Picture of the Day - June 22, 2009

"To the moon..."

Photo courtesy of NASA.              (Click on the photo for a larger view) Last Thursday NASA blasted off this massive Atlas V rocket to begin their first mission to the moon in a decade. On board the rocket are not one, but two spacecraft with the dual missions of scouting out suitable landing sites for future manned lunar missions and searching for hidden ice buried at the moon's poles. Both of these missions are important steps in preparation for sending humans back to the moon - and beyond. Manned voyages to Mars and other extraterrestrial destinations will most likely involve a stopover on the moon. A futuristic lunar outpost will be the perfect place for storing supplies and equipment, most notably food and water. And if the water can be "harvested" from lunar ice, so much the better.     Visitor Comments... Name: Phyllis Helton Town: Bristol, VA Another WOW!     Name: Ed Morrison Town: Dunwoody, GA Great picture, and a rather interesting narrative to go along with it.   Comment on today's picture  |  View previous "Pictures Of The Day"  |  Submit a photo Why I publish the "Picture Of The Day"