Mona Lisa Goes to the Moon

Scientists from the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) proved to have a high artistic taste. They "re painting" Mona Lisa, the famous painting of Leonardo da Vinci on the Moon. The painting was created using laser technology.

NASA used its Next Generation Satellite Laser Ranging station at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., to send the Mona Lisa signal to Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), which orbited the Moon. The team divided the famous da Vinci painting into sections measuring 150 by 200 pixels and then transmitted them via the pulsing of the laser to the orbiter at a data rate of about 300 bits per second.

Artist's concept of the NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). (Picture from: http://ufodailynews.com/)

Then LRO receive and assemble pieces of the Mona Lisa picture, then put it on the surface of the Moon, our Earth's natural satellite in the distance of 384.400 kilometers from the planet.

To clean up the image of the Mona Lisa beamed to NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, scientists used pixel correction methods common with CDs and DVDs. (Picture from: http://www.space.com/)

As a result, the beauty of smiling Mona Lisa on the Moon surface. The arc of Mona Lisa's face in the Moon is a major advancement in laser communications technology through the orbiting of interplanetary spacecraft. "This is the first time anyone has achieved one-way laser communication at planetary distances," said David Smith, a researcher who worked on the LRO's Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter, on Thursday /January 17, 2013.

The LRO spacecraft is the main option for testing laser communication methods. Therefore, vehicle operating since 2009 is equipped with a laser receiver devices. While most of the spacecraft currently exploring the solar system communicate using radio signals.

Laser comunication would be an alternative to replace the radio communication system used on satellites. Communication laser is superior because it can transmit more complex data at the longer distances. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SPACE | LIVESCIENCE | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 4120]

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