1/18/2006: Lunokhod 1

Undertoad · 01-18-2006, 08:35 AM

Luno-what? Until xoB suggested this item from the Astronomy Pic of the Day, I'd never heard of this thing.

33 years later, it might look like this:

...that's one of the Mars rovers that IotD watched in 2003. But much earlier, in 1970, the Russians sent up that black and white deal there, Lunokhod 1, the first unmanned explorer on the moon. (Or, obviously, on any body in outer space!)

It ran on solar cells and lived up there for almost a whole year. Comparing it to the modern rover, it's amazing to see what's the same - what decisions they made in a different culture in 1970, that were the same decisions in 2003. Turns out it's OK to have the wires on the outside, who knew?

This gent's page contains a few of the thousands of images sent back from Lunokhod.

So whose idea was it to put two cameras right on the front, looking all like eyes?

Sundae · 01-18-2006, 09:21 AM

The original one appears to have - usefully - a laser, a tiny tunneling device and a box of chocolates. But the new one wins for the tiger-stripe camouflage on one of its panels.

Kitsune · 01-18-2006, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

...and a box of chocolates.

That wins. Thank you.

axlrosen · 01-18-2006, 09:41 AM

Looks like Robbie the Robot's girlfriend.

ferkelparade · 01-18-2006, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Looks like Robbie the Robot's girlfriend.

Looks more like some female robot's boyfriend, if you catch my drift. That's not a laser cannon up there...

glatt · 01-18-2006, 11:55 AM

I'm glad this is today's image. I knew the Soviets sent unmanned missions to the moon, but never knew any details. The Lunokhod 1 was apparently very cool, and seems to have all the basic things you would want in a robot rover. This is another example of where the Russians beat the US in the space race. It took us decades to come up with a similar robot rover. Of course, one of our astronauts at the time could have simply walked up to this thing and kicked it over onto its back, since we had men on the moon when this thing was up there.

VinDurzle · 01-19-2006, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

I'm glad this is today's image. I knew the Soviets sent unmanned missions to the moon, but never knew any details. The Lunokhod 1 was apparently very cool, and seems to have all the basic things you would want in a robot rover. This is another example of where the Russians beat the US in the space race. It took us decades to come up with a similar robot rover. Of course, one of our astronauts at the time could have simply walked up to this thing and kicked it over onto its back, since we had men on the moon when this thing was up there.

...CCCP wdv set their dogs n monkeys on your ass!

seakdivers · 01-18-2006, 12:33 PM

That thing at the top of the robot looks like one of those ping pong ball shooters! It also appears that it has a horizontal beer tap on the side, as well as a flask.... my kind of robot!

They need to put some playing cards in those spokes too.

magilla · 01-18-2006, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

So whose idea was it to put two cameras right on the front, looking all like eyes?

It has to see where it's going- wouldn't want it to drive off a cliff, would you? And you need two cameras for stereoscopic vision. That's why arboreal critters (or their descendents, like us) have front-facing eye. It's really bad to misjudge the distance to that next branch...

Chris

Pancake Man · 01-18-2006, 01:33 PM

They've got some pimpn' hubcaps on that second one

mlandman · 01-18-2006, 01:55 PM

Is just a large version of those jiffy-pop aluminum foil popcorn poppers meant to be held over an open flame.

Trilby · 01-18-2006, 03:00 PM

I still like the Kitchen Carnival better. It deep fries, carmelizes and makes cotton candy! Right in your own home!

srom · 01-18-2006, 03:34 PM

the first thing it made me think of is jiffypop too. ha! swim in the popcorn!

capnhowdy · 01-18-2006, 05:13 PM

The lunar shots are interesting. I didn't even know the Soviets had done this. Overlook my ignorance.

I bet they made sure to carry full coverage insurance.

xoxoxoBruce · 01-18-2006, 06:58 PM

Despite looking like something from Jules Vern or Wild Wild West, the sucker worked very well.
Designed to operate for 3 lunar days (3 months), it actually worked (roved) for 11 months, traveled 10,540 m, transmitted more than 20,000 TV pictures, more than 200 TV panoramas,and also conducted more than 500 lunar soil tests.
Pretty impressive for an EZ-Pop pan.

01-18-2006, 08:35 AM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	1/18/2006: Lunokhod 1 Luno-what? Until xoB suggested this item from the Astronomy Pic of the Day, I'd never heard of this thing. 33 years later, it might look like this: ...that's one of the Mars rovers that IotD watched in 2003. But much earlier, in 1970, the Russians sent up that black and white deal there, Lunokhod 1, the first unmanned explorer on the moon. (Or, obviously, on any body in outer space!) It ran on solar cells and lived up there for almost a whole year. Comparing it to the modern rover, it's amazing to see what's the same - what decisions they made in a different culture in 1970, that were the same decisions in 2003. Turns out it's OK to have the wires on the outside, who knew? This gent's page contains a few of the thousands of images sent back from Lunokhod. So whose idea was it to put two cameras right on the front, looking all like eyes?

01-18-2006, 09:21 AM	#2
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	The original one appears to have - usefully - a laser, a tiny tunneling device and a box of chocolates. But the new one wins for the tiger-stripe camouflage on one of its panels. Last edited by Sundae; 01-18-2006 at 09:25 AM.

01-18-2006, 01:55 PM	#11
mlandman Coronation Incarnate Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 87	the first one Is just a large version of those jiffy-pop aluminum foil popcorn poppers meant to be held over an open flame.

01-18-2006, 03:00 PM	#12
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	I still like the Kitchen Carnival better. It deep fries, carmelizes and makes cotton candy! Right in your own home! __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

01-18-2006, 03:34 PM	#13
srom a small little word Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: New York State and Massachussetts State Posts: 17	the first thing it made me think of is jiffypop too. ha! swim in the popcorn! __________________ "I know enough about cooking. If it tastes bad, then fry it until it tastes good."

01-18-2006, 09:41 AM	#4
axlrosen Major Inhabitant Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 125	Looks like Robbie the Robot's girlfriend.

01-18-2006, 11:55 AM	#6
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I'm glad this is today's image. I knew the Soviets sent unmanned missions to the moon, but never knew any details. The Lunokhod 1 was apparently very cool, and seems to have all the basic things you would want in a robot rover. This is another example of where the Russians beat the US in the space race. It took us decades to come up with a similar robot rover. Of course, one of our astronauts at the time could have simply walked up to this thing and kicked it over onto its back, since we had men on the moon when this thing was up there.

01-18-2006, 12:33 PM	#8
seakdivers Icy Queen Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Southeast Alaska Posts: 700	That thing at the top of the robot looks like one of those ping pong ball shooters! It also appears that it has a horizontal beer tap on the side, as well as a flask.... my kind of robot! They need to put some playing cards in those spokes too.

01-18-2006, 01:33 PM	#10
Pancake Man Hand-of-Kindness Extender Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 131	They've got some pimpn' hubcaps on that second one

01-18-2006, 05:13 PM	#14
capnhowdy Blatantly Homosapien Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,200	The lunar shots are interesting. I didn't even know the Soviets had done this. Overlook my ignorance. I bet they made sure to carry full coverage insurance. __________________ Please type slowly. I can't read very fast............... and no holy water, please.

01-18-2006, 06:58 PM	#15
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Despite looking like something from Jules Vern or Wild Wild West, the sucker worked very well. Designed to operate for 3 lunar days (3 months), it actually worked (roved) for 11 months, traveled 10,540 m, transmitted more than 20,000 TV pictures, more than 200 TV panoramas,and also conducted more than 500 lunar soil tests. Pretty impressive for an EZ-Pop pan. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

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