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60 years ago: Ranger 8 moon photos aid in Apollo site selection

Summary by Phys.org

Before Apollo astronauts set foot upon the moon, much remained unknown about the lunar surface. While most scientists believed the moon had a solid surface that would support astronauts and their landing craft, a few believed a deep layer of dust covered it that would swallow any visitors. Until 1964, no closeup photographs of the lunar surface existed, only those obtained by Earth-based telescopes.

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Phys.org

60 years ago: Ranger 8 moon photos aid in Apollo site selection

2 days ago·United Kingdom

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New Space Economy

60 Years Ago: Ranger 8 Moon Photos Aid in Apollo Site Selection

Before Apollo astronauts set foot upon the Moon, much remained unknown about the lunar surface. While most scientists believed the Moon had a solid surface that would support astronauts and their landing craft, a few believed a deep layer of dust covered it that would swallow any visitors. Until 1964, no closeup photographs of the […]

1 day ago

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Techcratic

Ranger 8 moon photos aid in Apollo site selection

2025-02-20 16:56:00 phys.org Before Apollo astronauts set foot upon the moon, much remained unknown about the lunar surface. While most scientists believed the moon had a solid surface that would support astronauts and their landing craft, a few believed a deep layer of dust covered it that would swallow any visitors. Until 1964, no closeup photographs of the lunar surface existed… Source

1 day ago

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Hawkdive.com

Ranger 8's Lunar Images Influenced Apollo Landing Spots 60 Years Ago

The Journey to Lunar Exploration: A Look Back at Ranger 8’s Historic Mission Before astronauts from the Apollo program walked on the Moon, there was a time brimming with curiosity and uncertainty regarding the lunar surface. While a majority of scientists hypothesized that the Moon had a solid surface capable of supporting astronauts and their […]

1 day ago

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