Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Reaching for the Moon, Mars and beyond

Veronica Ann Zabala-Aliberto
Phoenix Science News Examiner
Arizona State University is reaching for the Moon. At the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera Science Operations Center (LROC SOC) educators, students and members of the general public get a firsthand look at what it is like to work on a NASA mission.

Located in the Interdisciplinary A-Wing on campus, visitors can take a tour of the facility and learn about the history of human and robotic exploration, aviation and rocketry andmuch, much more. Walking the halls one becomes part of the adventure as we learn about the first "Space Race" and how it was not always the United States. In fact, the Soviet Union held the title of many "firsts". They had the first orbiter, first animal, first man and even the first space station in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

We then learn about the trials and tribulations the astronauts of Mercury, Gemini and Apollo had to face and how we eventually orbited the Moon thanks to the (un) successful mission of Apollo 13. Apollo 13's crew were the first American crew to orbit the Moon. Gazing at the spectacular posters within the Lunar History Walk the general public learns that we brought back not only soil but lunar rocks from the Moon in order for us to study further. Past, current and future lunar missions are all depicted on beautiful posters and display and when you think the tour is almost over...you walk through double doors to the Lunar Visitor's Gallery. Here you can actually view the scientists,engineers and students working on the data as it comes down from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).

Read the Article HERE.

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