and if not why not?
2007-09-18 21:09:09 · 12 answers · asked by strongbow 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
If you can wade through all the facetious answers that don't actually answer your question, no landings took place on the side of the Moon not visible from Earth because communications problems would arise. From that side Earth is never in sight of a radio transmitter, so a landing on the far side would need to be preceded by the launch of a set of communications relay satellites to go into a highly inclined lunar orbit to allow communication with Earth, increasing the cost and complexity of the mission.
2007-09-18 23:27:40 · answer #1 · answered by Jason T 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
No, though it is planned for Men To Land On Dark Side Of Moon in 2015. Communications are the main problem. The Moon blocks signals from the far side so presumably they will have to deploy a communications satellite in orbit around the Moon first in order to bounce signals back to Earth.
2007-09-19 06:17:36 · answer #2 · answered by Chariotmender 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
If we landed on the 'far side' of the moon, we wouldn't be able to communicate with Earth becuase the moon blocks all radio signals.
Also, the same side of the moon is always facing us becuase the moon rotates 360 exactly in the time it takes it to orbit the Earth once, in the specific direction that means we never see the other side.
Becuase of this, the moon has a bulge on the side facing us becuase Earths gravity is always pulling on this face, and it has done for millions of years.
Just some extra info you might like ;)
2007-09-19 04:41:06 · answer #3 · answered by vEngful.Gibb0n 3 · 7⤊ 0⤋
There is no dark side. There is a side which faces Earth, and a side which doesn't. Both are light or dark, according to the phase of the moon.
We didn't land on the "far side", because of communication problems it would cause.
2007-09-19 04:29:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 0⤋
If they had landed on the "dark (far) side" they wouldn't have been able to communicate with Earth as radio signals can't penetrate the moon's surface.
2007-09-20 01:17:27 · answer #5 · answered by kwilfort 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The other side of the moon is not the "dark side" it is the "far side" as it gets just as much as much sun as the near side. When we see a new moon, the other side of the moon is fully lit. The moon rotates at the same rate as it circles the earth so we see only one side (and a little bit more because it gets closer and further as it rotates smoothly)
2007-09-19 04:27:34 · answer #6 · answered by Mike1942f 7 · 4⤊ 3⤋
Just the side that faces us. Landing on the dark side was too logistically difficult.
2007-09-19 04:17:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Yeah, technically we did, although when we landed on it it was the side facing the Earth. Just like Earth, the moon rotates as well in it's orbit. So at some point, the spots where we landed rotated around to the dark side.
We did not want to land on the dark side as it would be difficult to see, especially since you are trying to land a craft on such a rocky surface.
2007-09-19 04:19:54 · answer #8 · answered by Todd 2 · 1⤊ 8⤋
The moon is totally dark, but the reflection of the sun from the other side makes it appear fully lit. Therefore, anybody who had traveled to any part of the moon, landed on a dark side, because it's all dark.
2007-09-19 04:23:12 · answer #9 · answered by purestar777 2 · 0⤊ 8⤋
Didnt Darth Vader go to the dark side?
2007-09-19 04:16:58 · answer #10 · answered by charlotte s 3 · 1⤊ 5⤋