Photographing abandoned Apollo relics and the new lunar base
NASA has plans to return to the moon, beginning with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LROC), which will, among other things, finally lay to rest the ridiculous conspiracy theories surrounding the moon landings. Those skeptical of the moon landing have often asked why the remains of the lunar landing have never been photographed by a telescope like Hubble. The answer is quite simply because Hubble cannot photograph objects smaller than 60 meters wide on the moon. The largest of the Apollo program remains is 9 meters.
But LROC, scheduled for launch in 2008, will be able to photograph everything left behind from the Apollo missions, and it will also map the terrain of the moon in preparation for a return to the lunar surface. NASA plans to return to the moon no later than 2020. By using long-term analysis of shadows from photos taken at various times of the year, scientists intend analyze the shapes and locations of both the terrain and Apollo remains to a greater degree than they could doing just a single pass. Even the tracks from Rover may be visible.
The main mission for the LROC is to survey and laser-map the entire lunar surface that astronauts may be exploring to find such features as old, hardened lava tubes which could be used as shelter in case of a solar storm, and water ice. Specifically, NASA would like to know whether or not the polar regions of the moon are more habitable for astronauts. The thought is that some higher ridges might constantly be in the sunlight while their shadowed areas might harbor ice which could be used for drinking water.
Never before has the lunar surface been analyzed as closely as it will be in the coming years.
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Just wanted to say: keep up the good work on polyscience, it’s a nice read. (And get a decent slogan! ;) )
Comment by hisham — July 15, 2005 @ 2:35 am
Hah, well I’m working on it still. I’m currently planning an entirely new layout so it’s less “bloggish,” since I don’t want this to be a blog at all. (Despite the fact that I refer to myself when writing.)
Comment by Rian — July 20, 2005 @ 9:25 am
[...] A little while ago, I covered the LROC that NASA will be sending up in 2008. Now there are plans to use Hubble to look at the lunar surface in an effort to find, you guessed it, suitable locations for lunar bases. [...]
Pingback by polyscience.org » Hubble to scope out the lunar surface — August 22, 2005 @ 6:14 pm