The Holy Grail is the name of two spacecraft that will be launched in 2011 for the most accurate measurement of the gravitational field
A new NASA operation to the moon, as part of the preparations for a manned return to the moon, NASA announced the color of the Holy Grail (GRAIL, acronym of the sentence: "the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory). The pair of spacecraft will be launched in 2011, and will circle the moon with the goal of measuring its gravitational field in precise detail. After it completes its mission, we will know about every mole and every block on the moon with a thousand times greater accuracy than the accuracy that exists today.
NASA announced the mission on December 10 at the American Geophysical Union meeting. The task was selected from about 25 tasks proposed by researchers from all over the USA.
If all goes well, the two spacecraft will be launched together around September 6, 2011 directly into lunar orbit. After a few days in orbit they will begin a 90-day study of the gravitational field. of the moon
The mission is similar to the one carried out by the GRACE satellite, which was launched by NASA five years ago and which carried out precise measurements of the Earth's gravitational field. It allowed scientists to track melting glaciers and the changes in the earth's crust after severe earthquakes.
GRAIL will measure the gravitational field at several points around the moon, and find tiny changes. The data should be far more detailed than the best maps of the Moon compiled so far. NASA estimates the cost of the project at 375 million dollars, including the planning, development, launch and manpower required.
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It sounds unnecessary to me too
To establish a base on the moon you don't need to know precisely the distribution of gravity on it.
So when do you move to live on the moon?
I have next week free.
In fact, as long as I have a free strike...
my people -
From reading the article, I believe that the measurements will also include a much more accurate mapping of the moon than is currently available. Also, similar measurements seem to have been able to locate glaciers on Earth. It is possible that part of the purpose of the mission is to obtain these measurements, and use them in planning the establishment of a base on the moon. In the end, it is difficult to start manning the moon before knowing exactly where the first base should be established, and what the terrain conditions are like there.
Are very precise measurements of the moon's gravitational field the important thing now in space exploration and lunar manning? This is really an open question and not one that raises an eyebrow. Isn't exploring the poles of the moon more important (finding water)?