22 March 2010

Lunokhod rediscovered


Last week Science Daily carried a report about the rediscovery of the soviet lunar explorer hLunokhod 2 by a researcher in Canada.

Phil Stooke pinpointed the errant moon walker using lunar images from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) released on 15 March and maps from his own atlas of the moon.

As soon as the NASA photos were released Stooke, began work to locate the rover. Stooke set up a searchable image database and located the photograph he needed, among thousands of others.


"The tracks were visible at once," he said. "Knowing the history of the mission, it's possible to trace the rover's activities in fine detail. We can see where it measured the magnetic field, driving back and forth over the same route to improve the data. And we can also see where it drove into a small crater, and accidentally covered its heat radiator with soil as it struggled to get out again. That ultimately caused it to overheat and stop working. And the rover itself shows up as a dark spot right where it stopped."

Well there you have it Lunokhod 2 travelled 35km on the moon in 1973 and was then lost. But now it is found. One person who will be very pleased that it has been found again will be Richard Garriot who purchased it at auction for $68,500 in 1993. Getting it home will cost rather more...

University of Western Ontario. "Russian Lunar Rover Found: 37-Year-Old Space Mystery Solved." ScienceDaily 17 March 2010. 22 March 2010 .

7 comments:

Sean Jeating said...

I am so relieved it has been found.

James Higham said...

Yep, we can breathe easier now.

Claude said...

Smart people in Canada. Just call us if you lose your umbrella. Space...Earth... Nothing to it!

CalumCarr said...

Jams, I don't think your earlier commenters have taken this story seriously. Shame on them!

When you mentioned "rediscovery of the soviet lunar explorer" I thought you meant that the Russian version of Sir Ranulph Fiennes had been found on the moon.

Is that serious enough?

jams o donnell said...

I'm so glad people are delighted that it has been found once more. Just think if you get lost on the moon a Canadian will find you!

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Useless without a link with now defunct Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party, though.

jams o donnell said...

Ah well. Im sure it will still be a fine conversation piece!