Astronauts to the Dark Side (of the Moon)

Yeah, right!

Scientists are planning to explore the far side of the Moon using a manned spacecraft for the first since since the Apollo landings of 1968.

Engineers with aerospace giant Lockheed Martin want to send up astronauts into stationary orbit above Earth's best-known natural satellite to study it further.

The firm hopes to use remote controlled robots dispatched from their spacecraft to collect samples and explore the South Pole-Aitken basin on the Moon, one of the oldest craters in the solar system.

Crucially they also hope it will serve as a test for a future possible mission to Mars - the six month trip would see if the equipment and the astronauts - most likely from the US - were capable of enduring long-term space travel. (snip)

So long as NASA approves, it will give both organisations the chance to see how humans respond to lengthy doses of deep space radiation, a key problem on a longer Martian trip.

Ha ha, very funny NASA-- you jokers!!!