Google Lunar X Prize Options

[nprev]

If you're referring to this post, then, yeah, I'm pretty much with you.

I would actually love to see the Apollo sites again to see what's become of them after 30+ years of exposure to lunar conditions, but seems like there's so much new ground to be covered that it would be a waste for this initiative.

[dvandorn]

Yeah, but... I have this image of Buzz Aldrin, in his pajamas, a la Bedford at the end of the film "The First Men in the Moon," exclaiming, "That.. that's where we were!"



-the other Doug

[nprev]

Okay, NOW I have to go get my brain flashburned to purge the mental image...thanks, oDoug!

[dvandorn]

You can always add to that "Poor Neil -- he did have such an awful cold..."



-the other Doug

[nprev]

<removes creaking 386 space-certified processor from cranium, reluctantly dips it in a concentrated HCL bath....>

Okay. Better now. What just happened?

[Mongo]

Here is photographic evidence that the Apollo 11 landing site is still intact in the year 3000:



(the ascent module was returned by the Historical Sticklers Society):



Unfortunately, Neil Armstrong's historic footprints were obliterated by some idiot delivery boy:







Fortunately, a disreputable robot, that might have stolen the entire site, was otherwise occupied:



Bill

[nprev]

Hey...nobody saw me, you can't prove anything, that ain't my kid, I was drunk, and I want a lawyer!!!


I am, however, gratified to know that apparently via an extraordinarily fortunate quantum fluctuation (undoubtedly induced by the Historical Stickler's Society, whose powers are shrouded in the deepest secrecy) the ascent stage of Eagle did not crash into the lunar surface after Armstrong and Aldrin transferred back to Columbia and departed for Earth, but instead was placed safely back upon the descent stage. That's some good quantum fluxin' there, yes, sir...

(Really no kidding like the phrase "disreputable robot", BTW, Mongo... ...hilarious!!! )

[Phil Stooke]

Cease this friviolity at once!

And now for something completely different. The new issue of Smithsonian magazine has an article on this topic. One point to reassure some people - Astrobotic talks about viewing from a distance with a telephoto lens, not driving right up to the LM.

Phil

[Stu]

A terrifying glimpse into the future...?

Salvage 1

Stop that nostalgic, wistful sighing at once...!

[nprev]

...now there's a blast from the past! Thanks, Stu!!!

Yeah, there was an ABC Movie of the Week called Salvage where Andy Griffith built a rocket & pillaged the Apollo sites; later it became a short-lived series. Kind of wonder if it may have influenced some of the GLXP participants, actually.

[Phil Stooke]

Four new GLXP teams announced, and one new landing site at Apollo 12. I've updated my landing map.

Phil

[SFJCody]

Four new GLXP teams announced, and one new landing site at Apollo 12.

Maybe we'll finally get colour film from the Ocean of Storms...

[DDAVIS]

Maybe we'll finally get colour film from the Ocean of Storms...

My recollection is that all the color photography from the surface on Apollo 12 was brought back, and that the color film magazine left behind contained 'only' earthrise and orbital shots.

Don

[Phil Stooke]

... and then there were 13. One GLXP team has dropped out citing philosophical differences and some concerns about how XPF treated them at the recent team summit, as well as funding issues. I would expect a bit of a shakedown in the next little while, as teams find out how hard it is to obtain funding.

Phil

[Astroblogger]

On the Google Lunar X-Prize website, a YouTube video from one of the teams ("Astrobotic") refers to their rover "seeing, at some point, the US flag, or the remains of it... the footprints of the astronauts and, up close, the plaque..." Now, how they're going to see those things - especially "up close" - without disturbing the site is beyond me.

Glad to see someone watches our videos - I'm tasked with making most of those.

As Phil mentioned, we plan to use a Telephoto Lens. Our closest approach would be at 15m. From that distance, using a 350-400mm Focal Length Lens on one of our 720p cameras atop our mast, we've shown that we can image something in focus on the LM's legs at about 10-20cm across. If you look at the image of Apollo 11 below, that means that our ideal mission situation would be approaching from the North East above Armstrong's Path. If we think we can navigate the crater to the South-West of the LM, we may approach from there as well.



As our launch approaches, we'll have an open ear to the forums of discussion about what safety precautions should be taken. One of Astrobotic's founders, David Gump made comments about these issues back in 2000. Keep in mind that we are all big space enthusiasts as well, and the strict precautions we will have with the perception capabilities, dead-reckoning, and control of our robots will probably be more advanced than most would expect.