Free Astronomy Magazine May-June 2019

25 MAY-JUNE 2019 ASTRONAUTICS were a source of stronger gravity. The finding of “mascons” (mass concentrations) was a fortuitous discovery of the project. Because the mechanical properties of the lunar surface would have in- fluenced the design phase of the Apollo lander, the planners stated in October 1962 that the develop- ment of the JPL soft landing mod- ule should have a higher priority than the orbital mapper, but the development of the Centaur stage was so delayed that the missions could not begin before 1966. A POLLO 12 − Astronaut near the lunar module. [NASA, Project Apollo Archive]