I was reading about the new private lunar mission, in an article found at;

http://www.sundayherald.com/27518

I have some questions for you experts, and one centres on this paragraph;

Now, however, the US State Department and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin istration have given a California company, Trans Orbital Inc, permission to send a probe to the moon. The launch is scheduled for June 2003, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Why do they need permission? I thought that the moon was not claimed by anyone. Now, being a concerned (some would say ‘rabid’) environmentalist, I have no problem with controls being placed on visitors to ensure that the mismanagement of Earth’s resources is not repeated on the Moon, but I was not aware that there was, as yet, any way of enforcing such a thing.

Second, I noticed that this article and others I have seen recently have referred to Nasa, not NASA. I thought acronyms were normally all capitals.

Third, I have little faith that it would be, as their headline claims, “Finally an end to moon hoax”. These twits ain’t gonna give up no matter what proof is offered.

And last, if they want to verify Apollo landing sites, it would be ‘way cool’ if they would place a video camera on it which would broadcast, in real time, an overflight of the area. Surely modern technology is up to the task (No it isn’t and my name’s not Shirley. I know, old joke). Can you imagine watching live as it scoots a few hundred metres over Tranquillity Base?

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Bailey’s second law; There is no relationship between the three virtues of intelligence, education, and wisdom.

As far as I know, they don't have to get permission to land on the moon, they have to get permission to shoot something into space and do it using equipment in another sovereign nation. The hoops they have to jump through are business-regulatory. Someone mentioned all this over in the lunar conspiracies forum, too.

As far as the bad headline and Nasa sted NASA, well, that's just sloppy. Where is that newspaper based?

[edited to say:] My bad. That thread IS in this forum.
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PC load letter? What the @%$# does that mean?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: overrated on 2002-09-11 22:42 ]</font>

Rat

Have a look at the thread labelled "Commercial Moon mission. It's all discussed there.


Overrated

It's a British newspaper (have a look at the sport section - they're carrying on about soccer).

I'm all for being good stewards of the environment here on Earth, but nothing lives on the Moon. Why shouldn't we strip-mine it? (Assuming, of course, there is something worth strip-mining). ;D

Well DUH! I did say I was 'rabid'.

;^)

And why am I listed as a 'Newbie'? Because I haven't been here in a while? I should more properly be shown as 'Semi-regular obnoxious loudmouth".

Scotch, scotch, WHERE'S MY SCOTCH?!?!?!

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Bailey’s second law; There is no relationship between the three virtues of intelligence, education, and wisdom.

You're a newbie because you have posted less than 100 times. After that, you'll be an apprentice for even longer!

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Any day you wake up on "the right side of the dirt" is a good day.

T. Anderson

The Rat; what's up?, long time no see

I've got it at my place, Rat. 12-year-old cask-strength single malt...ummm, can't you just smell it?

I've got a "GOT SCOTCH?" T-shirt that I wear when flying, so that even if I fall asleep the stews know what to do when they come by. Of course, finding airlines that stock single malts is a trick in this country.

The (I'll sample them all, but I usually come back to my Caol Isla) Curtmudgeon