Surveyor Success
- Share via
Rep. David Dreier (R-San Dimas) wrote (Commentary, Dec. 12) regarding the Mars Polar Lander failure: “The same was true in the 1960s when the United States first tried to land robotic spacecraft on the moon. There were a series of failed missions before we learned how to land safely.” Not true.
The first robotic spacecraft to attempt a landing on the moon, Surveyor, designed and built by Hughes Aircraft Co. and JPL, was a success. There were some subsequent failures in later Surveyor launches, but the first was a resounding success.
LAWRENCE I. IVEY
Malibu
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
