Apollo 11 Mission

Science Experiments

In addition to their sample collection activities, the Apollo 11 crew performed several experiments on the lunar surface. The results of some of these experiments were either radioed to Earth by the crew or returned to Earth for laboratory analysis.

The Soil Mechanics Investigation studied the properties of the lunar soil

The Solar Wind Composition Experiment collected samples of the solar wind for analysis on Earth.

Other experiments were deployed by the crew and then monitored from Earth by radio telemetry after the crew departed. This group of experiments was termed the Early Apollo Scientific Experiment Package. It was less extensive than the experiments performed on later missions, both because of time restrictions on the EVA and because of limitations on the payload mass carried on the first landing attempt.

The Passive Seismic Experiment detected lunar "moonquakes" and provided information about the internal structure of the Moon.

The Laser Ranging Retroreflector measured very precisely the distance between the Earth and Moon.

The Lunar Dust Detector studied the effects of lunar dust on the operation of the experiment package.

Apollo 11 Dataset Descriptions

The National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) provides data and information on Apollo experiments upon request to individuals or organizations resident in the United States. The same services are available to scientists outside the United States through the World Data Center A for Rockets and Satellites. Normally, a charge is made for the requested data to cover the cost of reproduction and the processing of the request.

Catalog of Apollo Experiment Operations

This Johnson Space Center site catalogs each experiment and equipment item deployed or operated on the lunar surface during the Apollo program. It summarizes some of the general problems encountered with these experiments and provides guidelines for the design of future lunar surface experiments.