description Surveyor 5 Overview
Surveyor 5 was an uncrewed NASA lunar lander and the fifth mission in the Surveyor program. It achieved a soft landing in Mare Tranquillitatis in September 1967, returning surface photographs and engineering information needed for later lunar exploration. Its alpha-scattering instrument measured the chemical composition of nearby lunar material, providing the first in-place chemical analysis of the Moon's surface and evidence that the landing area was broadly basaltic.
insights Ranking position
Surveyor 5 ranks #78 of 207 in the Space Mission ranking, behind Lunar Orbiter 2, ahead of Chandrayaan-1.
help Surveyor 5 FAQ
Where did the Surveyor 5 spacecraft land on the Moon?
NASA's Surveyor 5 lunar lander successfully touched down in the Mare Tranquillitatis region of the Moon in 1967. This was the same general area where Apollo 11 would later land in 1969.
What was the main scientific achievement of the Surveyor 5 mission?
Surveyor 5 made history by performing the first chemical analysis of the lunar soil. It used an alpha-scattering instrument to determine the elemental composition of the Moon's surface.
When did Surveyor 5 land on the Moon?
The Surveyor 5 mission successfully landed on the Moon in September 1967. It was the third spacecraft in the Surveyor program to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface.
Did Surveyor 5 send back any images of the Moon?
Yes, despite experiencing a leak in its helium pressure system before landing, Surveyor 5 successfully transmitted over 19,000 images back to Earth. It operated on the lunar surface for several weeks.
explore Explore More
Similar to Surveyor 5
See all arrow_forward
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
