With Americans set to return to the moon, this time for much longer expeditions, the pressure is on to make the jour¬neys safer and more affordable.
That is the mission of NASA’s robotic scout, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter or LRO. Scheduled for launch in late 2008 or early 2009, LRO is NASA’s first step to returning humans to the moon by 2020. That is only 12 years away.
The orbiter, comprising six instruments, will focus on the selection of safe landing sites and identification of lunar resources and minerals. It will also study how the lunar radiation environment could affect humans.
The orbiter will spend a year mapping the moon from an average altitude of about 40km. It will perform investigations specifically targeted for preparing for future human exploration.
The mission is also carrying the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite. Its goals are to confirm the presence of ice at the moon’s south pole.
NASA is working hard to return humans to the moon to explore the vast lunar terrain once again. This time they are going to build a permanent outpost where they will conduct scientific research, learn to live off the land and test new technologies for future missions to Mars and beyond.
During the day, solar arrays will generate electricity for habitats, life support systems, rovers, communications systems and other equipment. But lunar nights last up to 334 hours in some places. Even at the moon’s south pole, the sun never rises high and night bathes the moon in total darkness for more than 100 hours.
Imagine living and working on the moon and looking out at the view of your home planet, Earth – what a beautiful sight it would be.
For stargazing during October, Venus is still brilliant in the early western evening sky and Jupiter is unmistakable high overhead.
The International Space Station will also add to the spectacle when it passes over Perth on October 16. It will become visible in the north-north-east at 8.14pm and again on October 17 at 8.39pm, appearing in the north-west.
Visit the Gingin Observatory for an evening of stargazing, and to learn more about the wonder’s of space.