For the first time in history, a helicopter will be used to monitor the Great Wall of China.
The helicopter will be used to take photos and videos of the 4,000-mile wall. A database will be created from the images so future inspections can be done by air to look for changes. Members of the Great Wall Association hope the increased monitoring will enable them to protect the wall from vandalism, such as people carving their names and initials into the stone, as well as from natural deterioration caused by time and weather.
The wall is the largest man-made object on Earth. It is so large it can be seen from orbit. Contrary to popular myth (and testimony from three American astronauts), it is not visible from the moon.