Images Show Extent of Space Trash

Wednesday, 07 September 2011 | by Pat's Picks

An Arizona State University professor has captured the “sharpest images ever taken from orbit of three Apollo landing sites,” said a NASA spokesman yesterday. Unfortunately, the Arizona Republic says the images show how much trash has been left behind by astronauts on the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 70s. The images also show footprints left on the last manned Apollo mission to the moon, in 1972. Professor Mark Robinson was able to capture such clear images by maneuvering the “minivan-size orbiter” to which the camera is attached about 20 miles closer than it normally resides. Robinson and NASA scientists are also looking for remnants of any American flags planted on the moon’s surface, though they are skeptical any have survived.

See all the photos as NASA.gov or scroll down for video:

New Images of Apollo Landing Sites

Visualization showing the locations of the Apollo 12, 14, and 17 sites on the moon: