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Astrogeologic studies, annual progress report, August 25, 1961 - August 24, 1962

U.S. Geological Survey
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Abstract

This report, which covers the period August 25, 1961 to August 24, 1962, is the third of a series describing the program of research conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey on behalf of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The major long-range objectives of the program are to determine and map the stratigraphy and structure of the Moon's crust, to work out from these the sequence of events that led to the present condition of the Moon's surface, and to determine the processes by which these events took place. This report is presented in four parts with a separate summary. Part A: Lunar and planetary investigations (with map supplement). Geologic mapping of the Moon involves discrimination of the different materials exposed on the lunar surface and their assignment to geologic units, the determination of the photometric characteristics of these materials, delineation of the boundaries of the units and determination of their stratigraphic sequence. Part B: Crater investigations. These include field studies of terrestrial craters, hypervelocity impact experiments with rocks and other materials, studies of the behavior of rocks under high shock loads, and experimental and field studies of shock metamorphism in rocks. Part C: Cosmochemistry and petrography. Studies are being made of the chemical, petrographic, and physical properties of materials of extraterrestrial origin and of certain materials associated with terrestrial impact structures. The studies reported in Part C are concerned with tektites, terrestrial impactites, metallic spherules formed by the Meteor Crater impact event, and particles of possible cosmic origin. Part D: Studies for space flight program. These studies are undertaken to aid in the design of space flight experiments and the planning of space missions. The report that makes up Part D is an evaluation of the lunar flux of secondary particles derived from primary impact events on the lunar surface.

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U.S. Geological Survey. 1963. Astrogeologic studies, annual progress report, August 25, 1961 - August 24, 1962. https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr63123

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