RE: https://flipboard.com/@naturenewsteam/latest-science-news-d3hg9j0hz/-/a-Kzmnor6kSiGJOgt6miK3Yw%3Aa%3A166866041-%2F0

Top of many researchers’ lists is the Orientale basin β€” a 930-kilometre-wide, multi-ringed impact basin https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mare_Orientale

"The value of the images coming back from #Artemis and its crew is artistic, not #scientific. Unless something very unusual happens, there will be nothing for the #astronauts to discover"

When releasing images, #Nasa is pushing the scientific importance of this mission, but as journalists, we are asked to look at all the #facts around a story. Since the #Apollo program in the 1960s and 1970s, #robotic explorers have mapped the far side of the #Moon https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clye6j0g840o

Artemis II' Moon stunning pictures - science or holiday photos?

The story behind the beautiful pictures beamed back to Earth from the Artemis II astronauts.

@spaceflight I think it would be useful for journalists to report on the actual goals of the Artemis program and why the Trump administration is so keen about it.
@spaceflight Isn't this sort of article effectively advertising for Elon Musk? I think the real issue is why there is an Artemis program at all, not the details on how it is achieved.
@galaxy_map It criticizes government-funded, pork-barrel projects for wasting large public funds through politically motivated decisions instead of efficiently advancing technology
Five Lunar Orbiter missions were launched in πŸ“† 1966 through 1967 with the purpose of #mapping the lunar surface before the #Apollo landings. All five missions were successful, and 99% of the #Moon was photographed with a resolution of 60 m or better https://lpl.arizona.edu/missions/lunar-orbiter
Lunar Orbiter

Lunar and Planetary Laboratory & Department of Planetary Sciences

#LRO launched in πŸ“† 2009 on a mission to create high-resolution πŸ” topography #maps for future #NASA astronauts. The telescope πŸ”­ and camera system can see details up to 2.5 meters across. The cameras have captured views of the #Apollo sites so detailed you can see astronauts’ footprints πŸ‘£ https://www.planetary.org/space-missions/lunar-reconnaissance-orbiter

#Moon #mapping

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, studying the Moon in high detail

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, studies the Moon to help piece together the story of the inner Solar System.

The Planetary Society