Grab your red/blue stereo glasses and check out this excellent 3D image of the Moon created from a mosaic of images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter‘s WAC (Wide Angle Camera) . The hemisphere emerges from the screen like a half a basketball stuck to the screen. Link via 3-D Moon – Moon Zoo.
Category Archives: The Moon
![3d_low_sun_mosaic_thumb[1]](https://i0.wp.com/hobbyspace.com/Blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/3d_low_sun_mosaic_thumb1.png)
Chinese scientist promotes military aspects of lunar program
Ziyuan Ouyang‘s views on a military role for the Moon seems like a throwback to the 1950s at the start of the Space Race : China Chief Lunar Scientist Ouyang Notes Moon Military Uses – Lunar Enterprise Daily :
In Speech At Shenzhen City People’s Culture Hall On 13 October 2013, Prof Ziyuan Ouyang, Senior / Chief Lunar Scientist At NAOC / Chinese Academy Of Sciences, Noted: “To Carry Out Lunar Exploration Project Has Four Major Reasons: The Moon Has A Major Military Strategic Position, Will Become A Contemporary Space Warfare Military Platform …”, And Many Other Vital Resources And Assets; Statement Likely To Need Resolution With American Apollo Spirit “In Peace For All”
Ouvang is the chief scientist for the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program , which intends to land the Chang’e 3 rover on the Moon later this year.
Frankly, it’s silly to claim the Moon can offers any benefits to the Chinese military, particularly as long as space transportation costs are so absurdly expensive. And nothing China is currently doing in rocketry will lead to lower costs. I expect his comments are primarily to attract funding for the lunar program.
Kickstarting the Luna Project Medalet Program
Christopher Carson, a fervent advocate of putting humans on the Moon and one of the “stars” of the documentary Lunarcy!, has opened a Kickstarter campaign to fund the Luna Project Medalet Program : Fire This Time — Luna City Mint 2013 by C.D. “publius” Carson — Kickstarter
The Luna Project stands for nothing less than the liberation of humanity, the transformation of mankind from a species tied to one planet, to one free and at home in the vastness and wonder of the Universe. The first step — one which must and can be taken without further delay — is to establish a foothold on the Moon, as a first center of civilization beyond Earth, and a supply base for steps farther out. And this step can and must be taken by those people, around the world, who care about it and understand its importance. Nobody, whether governments, businesses, or millionaire patrons, will do for us what we are not willing to do for ourselves.
This message has to be spread far and wide to be effective. So much the better if it spreads itself. This can be helped along with promotional materials of the sort that people will show off to their friends and neighbours — bumper stickers, for example, and badges.
An especially distinctive and popular Luna Project promotion has been the medalet, a coin-like item about the size of a US quarter-dollar, typically put up in an attractive package with an informative insert card. A thousand of these were made back in 2008, by a private mint which afterwards folded. The intention was to release new types periodically, soliciting new designs (perhaps by way of contests) so as to engage artists, who are not as well represented in the space movement as they should be.
After many delays and diversions, the Medalet Program is moving forward. A new pattern of medalets has been designed, but now it has to be committed to metal. And that is where you come in.
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The means to the end of getting these new medalets struck is the Luna City Mint, and so this campaign has to — well, kickstart it. Once it is operating, there is a clear way forward for the further development of the Medalet Program. And, when its capabilities are not otherwise occupied, it can help pay for itself by taking on outside work. Maybe that will include a project of yours.
Update: Speaking of Lunarcy! here’s a trailer for it:
LADEE aims to reach Moon today
The LADEE (Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer) spacecraft, launched by the Orbital Sciences Minotaur V rocket from Wallops Island back on Sept. 6th (see launch video here), was set to enter lunar orbit today with a nudge from firing its rocket: LADEE set to enter lunar orbit after transit from Earth – Spaceflight Now. (News of how the firing went is delayed due to the government shutdown.)
[ Update: The probe did successfully enter lunar orbit – Twitter / StephenClark1:
LADEE is in orbit at the moon. First look at data indicates the orbit is nominal. Two burns Oct. 9 and 12 to circularize before laser demo.
Here “laser demo” refers to the laser communications system on the probe that will be used to demonstrate high bandwidth communications with earth. ]
Here is an explanation of why and how the probe will study the Moon’s nearly non-existent atmosphere: LADEE – Measuring Almost Nothing and Looking for the Almost Invisible – The Once and Future Moon/Air&Space Mag.
This video gives an overview of the mission:
http://youtu.be/XyW5QiqftYE
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China announces contest to name lunar rover
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation gave more details about the of the Chang’e 3 lunar lander/rover hardware that will be launched to the Moon later this year. They also announced a contest to name the rover.
- China invites public to name spacecraft – Xinhua
- China invites public to name spacecraft | Business Standard
- China unveils its first and unnamed moon rover – Xinhua
- China Unveils Its First and Unnamed Moon Rover – cri.cn
Here is a BBC report on the mission:
http://youtu.be/tgVcCnU3qJY