BF2S Forums Probing the Moon

Reciprocity wrote:

M.O.A.B wrote:

t'll be cool to see the old remnants of the previous Apollo missions still where they were the last time astronauts left

on a soundstage in new mexico?

topal63 wrote:

You can't title a thread 'probing' the 'moon' and not have some adult content?

At 4hrs since launch, I'm traveling at 3.5 km/s (~8000 mph), at 48,907 km from Earth. Another 311,000 km or so to go to reach Lunar swingby!

Freke1 wrote:

It doesn't make sense to probe and overfly areas they allready have dug samples from.

The United States and its partners have begun a program to extend human presence in the solar system, beginning with a return to the Moon. The return to the Moon will enable the pursuit of scientific activities that address our fundamental questions about the history of Earth, the solar system and the universe - and about our place in them. It will allow us to test technologies, systems, flight operations and exploration techniques to reduce the risk and increase the productivity of future missions to Mars and beyond. It will also expand Earth's economic sphere to conduct lunar activities with benefits to life on the home planet.

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is the first step in this endeavor, an unmanned mission to create the comprehensive atlas of the Moon's features and resources necessary to design and build a lunar outpost. LRO follows in the footsteps of the predecessors to the Apollo missions - missions designed in part to search for the best possible landing sites (such as the Ranger, Lunar Orbiter and Surveyor missions). However, building a lunar outpost implies extended periods on the lunar surface and so the goals of LRO go beyond the requirements of these previous missions. LRO focuses on the selection of safe landing sites, identification of lunar resources, and the study of how the lunar radiation environment will affect humans.

• Human Civilization- Extend human presence to the Moon to enable eventual settlement.
• Scientific Knowledge- Pursue scientific activities that address fundamental questions about the history of Earth, the solar system and the universe - and about our place in them.
• Exploration Preparation-Test technologies, systems, flight operations and exploration techniques to reduce the risks and increase the productivity of future missions to Mars and beyond.
• Global Partnerships- Provide a challenging, shared and peaceful activity that unites nations in pursuit of common objectives.
• Economic Expansion-  Expand Earth's economic sphere, and conduct lunar activities with benefits to life on the home planet.
• Public Engagement- Use a vibrant space exploration program to engage the public, encourage students and help develop the high-tech workforce that will be required to address the challenges of tomorrow.