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2004-11-26 Home Front: Tech

US will launch new moon mission in 2010

The United States will launch a mission in 2010 to land two stationary robots on the moon to collect rock samples before returning to earth, a US scientist said here Thursday. Carle Pieters of Brown University's Department of Geological Sciences, who is involved in the US space programme, said the aim of the Moonrise Mission was to land at the moon's largest and oldest crater - the South Pole Aitken Basin. "The purpose is to study how long ago the basin was formed and return materials derived from the deep interior to earth for analysis," Pieters said. "It will also help us to understand the unique process of how basins are formed." Pieters is also the chairwoman of the International Lunar Exploration Working Group, an organisation formed to promote cooperation between nations. She said scientists in the United States were still identifying which landing spots in the basin would be good for the twin robots to gather samples.

Posted by Fred 2004-11-26 5:14:42 PM|| || Front Page|| [11134 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 What movie is the illustration from? German?

Posted by Shipman 2004-11-26 5:52:02 PM|| 2004-11-26 5:52:02 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 Russia has announced plans to have a moon BASE by 2025. Ironically, they may do it before the US does it, for an odd reason: their willingness to go "low tech." For example, the US would want to send pre-fab high tech buildings, but the Russians would make most of their shelters from Moon rock and dirt, with a minimum of Earth supplied materials. This difference in philosophy gives the Russians a marked advantage in setting up long-term bases on both the Moon and Mars.

Posted by Anonymoose 2004-11-26 6:00:31 PM|| 2004-11-26 6:00:31 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 I assume the US will finance the Russian effort.

Posted by Shipman 2004-11-26 6:03:47 PM|| 2004-11-26 6:03:47 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 Ship - I think it was a French film from Jules Verne - dunno the title... Shot 'em up there with a big cannon.

Posted by .com 2004-11-26 6:04:07 PM|| 2004-11-26 6:04:07 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 NASA has been reduced to putting toy cars on Mars and stationary robots on the moon. Their management has ossified. Time to quit fooling around with them and turn space back over to the military (AF or Navy or create a new Space Force) and take the high ground. Otherwise, we may have to deal with the Chinese putting a manned base there and claiming the whole thing for the Middle Kingdom while NASA is still putzing around with Toy R Us.

Posted by RWV 2004-11-26 6:32:21 PM|| 2004-11-26 6:32:21 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 What tha HELL for? We need more moon rocks...for what? They won't make my cereal taste any better, and they definitely won't reduce my income tax! My advice is to let the Man In The Moon keep his rocks; if the chinese want them, maybe they can bring enough back to repair that Great Wall from cracks and leaks!

Posted by smn 2004-11-26 7:47:48 PM|| 2004-11-26 7:47:48 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 It's "From Earth to the Moon," one of the first movies ever made, based on the Verne story.

Posted by Fred 2004-11-26 7:47:49 PM|| 2004-11-26 7:47:49 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 Fred - Ah, a literate man comes forward, lol! BTW, I liked the cute sailor outfits the crew wore, heh.

Posted by .com 2004-11-26 8:05:06 PM|| 2004-11-26 8:05:06 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 I bet you did

Posted by Frank G 2004-11-26 8:08:37 PM|| 2004-11-26 8:08:37 PM|| Front Page Top

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