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The Moon. Section 28-2. Early Work. 1957 – launch of Sputnik 1 by Soviet Union 1961 – Soviet cosmonaut: Yuri A. Gagarin First human in space American Launches: 1961 – Project Mercury – Alan B. Shepard Jr. 1962 – 1966 -- Project Gemini – 2 man crew 1969 – Apollo Program
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The Moon Section 28-2
Early Work • 1957 – launch of Sputnik 1 by Soviet Union • 1961 – Soviet cosmonaut: Yuri A. Gagarin • First human in space • American Launches: • 1961 – Project Mercury – Alan B. Shepard Jr. • 1962 – 1966 -- Project Gemini – 2 man crew • 1969 – Apollo Program • Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin • Apollo 11
Lunar Properties • Radius – 27% of Earth’s • Mass – more than 1% of Earth’s • Solid, rocky body • Only moon among inner planets • Mercury and Venus – no moons
Lunar Surface • Surface quite dark • Albedo – amount of light surface reflects • Moon albedo is small • Earth – large albedo • Sun’s rays absorbed by Moon surface • Causes extreme temp differences • No atmosphere • No erosion
Features of the Moon • Highlands – light in color • Mountainous • Covered in craters • Impact craters • Objects crash into surface • Ejecta – material that falls back to surface • Rays – long trails of ejecta • Visible as light colored streaks
Maria – dark, smooth planes • Have scattered craters • Rilles – meandering, valley Composition • Minerals similar to Earth • Highlands – lunar breccias • Maria – basalts • Lack water in composition