Fri, 21 Dec 2007
Did Mike Collins talk them into this?
Calling all Command Module pilots: in the Apollo lunar program, one unlucky guy got to stay in orbit around the moon while the other two landed, got out and had fun. You had to keep a guy in orbit in case the lunar lander didn't make it all the way back to the command module - the guy left behind in the CM would then have to find the lander and dock with it in lunar orbit.
For next time, NASA's looking into an automated search-and-dock ability in the command module so all the guys can go have fun on the moon. Then if the lander doesn't make it all the way back to orbit the CM can hunt them down itself. Pretty cool stuff.
posted by Bill White at 07:59 | permalink | email me | | |
