The Week in SpaceFebruary 15-21, 2010
![]() Disposable Camera The Ranger program was NASA’s attempt to obtain the first high-resolution images of the lunar surface, and forty-five years ago this week Ranger 8 began its one-way trip to the Moon. The Rangers were designed to impact the Moon, returning images of increasing resolution until impact. Ranger 8 radioed back over 7,000 images in the final twenty-three minutes of flight, and hit the Moon traveling 6,000 miles per hour. In the final Ranger images, objects as small as four feet across could be resolved. This image of the Moon’s Mare Nubium region was obtained in 2009 by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, NASA’s new lunar mapping spacecraft. Objects as small as ten feet across can be discerned, but images taken later in the mission will resolve twice the detail as the one-shot Rangers. Image credit: NASA / Goddard Space Flight Center / Arizona State University Weekly CalendarFebruary 15-21, 2010Holidays - Sky Events - Space History
|
Customer Comments
I love the pics in the calendars, and also the info on watching the moon and the meteor showers. I always check to see what is coming up. ;-)--Christine B., Duncannon, PA
Suggestions for new history dates or better links? Corrections for errors on this page? Please e-mail me.






Thursday 18












