New Nasa Radar Technique Finds Lost Lunar Orbiting Spacecraft

AWESOME detection skills...

9 March 2017

Text & Graphics:
www.jpl.nasa.gov...

NEW NASA RADAR TECHNIQUE FINDS LOST LUNAR SPACECRAFT

Finding derelict spacecraft and space debris in Earth’s orbit can be a technological challenge. Detecting these objects in orbit around Earth’s moon is even more difficult. Optical telescopes are unable to search for small objects hidden in the bright glare of the Moon. However, a new technological application of interplanetary radar pioneered by scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, has successfully located spacecraft orbiting the Moon -- one active, and one dormant. This new technique could assist planners of future Moon missions.

More information about asteroids and near-Earth objects:
cneos.jpl.nasa.gov...
www.jpl.nasa.gov...

More information about NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office:
www.nasa.gov...

For asteroid and comet news and updates, follow AsteroidWatch on Twitter:
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Proper Quoting

Giving Credit to the Actual Author

They lost a spacecraft?
That sounds like an 'Erkel' punchline.
"Did I do that???"

originally posted by: skunkape23
They lost a spacecraft?
That sounds like an 'Erkel' punchline.
"Did I do that???"

India put some space junk out there, littering for no good reason at all.

Kind of makes one wonder what else they have discovered with this new power of detection coming and going around the moon that we Won't hear about.
Wish that kind of stuff "leaked out."

a reply to: onehuman

Awesome impressive to locate a 5ft cube of anything at 237,000 miles.

"Mascons" as referred to in the article are currently explained by asteroid impacts, and can be found on Mars and Mercury. Apparently there are none on Earth. Is this another wonder of the Universe?

a reply to: Doxanoxa

It's a side effect of Earth still being geologically active. They go away in time.

eta: there is one still detectable in Antarctica

a reply to: TinfoilTP

TinfoilTP,

You really have no idea what you are talking about, clearly.

You want to complain about India? The two most serious polluters are Russia, and the USA. You know what everyone else who appears on a pie chart regarding this situation gets referred to as? Other. Why? Because its a tiny amount, compared to the thousands and thousands of objects that Roscosmos and NASA have put into orbit.

Get some perspective man, seriously.

I often wonder about space-junk.

We hear of past ancient civilisations with tales of flying machines and space travel etc, I wonder if there are any ancient space technology/artefacts floating around our solar system left behind from those times.

Now that other countries are entering the space-age i'm hoping their teams of image-editors will utilise their expertise by enhancing images of interesting areas instead of 'smudging' them like NASA does.

a reply to: TinfoilTP
WTH,I can't remember last time India sent a rocket to space,whereas China,US,Russia,send things all the time,bad choice of comparison

originally posted by: TrueBrit
a reply to: TinfoilTP

TinfoilTP,

You really have no idea what you are talking about, clearly.

You want to complain about India? The two most serious polluters are Russia, and the USA. You know what everyone else who appears on a pie chart regarding this situation gets referred to as? Other. Why? Because its a tiny amount, compared to the thousands and thousands of objects that Roscosmos and NASA have put into orbit.

Get some perspective man, seriously.

So because they are "other" that gives them a free pass?
They have no experience, they should leave it to the experts. It has been done by better than them so why should they waste their time and resources junking up lunar orbit? Just for some useless prestige? They will never project the power of the US or even Russia, their little copy cat cold war keeping up with China is no justification. The UN should give them a fine, make themselves useful.

a reply to: TinfoilTP

So let me get this absolutely straight.

The US and Russia may do what they want, and India may never do its own research, never gain access to space, all because you do not think they have somehow earned the right to do so, or because it would be a waste of time?

What kind of globalist bull are you trying to sell here? It might have escaped your attention, but this here that we are living in now, is what people used to call the future. It is a time when many, not few nations have access to space and spaceflight technologies. It is a time when more of the human population can be involved in space science than at any time in the history of mankind.

India have had a space program of one sort or another since 1962, their first satellite was launched by the Russians in 1975, and in 1980 lofted their own satellite on board their own rocket for the first time. They have launched Moon and Mars orbiters, and their Mars Orbiter Mission made India the first, so far the only nation to have reached Mars orbit first time, rather than failing and having to have another crack later on.

What is more, the Indians have proven that they have a great aptitude for launching multiple satellites on one rocket, their current record standing at 104 satellites on board one rocket, which is a world record. They smashed their own previous record of twenty at a time, in setting that new high bar.

India is producing science at the moment that other nations, like the US, Russia, and China are all taking advantage of. I think you just need to go and do some reading into the history of Indian involvement in space exploration, preferably without those blinkers on, before you comment again, because all you are doing is showing yourself up.

a reply to: JimOberg

o find a spacecraft 380 000 km (237 000 miles) away, JPL's team used NASA's 70-meter (230-foot) antenna at NASA's Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex in California to send out a powerful beam of microwaves directed toward the moon.

Just wondering, what if a small plane inadvertently flew overhead thru that beam, or an airliner higher up?

How 'powerful' are those microwaves?

originally posted by: TrueBrit
a reply to: TinfoilTP

So let me get this absolutely straight.

The US and Russia may do what they want, and India may never do its own research, never gain access to space, all because you do not think they have somehow earned the right to do so, or because it would be a waste of time?

What kind of globalist bull are you trying to sell here? It might have escaped your attention, but this here that we are living in now, is what people used to call the future. It is a time when many, not few nations have access to space and spaceflight technologies. It is a time when more of the human population can be involved in space science than at any time in the history of mankind.

India have had a space program of one sort or another since 1962, their first satellite was launched by the Russians in 1975, and in 1980 lofted their own satellite on board their own rocket for the first time. They have launched Moon and Mars orbiters, and their Mars Orbiter Mission made India the first, so far the only nation to have reached Mars orbit first time, rather than failing and having to have another crack later on.

What is more, the Indians have proven that they have a great aptitude for launching multiple satellites on one rocket, their current record standing at 104 satellites on board one rocket, which is a world record. They smashed their own previous record of twenty at a time, in setting that new high bar.

India is producing science at the moment that other nations, like the US, Russia, and China are all taking advantage of. I think you just need to go and do some reading into the history of Indian involvement in space exploration, preferably without those blinkers on, before you comment again, because all you are doing is showing yourself up.

They could spend a fraction and pay NASA or Russia to send stuff in space. They already went through the mistakes, developed the technology.

This is like a caveman reinventing the wheel, utterly stupid.

a reply to: TinfoilTP

They have the cheapest space program in history, and get more done every launch than NASA or Roscosmos.

Again, go and do some damned research.

a reply to: TinfoilTP

India's space industry employs a lot of people and generates a lot of income. It's not re-inventing the wheel, it's using their own kit instead of paying someone else to do it and making them rich instead.

India's lunar photography is (in places) second only to the LRO, and is certainly better than China's.