2006-07-19 03:20:36 · 3 answers · asked by cash98 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The camera on the probe has a limited resolution. The orbiter will take photographs of the apollo sites, as a part of its target of photographing the entire moon, but at its closest approach one pixel on a photograph will represent 30m on the ground, so it will be impossible to make out any traces of the activity in the 60s and 70s.
2006-07-19 03:41:50 · answer #1 · answered by robcraine 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have already taken satellite photographs of the Apollo landers in the past.
Also, SMART-1 is an ESA (european space agency) mission. Not a NASA mission. The ESA has no interest in taking pictures of the Apollo landers. It's mission is testing its Hall Effect Ion Thrusters, which is a form of electric propulsion. It is also taking X-ray, spectroscopic, and infrared imagery of the Moon's surface in search of possible water.
All this, and its pretty obvious why it doesnt waste film on 30 year old landers.
2006-07-19 10:42:47 · answer #2 · answered by AresIV 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe because NASA though that it was redundant to take detailed pictures of where they had already been.
2006-07-19 10:27:02 · answer #3 · answered by Randy G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋