According
to this article by Marcia Dunn, NASA sent out a new robotic probe from Virginia
on Friday, September 6. The craft encountered some technical difficulties after
the launch, but NASA officials assured everyone that it would all be worked out
in no time at all. The probe is set to go around the Earth thrice before making
it into the moon’s orbit; it is expected to reach the moon on October 6. Once
there, the craft will study the atmosphere and dust. After sending data back to
Earth from lunar orbit for a full six months LADEE (Lunar Atmosphere and Dust
Environment Explorer) will end the mission with a plunge into the surface of
the moon. In addition to helping scientists discover more about how the moon’s
environment changes over time, LADEE, equipped with laser communications, will
help enhance the future of our space explorations. NASA hopes that laser
communications will soon replace traditional radios, speeding our
communications as we push further into space.
Missions
like this one may help us discover some of the mysteries of the universe, for
example, how it came to be. Maybe one day, we will live to unravel some of
these great questions. Only by continuing to explore can we hope to do so. It
is extremely exciting that the probe is set up with laser communications
because it will help us become better versed in what it will take for humans to
venture further into the realm of space. I hope to live to see some of the
great space explorations that are certain to come.
http://www.usnews.com/science/news/articles/2013/09/07/nasa-launching-robotic-explorer-to-moon-from-va
This sounds like a really cool article! It just goes to show how every day we gain more and more knowledge about our universe and how we have come to be and I think that is an amazing thing.
ReplyDeleteThis is very exciting! I love that humans just keep collecting more and more knowledge about the universe in an effort to better society and seek truth. This new probe sounds fantastic!
ReplyDeleteIt's so amazing to see new technology developing in today's time! If this works out, it will be cool to discover new things about our universe that we have lived so long without knowing.
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ReplyDeleteLaser communication seems that it will really help the future space explorations! I love to see that NASA is continuing to further understand Outer Space. It will be interesting to see what type of information they find by plunging into the moon.
ReplyDeleteAshley Barnes, 2nd Period