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Originally posted by zorgon
Originally posted by sentinel2107
According to the brochure, the 300x387,000 km orbit is supposed to be changed to 2000x384,000 km orbit in the next maneuver.
So they are going to do one orbit that is beyond the Moon then come back to Earth and shorten the loop?
Something is very odd here... No other ship has ever done this and the transit times make no sense
Originally posted by sentinel2107
Here's the link to the brochure page, Zor --
In this orbit, the spacecraft makes one complete revolution around the Earth in about 11 days. During its second revolution around the Earth in this orbit, the spacecraft will approach the Moon's North pole at a safe distance of about a few hundred kilometers since the Moon would have arrived there in its journey round the Earth.
Sandip Chakrabarti, the head of astrophysics, S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences in Calcutta, doesn’t think there is anything great about the technology deployed in the mooncraft. “Apart from the ability to calculate and execute mid-course correction of trajectories of the launch vehicle, things are pretty routine,” he said. According to him, the best instruments in Chandrayaan-1 are either of US or European origin. “The images captured by the instruments will be used by them and India will play a minor role,” said Chakrabarti who had a stint in Nasa in the mid 1990s.
Upendra Desai, who had been an astronomer both at Nasa and Isro, too agreed that science output of such missions is meagre. “Except for the solar experiments in the initial few years, Isro’s ventures have little to do with physics and astronomy,” he said. Desai is also sceptical about the scientific implications of India’s proposal to explore Helium-3 in the regolith (moon’s dust) to fuel its nuclear power stations. Concurred Chakrabarti, “It’s an eyewash since tonnes of regolith have to be processed to get even a microgram of Helium-3.”
Originally posted by TruthTellist
What do you think of this idea Mikesingh - Do you think the Indian space program is more clean cut than NASA?
Do you think they will be more open in regards to releasing data and images from their moon probe?
I sure hope so. I'm glad for India. That's right - GLAD!
Originally posted by zorgon
But I see India adopted NASA's favorite sport... slamming impactors into things
By the time we get back there the place will be a war zone of littered space debris
Originally posted by mikesingh
Add to that the tin-can you, Matyas and others are constructing for a trip to the Moon!!
Originally posted by zorgon
“The images captured by the instruments will be used by them and India will play a minor role,” said Chakrabarti who had a stint in Nasa in the mid 1990s.
Sounds like an escape clause
Mayby Mike can take his buddies on a road trip and barricade the till we get results
[edit on 27-10-2008 by zorgon]
Originally posted by zorgon
The images captured by the instruments will be used by them
I don't see any other way to interpret that statement
Originally posted by zorgon
Originally posted by mikesingh
Add to that the tin-can you, Matyas and others are constructing for a trip to the Moon!!
PPSHAA!!! tin can indeed I'll have you know the titanium sheets are already in my garage
BTW anyone have a plasma torch we can borrow? That stuff is darn tough to cut
[edit on 27-10-2008 by zorgon]
Originally posted by TornPages
The country is bloody starving mate! These lads are pouring money into a space programme while their streets are fly infested, waters polluted, people dying and unemployed, and economy suffering? Get a damn grip on yourselves, what kind of government is this!?
[edit on 26-10-2008 by TornPages]
Originally posted by 44soulslayer
On topic : A couple of days away from lunar orbit eh Mike?
According to Ben Bussey, senior staff scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, Chandrayaan's imagery will be used to decide the future Lunar outpost that NASA has recently announced. Bussey told SPACE.com, "India's Chandrayaan-1 lunar orbiter has a good shot at further identifying possible water ice-laden spots with a US-provided low-power imaging radar." Bussey advised — one of two US experiments on the Indian Moon probe. "The idea is that we find regions of interest with Chandrayaan-1 radar. We would investigate those using all the capabilities of the radar on NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter", Bussey added, "a Moon probe to be launched late in 2008."
Originally posted by 44soulslayer
A couple of days away from lunar orbit eh Mike?
Originally posted by zorgon
PPSHAA!!! tin can indeed I'll have you know the titanium sheets are already in my garage
BTW anyone have a plasma torch we can borrow? That stuff is darn tough to cut
Originally posted by 44soulslayer
Edit to add: NASA is freeloading on the Chandrayaan imagery that will be relayed back!
According to Ben Bussey, senior staff scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, Chandrayaan's imagery will be used to decide the future Lunar outpost that NASA has recently announced. Bussey told SPACE.com, "India's Chandrayaan-1 lunar orbiter has a good shot at further identifying possible water ice-laden spots with a US-provided low-power imaging radar." Bussey advised — one of two US experiments on the Indian Moon probe. "The idea is that we find regions of interest with Chandrayaan-1 radar. We would investigate those using all the capabilities of the radar on NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter", Bussey added, "a Moon probe to be launched late in 2008."
As I much hope, there could be an international moon base with all countries contributing. After all, exploration of space is an endevour which benefits all mankind (as Chandrayaan proved by carrying satellites for others countries free of charge).
The Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, better known as the Moon Treaty or Moon Agreement is an international treaty that turns jurisdiction of all heavenly bodies (including the orbits around such bodies) over to the international community. Thus, all activities must conform to international law (notably this includes the UN Charter).
In practice, it is a failed treaty since it was not ratified by any nation which engages in manned space exploration, and it has a negligible effect on actual spaceflight.— Excerpted from Moon Treaty on Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.