Nisma Rafiq

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — There was once time when people used to look at the sky and the round body that shined in the dark wondering how far it is from planet Earth.



Some people not just kept wondering but even created means to reach the moon. Since 1969, a total of 12 men have landed on the Moon in NASA missions with Neil Armstrong on Apollo 11 being the most prominent one.



Ever since man has stepped on the moon he has been intrigued with its mysteries.



No matter how much the moon has been discovered, its mysteries have never seemed to come to an end.



Since its not viable for humans to go and study there physically, they are now sending robots to know more about its surface, especially the deep holes.



Holes on the moon were discovered three years ago when Japanese researchers published images from the satellite SELENE.



They remained undiscovered and invisible to spacecrafts orbiting the moon because they were dark and shadowy.



Robots can go to places where the sun does not shine. William Whittaker, owner of Astrobotic Technology in Pittsburgh, has made a cave-crawling robot that one day may explore lunar caverns.



Ever since the hole was discovered, researchers have been keen to work out its origin, estimated to be about 65 meters wide and at least 80 meters deep.



Over the next two years NIAC program is spending about US$500,000 in developing Whittaker’s creation.



It is expected that these holes could hold answers to man’s innumerable questions.