As Jerry Lewis was fond of saying LAAYYYDEEE. Although in this case it means something else.
NASA’s Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) is scheduled to launch from Wallops Island in September.
This will be the first mission launched from Wallops Island to go beyond low Earth orbit. I wasn’t even aware that Wallops Island had this capability (Go Navy!).
LADEE will orbit the moon to gather detailed information about the lunar atmosphere, conditions near the surface and environmental influences on lunar dust.
LADEE is also the first spacecraft to use a new modular common spacecraft bus.
This will allow multi-use designs and assembly-line production, that could drastically reduce the cost of spacecraft development. Much like the European Space Agencies Mars and Venus Express craft used many common items to cut costs and decrease the time it takes from production to launch.
– Ex astris, scientia –
I am and avid amateur astronomer and intellectual property attorney in Pasadena, California and I am a Rising Star as rated by Super Lawyers Magazine. As a former Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy, I am a proud member of the Armed Service Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association working to aid all active duty and veterans in our communities. Connect with me on Google +
Norman