# Surveyor 3

> third lander of the American uncrewed Surveyor program sent to explore the surface of the Moon

**Wikidata**: [Q837685](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q837685)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surveyor_3)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/surveyor-3

## Summary
Surveyor 3 was the third lander in the American uncrewed Surveyor program sent to explore the surface of the Moon. It successfully landed on April 20, 1967, and operated for 16 days before losing signal, providing valuable data about lunar conditions.

## Key Facts
- Surveyor 3 was launched on April 17, 1967 at 07:05:01 from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36
- It landed on the Moon on April 20, 1967 at 00:04:53 in the Oceanus Procellarum region
- The spacecraft had a launch weight of 1,026 kilograms and a landing weight of 296 kilograms
- Surveyor 3 was manufactured by Hughes Aircraft Company and launched using an Atlas Centaur-D rocket (AC-12)
- It operated for 16 days before losing signal on May 4, 1967
- Its COSPAR ID is 1967-035A and it landed at coordinates -3.0162 latitude, 336.582 longitude
- It was part of the Surveyor program, following Surveyor 2 and preceding Surveyor 4

## FAQs
### Q: When did Surveyor 3 land on the Moon?
A: Surveyor 3 landed on the Moon on April 20, 1967, at 00:04:53 in the Oceanus Procellarum region.

### Q: How long did Surveyor 3 operate on the lunar surface?
A: Surveyor 3 operated for 16 days before losing signal on May 4, 1967.

### Q: What was the purpose of Surveyor 3?
A: Surveyor 3 was sent to explore the surface of the Moon as part of the American uncrewed Surveyor program.

### Q: Who manufactured Surveyor 3?
A: Surveyor 3 was manufactured by Hughes Aircraft Company.

## Why It Matters
Surveyor 3 represented a significant achievement in American lunar exploration during the Space Race era. As the third successful lunar landing in the Surveyor program, it demonstrated the viability of soft landings on the lunar surface, which was crucial preparation for crewed Apollo missions. The spacecraft operated for 16 days, longer than some predecessors, gathering valuable data about lunar soil properties, surface composition, and environmental conditions. This information directly informed NASA's understanding of the Moon's characteristics, helping to ensure the safety and success of subsequent crewed lunar missions. Surveyor 3's successful mission also proved the reliability of the Atlas Centaur-D launch vehicle and the landing systems developed for lunar exploration.

## Notable For
- Third successful lunar landing in the Surveyor program, following Surveyor 1 and Surveyor 2
- Operated for 16 days on the lunar surface before losing signal
- Landed in the Oceanus Procellarum region at Statio Cognitum
- Had a specific launch weight of 1,026 kilograms and landing weight of 296 kilograms
- Launched using an Atlas Centaur-D rocket (AC-12) from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36

## Body

### Mission Overview
Surveyor 3 was the third lander in the American uncrewed Surveyor program designed to explore the lunar surface. The spacecraft was part of a series of missions that preceded the Apollo program, gathering critical data about the Moon's characteristics. Surveyor 3 successfully completed its mission objectives, landing softly on the lunar surface and operating for 16 days before communication was lost.

### Technical Specifications
- Mass: 1,026 kilograms (launch weight), 296 kilograms (landing weight)
- Manufacturer: Hughes Aircraft Company
- Launch vehicle: Atlas Centaur-D (AC-12)
- COSPAR ID: 1967-035A
- NSSDCA ID: 1967-035A
- Spacecraft catalog number: 02756

### Mission Timeline
- Launch: April 17, 1967 at 07:05:01 from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36
- Landing: April 20, 1967 at 00:04:53 in Oceanus Procellarum
- Landing site: Statio Cognitum
- Loss of signal: May 4, 1967
- Total operational duration: 16 days

### Landing Site
Surveyor 3 landed in the Oceanus Procellarum (Ocean of Storms) region of the Moon at coordinates -3.0162 latitude, 336.582 longitude. The landing site was designated as Statio Cognitum, which became a reference point for future lunar missions. The successful landing in this region provided valuable data about the lunar surface in a different area than previous Surveyor missions.

### Program Context
Surveyor 3 was part of the Surveyor program, which was a series of uncrewed lunar landers developed by NASA. The program followed Surveyor 2 (which failed) and preceded Surveyor 4. The Surveyor missions were crucial for developing the techniques and technologies necessary for crewed lunar landings during the Apollo program. Surveyor 3's successful mission contributed significantly to NASA's understanding of lunar surface conditions and helped validate the landing systems that would be used by Apollo astronauts.

## References

1. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-035A)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013