Active Seismic Experiment

ASE used a thumper device and a mortar with explosive charges to explore subsurface lunar structure and elastic properties.

The components weighed 11.2 kilograms (25 lb), drew 9.75 watts of power and recorded data at an average rate of 10,000 bits/sec.

[3] Hexanitrostilbene was the main explosive fill in the seismic source generating mortar ammunition canisters used as part of the Apollo Lunar Active Experiments Package.

Due to loss of uplink capability with Apollo 14 central station on March 5, 1975, the experiment could no longer be commanded and the grenades remain unfired.

[1][8] Whilst the regolith of the lunar surface varies in depth, the characteristics revealed were similar at the three landing sites.

These velocities suggested brecciated and highly porous material, likely the result of fragmentation and comminution caused by meteorite impacts.