The first solo European mission to the Moon is well on its way.
Smart 1 will test a novel type of propulsion system on its journey to the Moon and then map the lunar body’s surface features when it arrives in 2005.
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HKP - Good news for planteray geologist nuts, we finally get to see if it’s made out of cheese or not! Also I think they’re aiming to get a good handle on the structure and compition on the ‘dark’ side too.
sometimes i wonder whether all such things are worth it? aren't their more important problems in the world so work on instead of trying to figure out what the core of the moon contains???
The previous 800 pounds of lunar rock acquired by the US Apollo missions and the Russian lunar missions. It seems to have only brought more questions as to the moon's origin. For example, scientists were all set to see which theory - fission theory, capture theory, or co-accretion theory - would best match the lunar composition. Now NASA says that not one of these theories is correct. Instead they suggested the Giant Impact theory??? Hopefully, another mission will help resolve things. Though I also agree that if we can put a man on the moon, then we should be able to feed and clothe the poor in this country.