Progress report: Apollo 16 sample documentation

Abstract

This report is intended as a working document for use during the opening of the Apollo 16 sample containers and during the early phases of examination of the samples in the Lunar Receiving Laboratory (LRL). The information in this report was drawn from voice transcripts of the astronaut crew while on the lunar surface, from video tapes of lunar surface television, and from a "quick-look" at the returned 60 mm Hasselblad photographs. The planimetric station maps were compiled almost entirely from the television tapes. A thorough review of all data, plus a comparison of the rocks shown in the photographs with those in the LRL, should eliminate any errors or discrepancies. A major purpose of this document is, in fact, to point up gaps in our present knowledge of sample location, orientation, and documentation. This report will be superseded by a more accurate and complete report about two weeks hence. All sample numbers in the illustrations refer to container numbers. Those that have LRL numbers assigned as of this date are cross-referenced in table 1. The illustrations are grouped in order of ascending station numbers (fig. 1), and where possible are shown in order of ascending container numbers for each station. Table 1 also refers container numbers to pane numbers of this report.