NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Lunar atmospheric composition results from Apollo 17The Apollo 17 mass spectrometer has confirmed the existence of helium, neon, argon, and possibly molecular hydrogen in the lunar atmosphere. Helium and neon concentrations are in agreement with model predictions based on the solar wind as a source and their being noncondensable gases. Ar-40 and Ar-36 both exhibit a predawn enhancement which indicates that they are condensable gases on the nightside and are re-released into the atmosphere at the sunrise terminator. Hydrogen probably exists in the lunar atmosphere in the molecular rather than atomic state, having been released from the surface in the molecular form. Total nighttime gas concentration of known species in the lunar atmosphere is 200,000 molecules/cu cm.
Document ID
19740040255
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Hoffmann, J. H.
Hodges, R. R., Jr.
Johnson, F. S.
(Texas, University Dallas, Tex., United States)
Evans, D. E.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, Tex., United States)
Date Acquired
August 7, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1973
Subject Category
Space Sciences
Meeting Information
Meeting: Lunar Science Conference
Location: Houston, TX
Start Date: March 5, 1973
End Date: March 8, 1973
Accession Number
74A23005
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS9-5829
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS9-12074
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available