Instrument performs nondestructive chemical analysis, data can be telemetered

Instrument automatically performs a nondestructive chemical analysis of surfaces and transmits the data in the form of electronic signals. It employs solid-state nuclear particle detectors with a charged nuclear particle source and an electronic pulse-height analyzer

Analysis of Lunar Surfaces Final Report, Feb. 1961 - Jul. 1965

Method for chemical analysis of lunar surface by use of alpha particles and development of procedures for alpha-scattering experiment on lunar vehicl

Post-mission data analysis of Surveyor mission chemical data

Prime data from chemical analysis experiments, of Surveyor 5, 6, and 7 are critically examined and analyzed. This and associated laboratory work has given final chemical composition results for the lunar regolith at three locations. The conclusions made on the basis of the preliminary examinations of the data are confirmed and extended

Experiments on asteroids using hard landers

Hard lander missions to asteroids are examined using the Westphal penetrator study as a basis. Imagery and chemical information are considered to be the most significant science to be obtained. The latter, particularly a detailed chemical analysis performed on an uncontaminated sample, may answer questions about the relationships of asteroids to meteorites and the place of asteroids in theories of the formation of the solar system

Evidence for solar flare proton induced radioactivity in lunar surface material returned by Apollo 11

Evidence from comparison with stony meteorites of solar flare proton induced radioactivity in Apollo 11 lunar rock

An Alpha-p-x Analytical Instrument for Lunar Resource Investigations

An instrument using alpha backscattering, alpha-proton nuclear reactions, and x-ray production by alpha particles and other auxiliary sources can be used on lunar landers to provide detailed analytical information concerning the lunar surface material. This information is important scientifically and can be the basis for utilizing efficiently lunar resources to build lunar colonies in the future. This alpha particle instrument uses radioactive isotopes, silicon detectors for the alpha and proton modes, and mercuric iodide detectors operating at room temperature for the x-ray mode. The alpha and proton modes of the instrument can provide an analysis for all elements (except hydrogen) present in amounts greater than about 1 percent by atom. These modes have excellent sensitivity and accuracy for the lighter elements, in particular, directly determining the amount of oxygen in the lunar soil. This is an element of paramount significance for the lunar resource mission. The x-ray mode makes possible a determination of Ti, Fe, and other important metals with even greater accuracy. In general, the x-ray mode provides increased sensitivity for heavier elements, in many cases achieving a sensitivity of several hundred ppm

Chemical Analysis of Surfaces Using Alpha Particles

Chemical analysis of surfaces using alpha particle interactions in instruments incorporating curium 242 alpha sources and semiconductor silicon detector

The chemical analysis experiment for the Surveyor lunar mission

Alpha particle detector experiment for chemical analysis of lunar surface by Surveyor spacecraf