Successful retrieval of the television camera and other components from the Surveyor III spacecraft by the Apollo 12 astronauts has provided a unique opportunity to study the effects of a known and relatively extensive exposure to the lunar environment. Microstructural effects including those produced by micro-meteorite impact, radiation damage (by both the solar wind and cosmic rays) and solar heating might be expected in the materials used to fabricate the spacecraft. Samples received were in the form of 1 cm2 of painted unpainted aluminum alloy sheet from the top of the camera visor (JPL Code 933) and the sides (935,936) and bottom (934) of the lower camera shroud. They were prepared for transmission electron microscopy by first hand-grinding with abrasive paper to a thickness of 0.006". The edges were lacquered and the sample electropolished in 10% perchloric methanol using the “window” method, to a thickness of ~0.001". Final thinning was accomplished by polishing 3 mm punched disks in an acetic-phosphoric-nitric acid solution.
Thermal infrared emissivity measurements under a simulated lunar environment: Application to the Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment
