I think my brain has been warped by the constant access to communication that we have on Earth, as it surprised me to remember that we don't have a way to maintain a connection as they pass around...
I think my brain has been warped by the constant access to communication that we have on Earth, as it surprised me to remember that we don't have a way to maintain a connection as they pass around the far side of the moon.
It makes perfect sense of course (EM waves have some trouble passing through thousands of kilometers of rock), but I can't help but find it silly that NASA has to accept the equivalent of "you're breaking up, I'm going through a tunnel".
Would it really be a massive feat to get a couple satellites into lunar orbit to relay signals around it? Compared to JWST and the Mars rovers, I would think not.
Would it really be a massive feat to get a couple satellites into lunar orbit to relay signals around it? Compared to JWST and the Mars rovers, I would think not.
Compared to those 2, no. But for what reason? All so they avoid a very predictable and understood communications gap? If we get a base on the moon then sure, that's probably worth it, but not for...
Compared to those 2, no. But for what reason? All so they avoid a very predictable and understood communications gap? If we get a base on the moon then sure, that's probably worth it, but not for the once-every-50yr pace we're currently going at.
Probably not, at least not for a long while. I doubt the first lunar bases will be sited on the "dark side," though there are good reasons to have installations there eventually.
If we get a base on the moon then sure, that's probably worth it...
Probably not, at least not for a long while. I doubt the first lunar bases will be sited on the "dark side," though there are good reasons to have installations there eventually.
Even then, I wonder whether it would be better to avoid satellite comms altogether, considering the whole benefit to building installations on the far side would be to shield from radio signals...
Even then, I wonder whether it would be better to avoid satellite comms altogether, considering the whole benefit to building installations on the far side would be to shield from radio signals from Earth. I'm fairly certain we could filter out known comms signals, but I don't know enough about radio to say whether you lose anything by doing so.
I imagine that ground based telescopes on the far side of the moon are going to be the quietest place accessible to humans for a good while. I could see wanting to avoid any satellite coverage of...
I imagine that ground based telescopes on the far side of the moon are going to be the quietest place accessible to humans for a good while. I could see wanting to avoid any satellite coverage of some sections of the Moon, but that's the extent of my knowledge.
IIRC, the reason for choosing the south pole is because they expect to find water near there. They'll certainly pick a spot with line-of-sight to home.
IIRC, the reason for choosing the south pole is because they expect to find water near there. They'll certainly pick a spot with line-of-sight to home.
I believe we know there's ice there, don't we? But yeah I know we'll have a way to communicate, my point was just to provide info on the specifics of where they are building the base and that they...
I believe we know there's ice there, don't we?
But yeah I know we'll have a way to communicate, my point was just to provide info on the specifics of where they are building the base and that they may be partially on the dark side or intentionally straddling the boundary.
I had forgotten that they already had a target region until you mentioned it. Your comment just reminded me of why they've chosen the southern pole. I was kind of thinking aloud in text, I guess....
I had forgotten that they already had a target region until you mentioned it. Your comment just reminded me of why they've chosen the southern pole. I was kind of thinking aloud in text, I guess.
I also remembered that one of the largest impact craters on the near side is around the south pole, so I expect that was another reason.
If it's at the south pole, it would be on the border. The moon orbits the earth at the same speed it rotates, so either pole would be at the edge of the two sides.
If it's at the south pole, it would be on the border. The moon orbits the earth at the same speed it rotates, so either pole would be at the edge of the two sides.
If anyone wants to watch the Earth slowly crossing behind the Moon and hear Victor Glover's speech, here is the timestamp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-j1uxBmis0&t=20310s p.s. I didn't notice...
Been watching this the last few days at https://www.twitch.tv/ej_sa?sr=a They are fairly knowledgeable and give an interesting commentary on what's going on. Here's a few other neat links:...
Been watching this the last few days at https://www.twitch.tv/ej_sa?sr=a They are fairly knowledgeable and give an interesting commentary on what's going on.
I started watching when they were asking to name a crater after Carroll Wiseman, and I've had it on all day but on mute for much of it (taking phone calls) and now I'm watching during the comms...
I started watching when they were asking to name a crater after Carroll Wiseman, and I've had it on all day but on mute for much of it (taking phone calls) and now I'm watching during the comms blackout.
The livestream started about 6 hours ago. The most important milestone (IMO) has already passed a few hours ago: surpassing the Apollo 13 distance record. At time of writing, Artemis II is...
The livestream started about 6 hours ago. The most important milestone (IMO) has already passed a few hours ago: surpassing the Apollo 13 distance record. At time of writing, Artemis II is currently going behind the moon for about 40 minutes, cutting off their communications during that time.
I think my brain has been warped by the constant access to communication that we have on Earth, as it surprised me to remember that we don't have a way to maintain a connection as they pass around the far side of the moon.
It makes perfect sense of course (EM waves have some trouble passing through thousands of kilometers of rock), but I can't help but find it silly that NASA has to accept the equivalent of "you're breaking up, I'm going through a tunnel".
Would it really be a massive feat to get a couple satellites into lunar orbit to relay signals around it? Compared to JWST and the Mars rovers, I would think not.
Compared to those 2, no. But for what reason? All so they avoid a very predictable and understood communications gap? If we get a base on the moon then sure, that's probably worth it, but not for the once-every-50yr pace we're currently going at.
Probably not, at least not for a long while. I doubt the first lunar bases will be sited on the "dark side," though there are good reasons to have installations there eventually.
Yeah, "dark side" colonization will want to wait until we have lunar satellites to allow for consistent communication to Earth.
Even then, I wonder whether it would be better to avoid satellite comms altogether, considering the whole benefit to building installations on the far side would be to shield from radio signals from Earth. I'm fairly certain we could filter out known comms signals, but I don't know enough about radio to say whether you lose anything by doing so.
I imagine that ground based telescopes on the far side of the moon are going to be the quietest place accessible to humans for a good while. I could see wanting to avoid any satellite coverage of some sections of the Moon, but that's the extent of my knowledge.
South Pole is what I read for Artemis V beginning a base. Not sure how that aligns with the dark/light side or if the intent is be on that borderline
IIRC, the reason for choosing the south pole is because they expect to find water near there. They'll certainly pick a spot with line-of-sight to home.
I believe we know there's ice there, don't we?
But yeah I know we'll have a way to communicate, my point was just to provide info on the specifics of where they are building the base and that they may be partially on the dark side or intentionally straddling the boundary.
I don't know what they intend
I had forgotten that they already had a target region until you mentioned it. Your comment just reminded me of why they've chosen the southern pole. I was kind of thinking aloud in text, I guess.
I also remembered that one of the largest impact craters on the near side is around the south pole, so I expect that was another reason.
If it's at the south pole, it would be on the border. The moon orbits the earth at the same speed it rotates, so either pole would be at the edge of the two sides.
I thought so but also I'm not sure if the mission outline means precisely at the pole or close to it.
If anyone wants to watch the Earth slowly crossing behind the Moon and hear Victor Glover's speech, here is the timestamp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-j1uxBmis0&t=20310s
p.s. I didn't notice this new topic and had commented in the old one first instead. ;)
Been watching this the last few days at https://www.twitch.tv/ej_sa?sr=a They are fairly knowledgeable and give an interesting commentary on what's going on.
Here's a few other neat links:
Overview dashboards
https://artemis-1bq.pages.dev/
https://www.sunnywingsvirtual.com/artemis2/
Information on uplinks https://eyes.nasa.gov/apps/dsn-now/dsn.html
That first dashboard in particular is great! Thanks for the link. I shared it with my students and some other teachers.
I started watching when they were asking to name a crater after Carroll Wiseman, and I've had it on all day but on mute for much of it (taking phone calls) and now I'm watching during the comms blackout.
The livestream started about 6 hours ago. The most important milestone (IMO) has already passed a few hours ago: surpassing the Apollo 13 distance record. At time of writing, Artemis II is currently going behind the moon for about 40 minutes, cutting off their communications during that time.
I also learned NASA has a Twitch channel, which is kind of funny to me: https://www.twitch.tv/nasa