Japan launches moon lander and X-ray observatory Japan sent a new X-ray space telescope into low Earth orbit and a first, small lunar lander on its way to the moon with a single launch late Wednesday.
  • zhunk@beehaw.orgOP
    2·
    2 years ago

    so don’t quote me on it.

    It’ll definitely help develop technology that’ll be useful for outer solar system missions.

    It doesn’t make sense as a stop between the Earth and Mars. You have to slow down to enter orbit, then speed back up to leave it. That’s a waste of fuel unless there’s a good reason to stop there, like for fueling or assembly, but it makes more sense to do that in Earth orbit using distributed life.