Difference between revisions of "September 14, 2007"

From LPOD
Jump to: navigation, search
Line 8: Line 8:
 
<p>I have just watched online the live launch of Selene, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency&#8217;s (JAXA) ambitious lunar probe. I captured the images above to show this start of what we can hope will be a new golden age of lunar exploration. Selene has 15 sophisticated [http://www.selene.jaxa.jp/en/equipment/xrs_e.htm instruments] that will collect the most precise topographic, geologic, and mineralogical information thus far, some with 10 m resolution. Stereo imaging and a laser altimeter will permit highly detailed topographic mapping of the entire world - the altimeter has 5 m accuracy. A radar sounder will probe the top 20-30 km of crustal structure, and X-ray and gamma-ray spectrometers will determine compositions of surface materials. One unusual instrument is a TV to study the surface with oblique images and also to capture Earth rise - purely a publicity shot! I hope that Selene is fabuously successful and that much exciting new data descends on us. As Selene travels through space, China is also readying its Chang&#8217;e-1 lunar orbiter for launch this month, with India and the USA following next year. If you missed the lunar exploration of the 1960s this will be another historic chance to live in a glorious age of discovery. Wahoo!</p>
 
<p>I have just watched online the live launch of Selene, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency&#8217;s (JAXA) ambitious lunar probe. I captured the images above to show this start of what we can hope will be a new golden age of lunar exploration. Selene has 15 sophisticated [http://www.selene.jaxa.jp/en/equipment/xrs_e.htm instruments] that will collect the most precise topographic, geologic, and mineralogical information thus far, some with 10 m resolution. Stereo imaging and a laser altimeter will permit highly detailed topographic mapping of the entire world - the altimeter has 5 m accuracy. A radar sounder will probe the top 20-30 km of crustal structure, and X-ray and gamma-ray spectrometers will determine compositions of surface materials. One unusual instrument is a TV to study the surface with oblique images and also to capture Earth rise - purely a publicity shot! I hope that Selene is fabuously successful and that much exciting new data descends on us. As Selene travels through space, China is also readying its Chang&#8217;e-1 lunar orbiter for launch this month, with India and the USA following next year. If you missed the lunar exploration of the 1960s this will be another historic chance to live in a glorious age of discovery. Wahoo!</p>
 
<p>[mailto:tychocrater@yahoo.com Chuck Wood]</p>
 
<p>[mailto:tychocrater@yahoo.com Chuck Wood]</p>
<p align="center"><em>Now you can support LPOD when you buy ANY book from Amazon thru [[LPOD]]</em></p>
+
<p><b>Yesterday's LPOD:</b> [[September 13, 2007|Be Gone, Obnoxious Framelet Lines!]] </p>
 +
<p><b>Tomorrow's LPOD:</b> [[September 15, 2007|Who You Gonna Believe?]] </p>
 +
<!-- Removed reference to store page -->
 
</div>
 
</div>
----
+
{{wiki/ArticleFooter}}
===COMMENTS?===
 
Register, and click on the <b>Discussion</b> tab at the top of the page.
 

Revision as of 20:15, 1 February 2015

A New Era of Lunar Exploration!

Selene-LPOD.jpg
screen captures from JAXA

I have just watched online the live launch of Selene, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) ambitious lunar probe. I captured the images above to show this start of what we can hope will be a new golden age of lunar exploration. Selene has 15 sophisticated instruments that will collect the most precise topographic, geologic, and mineralogical information thus far, some with 10 m resolution. Stereo imaging and a laser altimeter will permit highly detailed topographic mapping of the entire world - the altimeter has 5 m accuracy. A radar sounder will probe the top 20-30 km of crustal structure, and X-ray and gamma-ray spectrometers will determine compositions of surface materials. One unusual instrument is a TV to study the surface with oblique images and also to capture Earth rise - purely a publicity shot! I hope that Selene is fabuously successful and that much exciting new data descends on us. As Selene travels through space, China is also readying its Chang’e-1 lunar orbiter for launch this month, with India and the USA following next year. If you missed the lunar exploration of the 1960s this will be another historic chance to live in a glorious age of discovery. Wahoo!

Chuck Wood

Yesterday's LPOD: Be Gone, Obnoxious Framelet Lines!

Tomorrow's LPOD: Who You Gonna Believe?


COMMENTS?

Register, Log in, and join in the comments.