There and Back Again: Apollo 12 part spotted?

SpaceRef.com ^ | September 11, 2002 | Paul Chodas

[cogitator]

What we need is a good space-salvage operation. This is like finding the Titanic in space. And there are a bunch of other defunct satellites up there that could be captured as well. (I think there was a recent, serious, business proposal by someone to have a company that would capture non-functional satellites and refurbish them while in orbit. Can't remember where I saw that, though.)

[mvpel]

This is rather ridiculous. Apollo 12 was a Saturn V booster, not a Saturn IV-B, and only Apollos 8-10 and 13 flew by the moon, Apollo 11 was the first landing. You'd think that this would be something that every person capable of writing a coherent English sentence would know, but I guess I'm just reveealing myself as a space wonk.

[freedomcrusader]

Check out this site. The third stage of the Saturn V rocket is also known as S-IVB.

The Saturn V

[FReepaholic]

>>...This is rather ridiculous. Apollo 12 was a Saturn V booster, not a Saturn IV-B...<<

The third stage of the Saturn V was called the "S-IVB" stage.

[Jim Noble]

I believe that the IV-B designation describes the third (orbital escape) stage of a complete Saturn V.

[dd5339]

Way cool!

Semper Fi

[JoeU.S.]

J002E3 is currently observable at magnitude 16.5

"observable" is stretching it. Pluto would appear brighter then this thing.

[RonF]

Plenty of amateur astronomers have the equipment necessary to see a magnitude 16.5 object. A 12" reflector might do it, a 16" certainly would.

[farmfriend]

ping. Did you ever read that link I provided about Dr. Klager or do you still insist that the information I gave was somehow faulty? Don't care, just curious.

[Revelation 911]

you make the assumption that the person writing the article actually lived during the era - That aside, this is neat stuff - I miss those days. I collected apollo mission photos for years and unfortunately lost the collection some years ago - My music teacher had "ins" at the agency and eventually was a finalist for the Christa McAuliffe Challenger mission

[JoeU.S.]

"A 12" reflector might do it, a 16" certainly would. "

lol! Thanks for reminding me how small a man I am. (in terms of apateure size)

[Paradox]

Um, if you'll recall, it was the third stage that boosted the Apollo's towards the moon. Then it separated from the LEM/Command module. The third stage then goes past the moon, the command module fires its engines to go into lunar orbit. So indeed, the third stage goes go past the moon.

[Constitution Day]

An analysis of the orbital motion of the newly discovered object J002E3 indicates that it could be a leftover Saturn V third stage from one of the Apollo missions, most likely the Apollo 12 mission, launched on November 14, 1969.

Space Joo mystery solved?

[Denver Ditdat]

only Apollos 8-10 and 13 flew by the moon

Apollo 9 was a test of the lunar module in high earth orbit.

[jennyp]

In this article the reporter mentions a second natural moon, called "Cruithne".

1. We've got a second moon??? Whassup wid Dat?

2. How do you pronounce "Cruithne"?

[RightWhale]

maybe set up a mining operation in the astroid belt

We should get started; no reason to wait, excepting start-up capital and licensing.

[cogitator]

That is majorly bizarre. Don't know how to pronounce it, but here's more information on it.

More Moons Around Earth? It's not so loony

A Google search on "Cruithne" yields more information.

[cogitator]

Croo-EEN-ya