AbstractCurrent thinking about the Moon as a destination has revitalized interest in lunar astronomical observatories. Once seen by a large scientific community as a highly enabling site, the dramatic improvement in capabilities for free-space observatories prompts reevaluation of this interest. Whereas the lunar surface offers huge performance advantages for astronomy over terrestrial sites, free-space locales such as Earth orbit or Lagrange points offer performance that is superior to what could be achieved on the Moon. While astronomy from the Moon may be cost-effective once infrastructure is there, it is in many respects no longer clearly enabling compared with free space.
Does the lunar surface still offer value as a site for astronomical observatories?
Space Policy ; 20 , 2 ; 99-107
2004-01-01
9 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
Does the lunar surface still offer value as a site for astronomical observatories?
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