Mission Proposed to Send Astronauts to the Moon's Far Side

[mickw]

While NASA has officially given up its plans to send humans back to the surface of the moon anytime soon, a contractor is proposing a mission to send a crew to a stationary spot in orbit over the far side of Earth's neighbor.

Lockheed Martin has begun pitching an L2-Farside Mission using its Orion spacecraft under development. [Illustration of the L-2 Farside Mission]

The company says such an endeavor could sharpen skills and technologies needed for a trip to an asteroid – as well as showcase techniques useful for exploring Mars by teleoperation as astronauts orbit the red planet. Both are stated goals under the new direction for NASA outlined by President Obama.

More:   The DarkSide

[MarkS]

The far side of the moon is not the dark side of the moon.  There is no (permanent) dark side of the moon.  Pink Floyd's album title has confused a whole generation!

[mickw]

Pink Floyd's album title has confused a whole generation!

So THAT'S why I'm confused 

[Ian]

i was never sure if it was the music or the mushrooms.