So "Gravity Recovery" as defined would clearly indicate something is wrong with Earth's gravity, would it not?No. It would not. You can't always apply "normal" word usage to scientific usage. The probes will make use of the geodetic technique known as gravity recovery. It's another way of saying gravity mapping.
The Earth portion (GRACE) has as it's objective "Measure gravity changes related to the movement of mass such as melting of ice at the poles and changes in ocean circulation." If anyone tells you the rapid polar ice melt doesn't effect Earth's rotation or gravity they are lying.Or they are mistaken. The melting of polar ice results in a redistribution of mass. A redistribution of mass results in very small changes it the Earth's gravitational field. Yes, along with it, very small changes in Earth's rotation, sort of. More specifically changes in the Earth's figure axis, similar to the changes caused by large earthquakes and the daily changes caused by the tides.
The Moon portion (Grail) has as it's objective the mapping of magnetic and gravity fields on the Lunar surface, and the study of composition and size of the Lunar core. They aren't looking to mine the Moon, they're trying to find out exactly how the Moon influences Earth's gravity.No. They are looking to learn more about the composition of the moon and to precisely measure the mascons which cause the known gravitational anomalies.
Both missions were necessary because there is a "perturbing force" within our solar system, an object which has changed the gravity in the Sun-Earth-Moon system.No. There isn't.
Originally posted by jiggerj
reply to post by Trublbrwing
You're either one hell of a fiction writer or you're onto something.
Either way, keep going.
This is great!
If the moon is moving away from the earth 1.5 inches per year, what happens when its orbit decays? Does it fly off into the sun, or whiplash and smash right into earth?edit on 9/23/2012 by jiggerj because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by Ghezuz
Originally posted by jiggerj
reply to post by Trublbrwing
You're either one hell of a fiction writer or you're onto something.
Either way, keep going.
This is great!
If the moon is moving away from the earth 1.5 inches per year, what happens when its orbit decays? Does it fly off into the sun, or whiplash and smash right into earth?edit on 9/23/2012 by jiggerj because: (no reason given)
As the distance between the moon increases, the rate at which it moves away decreases. It will not have enough time to escape earth's gravitational pull before the Sun dies in 5 billion years.

Originally posted by Phage
reply to post by Trublbrwing
So "Gravity Recovery" as defined would clearly indicate something is wrong with Earth's gravity, would it not?No. It would not. You can't always apply "normal" word usage to scientific usage. The probes will make use of the geodetic technique known as gravity recovery. It's another way of saying gravity mapping.