Why haven't we launched any artificial satellites that orbit the Moon?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Curiousity28
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Moon Orbit Satellites
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the topic of artificial satellites orbiting the Moon, exploring the historical context, current missions, and the implications of lunar exploration. Participants touch on past missions, the capabilities of current technology, and the ongoing debate regarding the authenticity of the Apollo Moon landings.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that launching satellites to orbit the Moon is feasible and has been accomplished, citing historical missions like the Soviet Luna 10 probe.
  • Others mention recent satellite missions, including the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), as evidence of ongoing lunar exploration.
  • A participant references a program questioning the authenticity of the Moon landings, suggesting that future satellite missions could verify the presence of Apollo equipment on the lunar surface.
  • Concerns are raised about the credibility of satellite images, particularly in relation to conspiracy theories surrounding the Moon landings.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that satellites have orbited the Moon and that this has been done historically. However, there is disagreement regarding the implications of lunar exploration and the validity of the Moon landing conspiracy theories, with no consensus reached on these points.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes references to various lunar missions and the capabilities of current technology, but lacks detailed technical specifications or comprehensive historical timelines. The debate around the authenticity of the Moon landings introduces uncertainty regarding the interpretation of satellite imagery.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in lunar exploration, the history of space missions, or the ongoing debates about the Moon landings may find this discussion relevant.

Curiousity28
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
I would've thought something like that would be do-able given we've landed on the moon, but also quite useful for discovering more about it.
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
It's doable and has been done to map the moon.
 
You mean like http://news.cnet.com/8301-19514_3-10270929-239.html we launched last month?
 
Not only has it been done, it was done 43 years ago. The Soviet Luna 10 probe made a couple hundred orbits before contact was lost. It may still be up there.
 
Curiousity28 said:
I would've thought something like that would be do-able given we've landed on the moon, but also quite useful for discovering more about it.

Where have you been for the last 40 years, Curiosity?

After MANY failures, Luna 10 (1966) was the first to orbit the moon...
Like Negitron said; the latest one is the LRO...


See here for a more complete list:
http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/everything/moon/missions.html

Creator
 
Yesterday I watched a program that questioned whether man actually went to the moon, or whether it was all faked. The program said that the Chinese (I think it was the Chinese, could be wrong on this) were launching a satellite program that would take close up photos of the surface of the moon. The interesting thing about the program was that it stated that the range rover, flag, and other equipment that the Apollo Mission left upon the surface of the moon should still be there if man really did land on the moon, and that if such equipment is there, then it should all be able to be varified by looking at it from space (we don't have anything powerful enough yet to see any of it from Earth).
 
seasnake said:
Yesterday I watched a program that questioned whether man actually went to the moon, or whether it was all faked. The program said that the Chinese (I think it was the Chinese, could be wrong on this) were launching a satellite program that would take close up photos of the surface of the moon. The interesting thing about the program was that it stated that the range rover, flag, and other equipment that the Apollo Mission left upon the surface of the moon should still be there if man really did land on the moon, and that if such equipment is there, then it should all be able to be varified by looking at it from space (we don't have anything powerful enough yet to see any of it from Earth).

Good timing to have seen that program because...

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=325687
 
seasnake said:
The interesting thing about the program was that it stated that the range rover, flag, and other equipment that the Apollo Mission left upon the surface of the moon should still be there if man really did land on the moon, and that if such equipment is there, then it should all be able to be varified by looking at it from space (we don't have anything powerful enough yet to see any of it from Earth).
If hoaxsters believe the photos taken by astronauts on the moon were faked, what possible reason would they have for believing that new photos of lower quality taken by satellites were not faked?

The faith of the moon hoax crackpot is total, so there really isn't anything to be gained by discussing such things. This is why the moon hoax hoax is not an acceptable topic for discussion here.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
17
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
5K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
4K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
3K