Images Show Apollo Moon Flags Still Standing 206
TheNextCorner writes "Images taken by a NASA spacecraft show that the American flags planted in the Moon's soil by Apollo astronauts are mostly still standing. Each of the Apollo missions planted an American flag in the soil at their landing sites. Scientists had previously examined photos of the Apollo landing sites for the flags, and had seen what looked like shadows cast by them on the lunar surface. Now, researchers have studied photos of the landing sites taken at different points during the day (and under different illuminations) and have observed shadows circling the points where the flags are thought to be."
this is interesting and all... (Score:5, Insightful)
...but it would be even MORE interesting if they WEREN'T there anymore.
We might even have a reason to go back and checkout what/who was moving our flags around :)
If we had any balls (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:But...but... (Score:4, Insightful)
That's because they're blithering retards. My advice is to tell them to fuck off, and if they still insist on blathering on, go Buzz Aldrin on them.
What will happen to that flag. (Score:5, Insightful)
About 15 years from now, the ambassador of the People's Republic of China will solemnly return that flag to the President of the United States. Some of the original Apollo astronauts will still be alive to attend. The flag will be placed in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, for future generations of Americans to admire.
Re:But...but... (Score:4, Insightful)
The spectrum of these particles extends way up - scientists are busily observing particles with energies on EeV scale (roughly what a moving golfball has), though these are quite rare.
Neutral particles, like gamma rays, can only be shielded by a bulk material - the penetration depth depends on density.
Lastly, we have we have direct visual observation [wikipedia.org] of cosmic rays by astronauts on Apollo missions and ISS.
In summary - being in space is kinda like being on a battlefield - if your general did not screw up the chance of being hit by an artillery shell is quite small. But this does not mean it cannot happen.