"We have had very detailed mapping of that basin from images, from orbital spectral data, but we have not had high-resolution of its interior structure, " Grail's chief scientist, Prof Maria Zuber, who has been speaking at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) in The Woodlands, Texas, told BBC News.

BBC: Nasa reveals new information about moon probes crash sites

This differential has been pretty constant ever since the satellite data was corrected for orbital and sensor issues.

FORBES: Is Global Warming A Bipolar Disorder?

Dr Christy admits that orbital decay has an important effect on the data.

ECONOMIST: A heated controversy

Nasa too will want to review the flight data before deciding whether to release more seed funding to Orbital, and to clear the company for a Cygnus freighter demonstration mission to the ISS. All being well, this next demonstration could occur in late June or early July.

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We must solve the orbital debris problem, if only so that satellites can continue collecting the climate data we need to make informed decisions about carbon emissions.

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The answer seems to be that the satellite data corrected by Mr Wentz and Dr Schabel already contained an unintended element of correction for orbital decay.

ECONOMIST: A heated controversy