时间:2024-11-23 17:56:25 来源:网络整理编辑:時尚
NASA's moon-orbiting spacecraft can spot trails left by astronaut boots on the lunar surface. Now, i
NASA's moon-orbiting spacecraft can spot trails left by astronaut boots on the lunar surface.
Now, it's captured a view of China's most recent moon landing.
The China National Space Administration landed its robotic Chang'e-6 mission in the expansive South Pole-Aitken Basin in early June. A week later, on June 7, the NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter passed over and captured footage of the uncrewed lander, along with eroded terrain created by thrusters fired into the chalky ground. It's the second time China has landed on the moon's far side.
SEE ALSO:The U.S. is exploring a railroad for the moon. It has a good reason.The first image below shows the Chang'e-6 spacecraft at center. NASA noted that it landed in a "mare unit," meaning it settled down on an ancient lava flow that now appears as a dark-colored rocky plain. Below this new image is a before-and-after look at this region prior to the Chinese craft touching down. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which has orbited the moon since 2009, is constantly capturing detailed views of our natural satellite, including craters left by a wayward rocket that slammed into the surface.
Tweet may have been deleted
Before landing, the spacecraft hovered 100 meters (nearly 110 yards) above the surface, where it autonomously used lasers to locate lunar obstacles (like rocks or pits), and then descended. Once on the surface, the craft employed drills and robotic arms to collect rocks and soil. Then, an ascent vehicle atop the lander launched off the moon, ferrying these prized samples to an awaiting orbiter in space. Ultimately, the samples will plunge back to Earth in a protected capsule — similar to China's successful moon rock return in 2020.
"The Chang'e-6 mission is the first human sampling and return mission from the far side of the moon," the China National Space Administration said in a statement. "It involves many engineering innovations, high risks, and great difficulty."
The 21st century space race is indeed underway. China has ambitious plans to land humans on the lunar surface by 2030.
NASA has famously landed six crewed missions on the moon — but over a half-century ago. It aims to soon return. The space agency's looming Artemis 3 mission is currently slated to land in September 2026. Unlike the Apollo missions, this time astronauts will venture to the moon's south pole, where scientists suspect water is preserved in ancient, shadowy craters. The ice will be an invaluable resource — for air, water, and the production of rocket fuel.
TopicsNASA
This weird squid looks like it has googly eyes, guys2024-11-23 17:45
Friendly koala walks into a restaurant full of diners like it's NBD2024-11-23 17:30
Netflix introduces interactive TV where you can pick the outcome2024-11-23 17:18
Friendly koala walks into a restaurant full of diners like it's NBD2024-11-23 17:16
Xiaomi accused of copying again, this time by Jawbone2024-11-23 17:15
Wahed Invest promises to be the first Sharia2024-11-23 16:57
'Blade Runner 2049' footage drops with commentary from Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford2024-11-23 16:13
For $28, you can hack into a stranger's internet2024-11-23 15:55
Daughter gives her 1002024-11-23 15:42
Panasonic's deodorizing hanger lets you skip laundry day2024-11-23 15:29
Early Apple2024-11-23 17:55
The internet isn't convinced this truck tire isn't a crocodile2024-11-23 17:41
Sasha Obama's real name has freaked out the internet2024-11-23 17:38
KFC employee is the spitting image of Korean movie star and people are going crazy over him2024-11-23 17:30
We asked linguists if Donald Trump speaks like that on purpose2024-11-23 17:17
For $28, you can hack into a stranger's internet2024-11-23 16:39
True hero sneaks grandma's dog into hospital by disguising it as a baby2024-11-23 16:37
The tale of a celebrity president who colluded with a foreign dictator2024-11-23 16:09
Is Samsung's Galaxy Note7 really the best phone?2024-11-23 15:46
Fidget spinners get even more useless... with technology!2024-11-23 15:24