed stations..
Toanding in the assigned region ol the noon, the correction session was designated for the eveningebruary,
A correction of tho tralectory consists of the following: first, maximal precise computation of the magnitude, direction, andof applying the correction impulse: second, "laying thei.e. sending to the station by the appropriate means the coded message which stipulates operation of the engine installation at the inquired regime, and ensuring the required orientation of the station in space; third. Ignition, and shutdown of the engineat the exoci designated moncni ol time. Imparting to the station the required correcting velocity; fourth, computation of the parameters of the new corrected trajectory and determination of the time andof landing of Ihe station on the moon.
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After the computer centers had determined the magnitude and direction of the correction Impulse and the time for switching on the engine, the session for transmitting data for the correction was begun.
A check was mode of the accuracy with which the lunar station "understood" the transmitted program, The check confirmed that onboard instruments had "understood" and "remembered"properly and that the engine Installation and the stationhole were prepared for the correction se.'ision.
The correction session beganebruary atrs indln at radio command from the earth. Subsequent preparation and switching-on of all systems was conducted autonomously by onboard automatic programming-timing devices in accordance with the program provided earlier. The execution of these commands was monitored or, telemetry channels diroctly in the course of the session
In the beginning of the session the station was oriented on the sun by means of tho astrooricntation system. Before long the voice ol the telemetry director was heard: "The station Is oriented on thehen, while maintaining its orientation on the sun, the station began an optical search lor the moon.ertainecond report followed: 'The station Is oriented on the sun end the moon."
After orientation and switching-on ol onboard systemsin the given session the following was reported: *Thehas been oriented, the control system has been switched on, the engine Is ready for operation,"
The tension grows. The time approaches for switching on the correction engine, Even whispering has ceased, The director of operations checks the accuracy with which all processes occur with the graph lying before him.
Atrsln the following report came: "The engine has been switched on." Followingew report: "Thehas been switchedithin several minutes we heard the report of Ihe director of the ballistic group: "The correction was performed accurately, the correction Impulse and the time ofof the engine correspond to the computed."
Tensions have eased somewhat.
Now the computers go into action. Based on the data from trajectory measurements from several communications sessions they will precisely tell us what the new, corrected trajectory is.
Again the giant paraboloid antenna turns, again new data from trajectory measurements race to the computer centers. Tho
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ort load again moves Io Ihe ccc to the computer machinal. Soon independent computations by several machines confirm that Ihe correction was exncuied with high precision. The conclusion: the station should set down on the moon at the computed point of landing in the region of the Ocean of Storms. InforraaUon to this effect is sent by telephone, telegraph and flows along channels of measuring Information.
rief break at the High: control point and ir. thetudy is begun of the results of past stages of the flight and preparations are made for the final, most critical stage--braking and soft landing on the surface of the moon.
The landing
anding consists of the following:calculation of the operating regime of the braking engine Installation and data on tho setting of tho astroorlentatlon nystem; checking the readiness of all systems and aggregates of thefor the landing: subsequent search for the sun and moon and orientotlon of ihe station on them; construction of the lunarand orientation of the braking engine: switching-or. the radio-altimeter which determinesigh degree of accuracy the distance of the station from the lunar surface and whichin accomplishing the soft landing; switching-on thoengine Installation and dropping the landing speed; soft landing of the station oa the surface of ihe moon.
Towards IS hrsebruary tne transmission of all data for conducting the broking session was completed. Telemetry again confirmed normal functioning of all onboard systems and the readlnoss of the station for operation.ew hours the concluding stage of the flight was begun on command from the earth.
How will the station perform ln the last, decisive stage? Have all th* phenomena which tho predocessors of this station encountered been correctly understood and taken into account? Will the changes and improvements which have bean made beThese questions greatly disturb tho scientists, designurs and experimenters present for the session.
Suddenly tho first reports! "The control system has been switched on, the lunar vertical has beenthe radioaltimeter Isnd. finally, "the braking engine has
Ignited."
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Tension mounts to the limit. How willescend? Will ii be received sufficiently carefully by ihe moon? Thefour minutes seem infinitely long. Everyone's eyes are glued lo the oscilloscope where so many times so accurately and faultlessly have flashed the replying rhombics. thoof stable receptionignal from the station. Will they flash this time whens supposed to be on the moon?
Moscow time isisinutes. "Now."', said the technical director of the flight as he glanced at the clock. And at the same moment, as If in reply to the command, on the screens of the oscilloscopes appeared stable rhombics of the reply signal. "Weaid the operator surpressing his excitement.
lt must be admitted that among us there was no one with the artistic talent who could describe ln due fashion the reaction which
he Moon Transmits and Shows .'
Preparations are being made for the first televisionsession from the surface of the moon... How will thetelevision cameras of thetation operate? How will the first moon-enrth television transmission turn out?
The equipment is ready to receive tho pictures. From the command pointeries of commands to switch on the moon-earth television
ebruaryrs SO mln Moscow time Luna-9scanning the surface of the moon in the vicinity of lis landing point.ide special tape which creepsrum appear the first linesicture of the surface of the moon as seen by the eyes of the "electronicne by one these lines are recorded on the strip, and soon there appears the first Image of the lunar... learly-defined undulating line of the horizon appears. Gradually stones, rises, depressions end other details of theare recognized. Parts of the station which appeared in tho field of view are quickly recognized.
The engineers become adjusted to the transmissionimprove tho clorlty of the reception and the image becomes all the more clear and detailed. The circular panorama is but ot the half-way point, but already the flow of telephone calls and telegrams of congratulation has
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Original document.
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