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NASA Plans Robotic Lunar Scouts

Posted by michael on from the takeover-imminent dept.

bleckywelcky writes "NASA's plan to send robotic scouts to the moon in advance of astronauts is starting to take shape, but politics and the presidential election are stalling progress. Yet, NASA is already designing the first of the robotic explorers. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter would return a global topographical map of the moon, measure deep space radiation in lunar orbit and attempt to find water ice at the lunar poles. Read the whole story."

3 of 122 comments (clear)

  1. The Mars rovers.... by turnstyle · · Score: 0, Redundant

    The Mars rovers continue to do an amazing job. Send in the robots!

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    Here's what I do: Bitty Browser & Andromeda
  2. Fleshbots by EmbeddedJanitor · · Score: 0, Redundant
    The reality is that in the 60's technology wasn't up to it. Had to send a man to do a robot's job.

    Interesting that the Soviets were able to land probes and get rocks and film back to earth without needing people.

    Maybe their automated technology was more reliable. But there definitely was a political motive at NASA. Sending people to the moon and making national heros out of the astronouts was a great way of keeping the focus off Vietnam.

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    Engineering is the art of compromise.
  3. Robot Scouts by nyekulturniy · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Do they need little robot merit badges?
    Do they sell cookies to Web sites?
    Is there a robot Scoutmaster?
    Watch out for that probe!

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    Nyekulturniy... Proudly confusing readers and editors since 1981!