NASA launches Lunar Probes to digitally map entire surface
Two NASA probes are on their way to the moon in the hopes of finding water ice and safe landing sites that could pave the way for the return of astronauts to the lunar surface.
The two lunar missions, which together cost some $580 million, are NASA's first since 1998 and are intended to pave the way for a potential human settlement on the moon. "We will prepare ... the guidebook for future exploration of the moon," LRO project scientist Richard Vondrak told reporters on Tuesday.
An altimeter will fire five laser beams 28 times per second to build up 3D maps of the surface.
Cool huh? But what do you guys think of this story? Is it a worthy mission, or just a waste of money in a struggling economy?
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- jeffissleeping
- added this
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I don't find it to be a waste of money. Always thought that research and exploration are beneficial in the long run.
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Struggling economy? Thats being kind.
Waste of money for now. Ask anyone who can't get a job and is about to lose their home if they think this is a good idea,-
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- Ihatethemall
- 4 months ago
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i think google has done this years ago... computers just aren't powerfull enough for streetview moon
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Neil Armstrong never walked on the Moon in 1969, so conducting this type of research before sending a human to the Moon seems logical and worth the investment. It's not a waste of money! NASA accounts for less than 1% of the annual budget. Military spending is 21% of the budget.
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Will James Hansen lose his JPL job at NASA due to his jail time in West Virginia?
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- larrysnotes
- 4 months ago
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The worlds population continues to grow. There's no stopping it. Technology can further develop the resources we have; but those resources are finate. Hopefully later, and not sooner, we'll reach the point of as much as we can do.
The ability to explore space is the next logical step for mankind. This is the longest of long term projects, but I think a vital one. Who knows what we may find?
This is a step towards establishing a moon base. What we'll learn by doing that will further the goal of exploring space. It's a worthwhile goal and one that we shouldn't give up or slow down with. This needs to continue.
A waste it's not. And not just for my stated reason. NASA, in present time, has contributed so much to the technology that we use everyday, every one of us, that it has no equal. I won't try to list them here. But if you've not looked I suggest you do so. Go to the NASA web site. You'll be impressed, and think to yourself "I didn't know that." It's worth your time.
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- cabinettags
- 4 months ago
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The best thing I see coming out of this is up close photos of the landing sites. Just to shut up those who said we were never there. Nasa show up close photos of the landing sites.
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- larrysnotes
- 4 months ago
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"I believe that the successful mapping , then analyzing of the Moon or any surface, is not only a wonderful challenge, but will help pave the way towards new areas of exploration."
-Joshua Sophrin
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Very cool. I suppose it would be pretty easy to be negative about something like this, but at the end of the day it's going to supply us some spectacular imagery of the moon.
Images like this can only help fuel the space dreams of tomorrow.
