The U.S. spacecraft Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mid-September was planned down to the orbit is only 50 km above the lunar surface.
Picture the scene, Apollo 17 astronauts 1972nd The
Never before has an aircraft with or without ludske crew was in a stable orbit so low above the surface of our natural satellite. In addition to a range of other instruments, the public are the most important high-resolution photographs of the spacecraft sends to Earth. Just a month ago on the covers of almost all media arisen as the first high-resolution photographs which show the place of landing astronauts on the moon and pieces of equipment to the seventies, left there in the Apollo missions.
NASA has already announced to us in the next few months ahead, and enhanced photo resolution. Now, the first such photographs and published. The low orbit above the moon and extraordinary photographic apparatus which LRO has given us discern even objects the size of landing gear lunar module (50 cm per pixel resolution).
Photo Apollo 17 landing site where you can see parts of the equipment
For our readers, here are some pictures that best show the eagle vision LRO's. But that's not all. Mission managers believe that in the coming weeks, be able to get more details. But it will be a godparent technique but also the position of the Sun above the lunar horizon. Contours of objects made by human hands in a favorable position of the light / shadow to give the final result.
Once unthinkable is now available worldwide, and advocates the idea that "we were" on the moon to lose another "argument".
The photos were shown parts of the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972nd Have been preserved and are visible even footprints of the astronauts on the moon or the routes of astronauts. LRO will of his working life poslikati all of the landing of the Apollo program.
Almost simultaneously with the publication of these photos, Ares IX rocket is successfully carried out an experimental flight. This is the launching complex that in the next fifteen years, people should go back to the moon. This time not to come and go but to come and stay on the moon.
Enlarged detail photo of the landing of Apollo 17, shows the lunar module and the flag that the astronauts left the Moon
Marino Tumpić