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

AI Thread Summary
The discussion highlights that artificial satellites have indeed orbited the Moon, with the Soviet Luna 10 probe being the first to do so in 1966. Recent missions, such as the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), continue to provide valuable data about the Moon's surface. There is speculation about upcoming satellite programs from countries like China aimed at capturing detailed images of the Moon. The conversation also touches on conspiracy theories regarding the Moon landing, questioning the visibility of Apollo equipment from space. Overall, the existence of past and current lunar missions demonstrates ongoing interest and capability in lunar exploration.
Curiousity28
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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.
 
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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.
 
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