fut/lpo_v_c_o_TPMBK (ca. 1976/77, verso hand-annotated P-16933)
No idea. Some sort of dual-component lunar orbiter/comms relay configuration? Despite the red shift of the ink, I’m pretty sure that it’s at least the moon. The nearer “lower orbit” vehicle looks quite instrumented, not a lander though. Sort of like a Voyager precursor. The inclusion of the arrow depicting the direction of flight, while considerate, is totally pointless. 😉
Based on the photo ID number, this must be a JPL concept. Also supporting such is that it looks to be another wonderful Ken Hodges work. The photograph is from the collection of Eric Burgess.
...Thanks to Flickr user "plutogno"...with insider knowledge 👍 - please read "Comments" below - the concept depicts the following:
"Lunar data from previous automated and manned exploratory missions have now been analyzed to the point where it is possible to define objectives for new missions to the Moon. The most logical next step is a polar orbiter designed to measure the Moon's gravity field, figure, heat flow, magnetism and surface composition. NASA has commissioned a study of this mission at JPL with participation by lunar scientists from JSC, and also has tentatively selected a group of investigators who constitute a Science Working Team. This paper describes the mission objectives and reports progress in the mission-definition study. As presently visualized, the orbiter will be launched by a Delta vehicle in 1980. After insertion into an eccentric, polar lunar orbit it will deploy a small, spinning subsatellite whose purpose is to relay precise radio Doppler measurements from the orbiter on the Moon's far side.
After subsatellite delivery, the orbiter will maneuver into a low, circular polar orbit whence the instrument fields of view will be continuously pointed to the nadir for a nominal mission time of one year. Tracking and data acquisition will be via 26-m ground antennas and the JPL Mission Control and Computing Center, with distributed computing elements used in both flight and ground systems to simplify the data interfaces. Significant design advances are intended to include: (1) all systems designed to cost, (2) advanced scientific sensors aboard the spacecraft, (3) ground operations systems designed for largely automated, routine operation, and (4) design and operations concepts applicable to a variety of low-cost orbital missions in the Solar System."
The above is per the abstract of an article entitled "Lunar polar orbiter: A global survey of the Moon", by James D. Burke, at:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/00945765779...
Credit: Science Direct website
Additionally, from the abstract to another article, "Lunar Polar Orbiter considered for 1980", by Gloria B. Lubkin:
"Another lunar mission is being studied at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the first US lunar mission since Apollo 17 in 1972. This one, to be launched in 1980, would be unmanned. It would consist of an instrumented polar‐orbiting spacecraft (at an altitude of 100 kilometers) and a smaller companion subsatellite (at an altitude of 5000 km), which would serve to track the orbiter for gravity sensing when it is hidden from the Earth by the Moon. The ensemble would be launched by a single Delta launch vehicle. The spacecraft would orbit the moon for one year, examining the Moon's surface with a variety of instruments. These would measure lunar gravity, shape, magnetism and heat flow, and allow the determination of the chemical and mineral composition of the Moon's surface."
At:
physicstoday.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/1.3023893
Credit: "Physics Today" website
fut/lpo_v_c_o_TPMBK (ca. 1976/77, verso hand-annotated P-16933)
No idea. Some sort of dual-component lunar orbiter/comms relay configuration? Despite the red shift of the ink, I’m pretty sure that it’s at least the moon. The nearer “lower orbit” vehicle looks quite instrumented, not a lander though. Sort of like a Voyager precursor. The inclusion of the arrow depicting the direction of flight, while considerate, is totally pointless. 😉
Based on the photo ID number, this must be a JPL concept. Also supporting such is that it looks to be another wonderful Ken Hodges work. The photograph is from the collection of Eric Burgess.
...Thanks to Flickr user "plutogno"...with insider knowledge 👍 - please read "Comments" below - the concept depicts the following:
"Lunar data from previous automated and manned exploratory missions have now been analyzed to the point where it is possible to define objectives for new missions to the Moon. The most logical next step is a polar orbiter designed to measure the Moon's gravity field, figure, heat flow, magnetism and surface composition. NASA has commissioned a study of this mission at JPL with participation by lunar scientists from JSC, and also has tentatively selected a group of investigators who constitute a Science Working Team. This paper describes the mission objectives and reports progress in the mission-definition study. As presently visualized, the orbiter will be launched by a Delta vehicle in 1980. After insertion into an eccentric, polar lunar orbit it will deploy a small, spinning subsatellite whose purpose is to relay precise radio Doppler measurements from the orbiter on the Moon's far side.
After subsatellite delivery, the orbiter will maneuver into a low, circular polar orbit whence the instrument fields of view will be continuously pointed to the nadir for a nominal mission time of one year. Tracking and data acquisition will be via 26-m ground antennas and the JPL Mission Control and Computing Center, with distributed computing elements used in both flight and ground systems to simplify the data interfaces. Significant design advances are intended to include: (1) all systems designed to cost, (2) advanced scientific sensors aboard the spacecraft, (3) ground operations systems designed for largely automated, routine operation, and (4) design and operations concepts applicable to a variety of low-cost orbital missions in the Solar System."
The above is per the abstract of an article entitled "Lunar polar orbiter: A global survey of the Moon", by James D. Burke, at:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/00945765779...
Credit: Science Direct website
Additionally, from the abstract to another article, "Lunar Polar Orbiter considered for 1980", by Gloria B. Lubkin:
"Another lunar mission is being studied at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the first US lunar mission since Apollo 17 in 1972. This one, to be launched in 1980, would be unmanned. It would consist of an instrumented polar‐orbiting spacecraft (at an altitude of 100 kilometers) and a smaller companion subsatellite (at an altitude of 5000 km), which would serve to track the orbiter for gravity sensing when it is hidden from the Earth by the Moon. The ensemble would be launched by a single Delta launch vehicle. The spacecraft would orbit the moon for one year, examining the Moon's surface with a variety of instruments. These would measure lunar gravity, shape, magnetism and heat flow, and allow the determination of the chemical and mineral composition of the Moon's surface."
At:
physicstoday.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/1.3023893
Credit: "Physics Today" website