The US space agency NASA has unveiled fascinating images of a silver surfboard-shaped object orbiting the Moon, captured by its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).
The images, resembling the board of Marvel’s ‘Silver Surfer’ character, have sparked curiosity among space enthusiasts worldwide.
Contrary to initial speculation, the mysterious object is not a creation from comic books or superhero movies, nor is it an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO).
NASA clarified that the enigmatic entity captured by LRO is, in fact, its South Korean counterpart.
In a press note, NASA revealed that LRO photographed several images of the Danuri lunar orbiter, deployed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute.
The snapshots were taken during a fleeting encounter between the two orbiters on March 5 and 6, as they traversed parallel but opposite paths.
Explaining the apparent distortion of the Danuri orbiter in the images, NASA highlighted the extraordinary velocity between the two spacecraft.
Despite LRO’s rapid camera exposure of just 0.338 milliseconds, Danuri appears smeared to ten times its size in the opposite direction of travel due to their high relative velocities.
Danuri, South Korea’s inaugural lunar spacecraft, commenced its orbit around the Moon in December 2022.
NASA’s report highlighted the meticulous coordination required by the LRO operations team at Goddard Space Flight Centre in Greenbelt, Maryland, to capture images of Danuri amidst the challenging conditions of fast relative velocities, reaching approximately 11,500 kilometres per hour.
LRO’s narrow-angle camera seized the opportunity during three closely aligned orbits to snap images of Danuri, showcasing the precision and timing involved in the endeavour.
Launched in 2009, LRO has been instrumental in accumulating vital data with its array of seven powerful instruments.
Its enduring presence in lunar orbit has significantly contributed to advancing our understanding of the Moon, making it an invaluable asset in lunar exploration and research.
