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Science 2 September 1966:
Vol. 153. no. 3740, pp. 1102 - 1103
DOI: 10.1126/science.153.3740.1102
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Articles

Lunar Orbiter: Tracking Data Indicate Properties of Moon's Gravitational Field

William H. Michael Jr. 1, Robert H. Tolson 1, and John P. Gapcynski 1

1 NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia

After only a few days in orbit, the first U.S. satellite of the moon has already produced data which have provided new information about the moon's gravitational field. Results indicate that the spacecraft will probably not impact on the moon before it completes its photographic mission, but that it will probably do so in about 8 months. Preliminary indications are that the moon has a relatively large pear-shaped component and that the gravitational properties will be of considerable scientific interest.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Mascons: Lunar Mass Concentrations.
P. M. Muller, P. M. Muller, and W. L. Sjogren (1968)
Science 161, 680-684
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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)