Volume: 07, Issue: 06 10/20/2009 
LCROSS Visible Light Camera image of the lunar south pole from an altitude of approximately 770 km before impact. Some south pole craters of interest are labeled. Credit: NASA
Expand Image
Shown is the result of three co-added, stretched LCROSS Visible Light Camera images taken shortly after impact (with 15 seconds following impact). The extent of the plume at 15 sec is approximately 6-8 km in diameter. Credit: NASA
Expand Image
 
Printer Friendly Version
 
Other Articles in This Issue:
32 New Exoplanets Found
NASA Updates Shuttle Atlantis Target Launch Date, Crew Rehearsal
NASA Space Telescope Discovers Largest Ring around Saturn
Ares I-X Moved to Launch Pad
Mission Patch Contest Announced
  

LCROSS Impacts the Moon

NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS spacecraft and its Centaur booster rocket impacted the crater Cabeus near the Moon's South Pole on October 9th. The double-impact, designed to excavate water frozen in the crater's shadowy depths, searched for water ice on the moon.

The Centaur booster rocket plunged headlong into Cabeus crater, and the nine LCROSS instruments successfully captured each phase of the impact sequence.

NASA has released pictures and video of infrared flashes and a visible plume of debris produced from impacting the Moon. The images confirm that the LCROSS mission was a success despite the impacts being visually mediocre from Earth.

To view a video of the LCROSS impact, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/main/index.html

    
© 1997-2010 Space ExplorersTM, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
  Archived Issues Issue Index Contact Feedback Subscribe Home