NEOSSat is a bit of an embarrassment to the Canadian teams.They have been blaming each other for the failure when there is actually no problem with the science or engineering, it is that their instrument is facing directly AWAY from the Earth, and that no matter how sensitive the detector there is nothing to see!
from A17:
“CC Question 12 for each of you: What do you hope to tell your grandchildren as your most memorable moment of your trip to the Moon?”
“Well, I'll start with that one, Hank. I had two impressions. The-the first is the dazzling beauty of Descartes -the surface. It was just one of the most awe-inspiring sights I've ever seen. And, secondly, on the EVA, when you look away from the Earth -or the Moon - it's Just the utter blackness of space. It really is black out there.”
Unless someone is a Moon hoaxer, why would they not beieve what the astronauts say?
Decartes is also interesting in that statement. He does not elaborate on what was so awe-inspiring, but from looking at the mission it seems that when he was looking at Descartes the Sun was behind his craft and the surface he would be seeing it at full opposition and much brighter than normal. He likely saw a surface covered in glinting multi-coloured jewels.
I did E-Mail the NEOSSat people and explained it to them, but no answer of course, they are probably all PHd boffins.
That The Japanese in particular with their first class optics and sensors would not have their own space telescope is beyond belief to me and is evidence in itself that it is not so easy. That the Amateur Space Telescope never got to fly is a shame but would have failed to see anything either, and would have also been put down to equipment failure.
“I think 99 times and find nothing. I stop thinking, swim in silence, and the truth comes to me.” -Albert Einstein
