26 ms·

What stands out to me is: > Even if a lander makes it to the vicinity of the Moon, it still has to navigate its way down to the surface with no global-position

What stands out to me is: > Even if a lander makes it to the vicinity of the Moon, it still has to navigate its way down to the surface with no global-positioning satellites for guidance Was/is such a constellation ever planned? If not, why - due to the difficulty orbiting the moon?

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
m4rtink 4y ago
Moon is indeed hard to orbit (without constant course corrections) due to its lumpy gravitational field: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_concentration_(astronomy)#Effect_of_lunar_mascons_on_satellite_orbits https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_concentration_(astronom...
- mjevans 3y ago
  Why not just send robots to build some triangulation towers on the surface instead?
  - DrOctagon 3y ago
    Because landing on the moon is hard
williamDafoe 4y ago
Cruise missiles have an incredibly good terrain following navigation software - I don't think it's hard to navigate without GPS people get fat dumb and lazy because of GPS...
wolverine876 3y ago
The US government is working on PNT (position, navigation, and timing), communications, awareness (tracking objects, the beginnings of 'space traffic control' (my term), etc.) and much more via multiple agencies, in order to 'domesticate' (my word) cislunar space, defined as from geosynchronous orbit out past the Moon. The best starting point I know of: National Cislunar Science & Technology Strategy https://web.archive.org/web/20221119151907/https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/11-2022-NSTC-National-Cislunar-ST-Strategy.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20221119151907/https://www.white... The Artemis program's infrastructure is expected (per some plans, at least) to be the foundation of permanent communication and PNT. The US Space Force is also working on 'Space Situtional Awareness'.

26 ms·

What stands out to me is: > Even if a lander makes it to the vicinity of the Moon, it still has to navigate its way down to the surface with no global-position

by 7373737373 4y ago

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
m4rtink 4y ago
Moon is indeed hard to orbit (without constant course corrections) due to its lumpy gravitational field: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_concentration_(astronomy)#Effect_of_lunar_mascons_on_satellite_orbits https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_concentration_(astronom...
- mjevans 3y ago
  Why not just send robots to build some triangulation towers on the surface instead?
  - DrOctagon 3y ago
    Because landing on the moon is hard
williamDafoe 4y ago
Cruise missiles have an incredibly good terrain following navigation software - I don't think it's hard to navigate without GPS people get fat dumb and lazy because of GPS...
wolverine876 3y ago
The US government is working on PNT (position, navigation, and timing), communications, awareness (tracking objects, the beginnings of 'space traffic control' (my term), etc.) and much more via multiple agencies, in order to 'domesticate' (my word) cislunar space, defined as from geosynchronous orbit out past the Moon. The best starting point I know of: National Cislunar Science & Technology Strategy https://web.archive.org/web/20221119151907/https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/11-2022-NSTC-National-Cislunar-ST-Strategy.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20221119151907/https://www.white... The Artemis program's infrastructure is expected (per some plans, at least) to be the foundation of permanent communication and PNT. The US Space Force is also working on 'Space Situtional Awareness'.