China, Japan, U.S. plan Moon visits
China will send a robot to the moon, its first visit ever, in April.
China's one-year-long visitor will:
1. take 3D images of the moon's surface
2. proobe the distribution of 14 "usable elements"
3. gauge the moon's temperature – say ahhh!!
4. estimate the depth of the lunar crust
5. study the space environment between Earth and the moon.
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency will send a lunar orbiter this summer.
Japan's three ton one-year-long investigator, including two 50kg sub satellites will:
1. reveal the distribution of the elements on the moon's surface
2. dig deep to learn about the surface and sub-surface structure,
3. study the gravity field
4. study the remnants of a magnetic field
5. learn more about the environment of energetic particles and plasma on the moon…
6. high-definition television cameras will take a movie of Earth-rise from the moon's horizon.
NASA has done some serious soul searching and is generally eating its non-cheese heart out. The best NASA can do is hope to send a Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, in October 2008 with the help of scientists from ESA, India, Japan, and Russia.
Kind of reminds me of the space race back when….how about you?
Go China! Go Japan!
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