“ NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SS q § SPACE ADMINISTRATION Washington, D. C. 20546 y Phone: (202) 755-8370 FOR RELEASE: William W. Pomeroy SUNDAY, (Phone: 202/755-3114) January 23, 1972 SPECIAL APOLLO 16 SUBSATELLITE A second manmade satellite will be put into orbit around the Moon on March 26 by the crew of Apollo 16 just before they head Earthward after the fifth United States manned expedition to the lunar surface. Called a subsatellite, because the Moon itself is a satellite of Earth, the device is a twin of one that was deployed by Apollo 15 last August. The Apollo 15 subsatellite is still transmitting scientific data on the lunar environment. - more - ganuary 17, 1972=e The hexagonal subsatellite is 79 centimeters (31 inches) long and 36 centimeters (14 inches) in diameter and weighs 36 kilograms (80 pounds). It carries three experiments which are: -- a magnetometer to determine the strength and direction of interplanetary and Earth magnetic fields in the lunar region; an S-band transponder to detect variations in the lunar gravity field by their effect on the subsatellite's orbital motions; and a charged particles detector to measure electron and proton flux. The particles experiment package in the Apollo 16 subsatellite was damaged during testing when an altitude chamber vacuum pump seal failed and admitted air that caused electrical shorting. The damaged package and associated high-voltage circuitry are being replaced by backup equipment. The subsatellite, housed in a box-like container similar to a rural mailbox, will be pushed out of the Apollo service module by a spring mechanism and go into an orbit of 102 to 139 kilometers (63 to 86:miles) above the Moon. - more -When clear of the spacecraft, the subsatellite will put out three evenly spaced booms about 1 1/2 meters (5 feet) long. The magnetometer is carried on one of these booms, keeping it away from interference by magnetic fields caused by the subsatellite itself. The other two booms balance that one to stabilize the satellite as it spins at about 12 revolutions per minute. The subsatellite's sensors are powered by solar cells and a rechargeable battery for passes around the dark side of the Moon. They are expected to continue sending data to Earth for a year after Apollo returns. a=