How would this translate into detection capability, keeping an eye on a spacecraft in lunar orbit? I know that nowadays, nothing that goes on in space can be hidden, but what about back then?
Interesting. So in the case of the apollo missions, due to amateur (and soviet) scrutiny, no space shenanigans could have been possibly hidden? No windows of opportunity?
but I would like to know if a large component (the Apollo CM in this case) could ever separate from the main rocket (wrong terminology? ) and hide in LEO without the public and soviets noticing?
Interesting. A relative of mine believes that no manned craft has gone beyond LEO.*snip*So in the case of the apollo missions, due to amateur (and soviet) scrutiny, no space shenanigans could have been possibly hidden? No windows of opportunity?
WRT Apollo, no, there is no chance of shenanigans at all. Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope in England could detect the change in velocity from urine dumps - by precisely measuring doppler shifts in the radio signals they'd have known if they were flying away from the Earth towards the Moon, or not, and the speed at which they were traveling. It's safe to presume the Soviets had similar capacities at the time.
Quote from: whitelancer64 on 02/16/2017 05:09 pmWRT Apollo, no, there is no chance of shenanigans at all. Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope in England could detect the change in velocity from urine dumps - by precisely measuring doppler shifts in the radio signals they'd have known if they were flying away from the Earth towards the Moon, or not, and the speed at which they were traveling. It's safe to presume the Soviets had similar capacities at the time. Huh? Quite wrong. So what if they could track a transmitting spacecraft. If there were shenanigans, there would be no transmitting from another spacecraft. The point is that it is possible to hide a spacecraft.
But why? Going to LEO and NOT to the moon makes no sense at all. Once you go down the wacko road, you have to go all the way...
Venus at closest approach: 38m kmMoon average distance: ~380k km.Attenuation difference: ~10000x
Quote from: Rei on 02/16/2017 03:28 pmVenus at closest approach: 38m kmMoon average distance: ~380k km.Attenuation difference: ~10000xAttenuation goes as the square of the distance.Also, to the overall point of this thread:
Quote from: fossil1999 on 02/16/2017 03:08 pmbut I would like to know if a large component (the Apollo CM in this case) could ever separate from the main rocket (wrong terminology? ) and hide in LEO without the public and soviets noticing?It could be done
the trans lunar injection burn, and the LM landing, the ascent stage re-docking with the CSM, and the return to earth process, plus heard all the transmissions?