Blast into Lunar pole in NASA search for water on the moon

[JTCoyoté]

THIS IS TO HAPPEN TODAY..

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/research/exploringtheuniverse/lcross.html

NASA Ames Spacecraft to Smash into a Pole of the moon in Search of Ice  08.16.06
 
In the near vacuum of space there will be silence as a large NASA rocket smashes into one of the moon's polar regions in early 2009. There is no air to transmit sound waves where the rocket will strike, but the ground will shake. The 4,410-pound (2,000-kilogram) NASA rocket will be hurtling 1.56 miles per second (2.5 kilometers per second) towards the lunar surface. The Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) will carry out this lunar collision mission and experiment.

As well as being soundless, some craters near the moon's poles are in permanent shadow and are so cold that ice could remain there for eons. When the LCROSS rocket's upper stage violently collides with the surface of a shadowed lunar crater, the massive impact will jolt up a huge cloud, or 'plume,' of lunar material - soil and maybe even water ice. Finding water ice is the main purpose of LCROSS. However, if LCROSS does not detect ice, that would not rule out ice at the lunar poles, according to scientists.! [snip]~

Then I Love This Headline... "NASA set to dive bomb the moon
Scientists will scan giant debris plumes for signs of water ice"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33226607/ns/technology_and_science-space/

JTCoyoté

"When once a republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of
remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the
corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other
correction is either useless or a new evil."
~Thomas Jefferson

[Cryptvill]

Apparently 7:30am EST (Florida time), the moon will be bombed. Is there a topic on this? Whats the situation here.

[kingp43]

ya that irritates me as well. Friday at around 4 pm pacific time the first rocket will hit.  You can watch it apparently on NASA's website somewhere, and are supposed to be able to see it with any half way decent telescope.

A second rocket is following it which will apparently take pictures of the first ones impact, take samples, and send data back to NASA, AND THEN that one will also strike the same area.  Cerebus - 1 or something or other is the crater where the strike will take place, the southern part of the moon.

India or somebody just proved recently there was water up there ( frozen )  and now NASA has to one up them or something.

I'll digg ( hahah ) up the link. just a minute.

[Cryptvill]

Real irritating, i mean hell, bombing?? Why?? Cant bomb the earth enough??

[kingp43]

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/05oct_lcrossvg.htm?list27315


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/06/nasa-lcross-mission-to-bo_n_311038.html

[kingp43]

   
   from the nasa link above-------


LCROSS Viewer's Guide

10.05.2009

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October 5, 2009: Just imagine. A spaceship plunges out of the night sky, hits the ground and explodes. A plume of debris billows back into the heavens, leading your eye to a second ship in hot pursuit. Four minutes later, that one hits the ground, too. It's raining spaceships!

Put on your hard hat and get ready for action, because on Friday, Oct. 9th, what you just imagined is really going to happen--and you can have a front row seat.

Right: A computer visualization of LCROSS hitting the Moon on Oct. 9th. Credit: NASA/Ames

The impact site is crater Cabeus near the Moon's south pole. NASA is guiding the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite ("LCROSS" for short) and its Centaur booster rocket into the crater's floor for a spectacular double-impact designed to "unearth" signs of lunar water.

There are two ways to watch the show.


Sign up for EXPRESS SCIENCE NEWS delivery
First, turn on NASA TV. The space agency will broadcast the action live from the Moon, with coverage beginning Friday morning at 3:15 am PDT (10:15 UT). The first hour or so, pre-impact, will offer expert commentary, status reports from mission control, camera views from the spacecraft, and telemetry-based animations.
The actual impacts commence at 4:30 am PDT (11:30 UT). The Centaur rocket will strike first, transforming 2200 kg of mass and 10 billion joules of kinetic energy into a blinding flash of heat and light. Researchers expect the impact to throw up a plume of debris as high as 10 km.

Close behind, the LCROSS mothership will photograph the collision for NASA TV and then fly right through the debris plume. Onboard spectrometers will analyze the sunlit plume for signs of water (H2O), water fragments (OH), salts, clays, hydrated minerals and assorted organic molecules.

"If there's water there, or anything else interesting, we'll find it," says Tony Colaprete of NASA Ames, the mission's principal investigator.



Above: The lunar south pole as it will appear on the night of impact. Photo Credit - NMSU / MSFC Tortugas Observatory. [larger image]

Next comes the mothership's own plunge. Four minutes after the Centaur "lands," the 700 kg LCROSS satellite will strike nearby, sending another, smaller debris plume over the rim of Cabeus.

The Hubble Space Telescope, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), and hundreds of telescopes great and small on Earth will scrutinize the two plumes, looking for signs of water and the unexpected.

And that brings us to the second way to see the show: Grab your telescope.

"We expect the debris plumes to be visible through mid-sized backyard telescopes—10 inches and larger," says Brian Day of NASA/Ames. Day is an amateur astronomer and the Education and Public Outreach Lead for LCROSS. "The initial explosions will probably be hidden behind crater walls, but the plumes will rise high enough above the crater's rim to be seen from Earth."

The Pacific Ocean and western parts of North America are favored with darkness and a good view of the Moon at the time of impact. Hawaii is the best place to be, with Pacific coast states of the USA a close second. Any place west of the Mississippi River, however, is a potential observing site.

Right: The side of Earth facing the Moon at the time of impact. [larger image] [observing tips]

When the plumes emerge from Cabeus, they will be illuminated by sunshine streaming over the polar terrain. The crater itself will be in the dark, however, permanently shadowed by its own walls. "That's good," says Day. "The crater's shadows will provide a dark backdrop for viewing the sunlit plumes."

In an earlier stage of mission planning, scientists hoped to strike a crater closer to the Moon's limb so that the plumes would billow out against the dark night sky, providing maximum contrast for observers on Earth. However, recent data from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, Japan's Kaguya spacecraft and India's Chandrayaan-1 probe altered those plans.

"We've just learned that Cabeus may contain relatively-rich deposits of hydrogen and/or frozen water," says Colaprete. "Cabeus is not as close to the lunar limb as we would have liked, but it seems to offer us the best chance of hitting H2O."

The LCROSS team hopes many people—amateurs and professionals alike—will observe and photograph the plumes. "The more eyes the better," says Day. "Remember, we've never done this before. We're not 100% sure what will happen, and big surprises are possible."

Right: Click on the image to find a public viewing event near your hometown. [more]

Veteran amateur astronomer Kurt Fisher has prepared a 13 MB slideshow to help fellow amateurs locate and witness the plumes: download it . There is also an online LCROSS observer's group where novices can read introductory articles and chat with other observers.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for citizen scientists to join NASA in the process of discovery," says Day, who urges observers to submit their images to the LCROSS Citizen Science Site. "It's a great adventure, and anyone can participate."

Imagine that.

Author: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA

[NWOSCUM]

WTF.........NASA thinks they own the fvcking moon now>>??  I mean it belongs to the universe not NASA...........WTF WTF!!!

[stella]

the first thing I thought of when I heard this was a TV show a few years back called "Three Moons over Milford."  As asteroid hit the moon, splitting it in three pieces and everyone thinks the world is about to end.

http://sharetv.org/shows/three_moons_over_milford

[xfahctor]

Ok, everyone realizes this isn't actually a bomb right?

[Cryptvill]

WTF.........NASA thinks they own the fvcking moon now>>??  I mean it belongs to the universe not NASA...........WTF WTF!!!

'


Without a doubt, just ignorance. :@ :@

[Sub-X]

Damn I've got relations up there,the Mooney's  

[70983]

We should be mindful of this.  Im going to try and watch it tomorrow, but unfortunately my telescope got given away, and i dont have any binoculars or anything.  Ill still get up tomorrow and try to watch it.

[xfahctor]

 Ok folks, someone please explain to me, besides the collossal waste of money, what is it about this that has everyone so worried and up in arms?

[Cryptvill]

Ok folks, someone please explain to me, besides the collossal waste of money, what is it about this that has everyone so worried and up in arms?

I am not really to worried, or up in arms, I'm more pissed that NASA feels like they can just go 'bomb' the moon. How do they own this? It's just like going to some planet and bombing it. (admittedly, maybe they have some more info on the moon), but I mean come on. Of all things to do, do we really need to BOMB the f***ing moon??


In latest headlines, the moon has been bombed.


WTF???

My dad goes to me today "Ohhh i'm gonna wake up to watch this!!" Like it's some kind of reality tv show


The whole situation just reeks of insanity to me and problems

[Valerius]

Ok folks, someone please explain to me, besides the collossal waste of money, what is it about this that has everyone so worried and up in arms?

The Obama administration is sick of Ignignokt's crap.

[xfahctor]

I am not really to worried, or up in arms, I'm more pissed that NASA feels like they can just go 'bomb' the moon. How do they own this? It's just like going to some planet and bombing it. (admittedly, maybe they have some more info on the moon), but I mean come on. Of all things to do, do we really need to BOMB the f***ing moon??


In latest headlines, the moon has been bombed.


WTF???

My dad goes to me today "Ohhh i'm gonna wake up to watch this!!" Like it's some kind of reality tv show


The whole situation just reeks of insanity to me and problems

It isn't a bomb. It is a hunk of metal, no explosive charge. Besides, what is it going to hurt?

[xfahctor]

Watch the newer version of the film The Time Machine. In the movie, the moon disintegrates and falls to earth due to too much drilling or something, meanwhile martial law is declared in the US, etc. Predictive programming perhaps?

But bombing the moon is still stupid, even if they're not up to anything. 

Predictive of what? This is pretty much the equivelent of a shooting a pea shooter at mount everast.

[Cryptvill]

It isn't a bomb. It is a hunk of metal, no explosive charge. Besides, what is it going to hurt?

In a way, you are right, but at the same time, what's the benefits? Why waste the money (god forbid, it's gotta be some money involved).

Just the whole situation is just making my senses go WHY ?

[reed026]

I'd be more so worried about the aftermath of what would happen if it caused the moon to either rupture and release pieces of it (space junk / asteroids) or pushed the moon off its natural orbit even further than it already is.

You know, our moon kind of keeps the tide pools in check right? Without it, some of us wouldn't be able to enjoy the little things in life. Like surfing.

[xfahctor]

In a way, you are right, but at the same time, what's the benefits? Why waste the money (god forbid, it's gotta be some money involved).

Just the whole situation is just making my senses go WHY ?

I agrea, it is probably a collosal waste of money. As to why....my understanding is to see exactly how much water may exist in areaas that don't get sunlight, such as the inside of the crater they have this aimed at.

[xfahctor]

I'd be more so worried about the aftermath of what would happen if it caused the moon to either rupture and release pieces of it (space junk / asteroids) or pushed the moon off its natural orbit even further than it already is.

You know, our moon kind of keeps the tide pools in check right? Without it, some of us wouldn't be able to enjoy the little things in life. Like surfing.

like I said in another post here, you might as well be firing a pea shooter at mount everest for all this is going to do.

[stella]

Ok folks, someone please explain to me, besides the collossal waste of money, what is it about this that has everyone so worried and up in arms?

I'm not too worried, but it's more just messing with nature with unprecedented experiments where they don't really know how it will turn out.  I have absolutely no idea what shooting a rocket into the moon could do, probably nothing, but if there's a chance that something could go catastrophically wrong, I have absolutely no confidence that the scientists or the media would tell us that. Maybe that's the real problem - no credibility whatsoever.

And how did they get this project up and running so quickly?  Didn't they just find water on the moon like, two weeks ago? 

[xfahctor]

I'm not too worried, but it's more just messing with nature with unprecedented experiments where they don't really know how it will turn out.  I have absolutely no idea what shooting a rocket into the moon could do, probably nothing, but if there's a chance that something could go catastrophically wrong, I have absolutely no confidence that the scientists or the media would tell us that. Maybe that's the real problem - no credibility whatsoever.

And how did they get this project up and running so quickly?  Didn't they just find water on the moon like, two weeks ago? 

the only outcome they don't know is how much water crystals they will find, everything else is pretty much certain. How in gods name is this going to go wrong? I have already compaired this in a couple other respnses, but it is essentialy like firing a pea shooter at mount everest for all the damage it will do.

[Sub-X]

I agrea, it is probably a collosal waste of money. As to why....my understanding is to see exactly how much water may exist in areaas that don't get sunlight, such as the inside of the crater they have this aimed at.

People are losing their jobs,their homes,their life savings,is this really necessary,colossal waste of money,reminds of this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5smPcN8AoE   

[JTCoyoté]

Actually if there is water there... colonization of the Moon could be in the near future... Otherwise hauling water to the Moon could be a pricey proposition... ya know...

JTCoyoté

"Shake off all the fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds
are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her
tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even
the existence of a God; because if there be one, he must more
approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear."
~Thomas Jefferson

[xfahctor]

I'm not too worried, but it's more just messing with nature with unprecedented experiments where they don't really know how it will turn out.  I have absolutely no idea what shooting a rocket into the moon could do, probably nothing, but if there's a chance that something could go catastrophically wrong, I have absolutely no confidence that the scientists or the media would tell us that. Maybe that's the real problem - no credibility whatsoever.

And how did they get this project up and running so quickly?  Didn't they just find water on the moon like, two weeks ago? 

and it didn't get up and running too quickly, this has been in the works for a pretty long time.

[xfahctor]

Actually if there is water there... colonization of the Moon could be in the near future... Otherwise hauling water to the Moon could be a pricey proposition... ya know...

JTCoyoté

"Shake off all the fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds
are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her
tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even
the existence of a God; because if there be one, he must more
approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear."
~Thomas Jefferson

Ahhh, the voice of reason chimes in. thanks jt.

[70983]

God NASA shouldn't even exist.  They suck billions and billions of dollars of government money, ie debt, and they havent even been able to put a man on the moon for 30 years (not sure the exact date, but otherwise, a LONG waste of time and money).  This type of stuff should be left to the private sector, which is much more effecient and trustoworthy.

[xfahctor]

People are losing their jobs,their homes,their life savings,is this really necessary,colossal waste of money,reminds of this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5smPcN8AoE   

That would be my only issue with it. But, although it is a nasa project, it may still be a privately funded thing. In which case, they still could have fed some families with that but at least it wasn't my tax dollars they wasted.

[JTCoyoté]

People are losing their jobs,their homes,their life savings,is this really necessary,colossal waste of money,reminds of this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5smPcN8AoE   

The euthanizing, child sacrificing, wealth pilfering, perpetually butt f**king, New World order is a waste of our time and money... the colonization of space, for our expanding numbers, and a glorious future... is not!

I hope we are clear.

--Oldyoti

"The reason for the Second Amendment may not be
fully understood until such time as it is needed."
~Thomas Jefferson

[Freeski]

A second rocket is following it which will apparently take pictures of the first ones impact, take samples, and send data back to NASA, AND THEN that one will also strike the same area.

That is some amazing technology, for one rocket to do all of that.

[70983]

The euthanizing, child sacrificing, wealth pilfering, perpetually butt f**king, New World order is a waste of our time and money... the colonization of space, for our expanding numbers, and a glorious future... is not!

I hope we are clear.

--Oldyoti

"The reason for the Second Amendment may not be
fully understood until such time as it is needed."
~Thomas Jefferson

Yoti I have to say I agree with you on the principle, but I just do not believe that NASA should be the one doing the colonization.  We should grant charters for private entities to enter into space and colonize it, but Jesus, Johnson (iI think it was Johnson) already SEVERELY limited our ability to go into space peacefully and claim territory, through the signing of the Outer Space Treaty.

[centexan]

Meteors that size and larger hit the moon all the time.  NASA says they're doing this because they can control the time and location of the impact and study the dust plume.

Personally, I think they're doing it because they've been sitting on the evidence forever that there's water on the moon.  They just "suddenly" had this bright idea for this "experiment" because of India's work.  They'll have to admit to the water thing.

No telling what NASA's been up to on the moon.  They've had 40 years now to build on the moon (unlimited budget, most current technology available, founded by Nazis), so I have to wonder what's on the dark side of the moon.  A perfect hiding place for....what?

[carlee]

God NASA shouldn't even exist.  They suck billions and billions of dollars of government money, ie debt, and they havent even been able to put a man on the moon for 30 years (not sure the exact date, but otherwise, a LONG waste of time and money).  This type of stuff should be left to the private sector, which is much more effecient and trustoworthy.

According to   Bob Dean  we have been to the moon but not by NASA by the secret space program where the real trillions of dollars have been going to.  I just watched it last night and found it interesting.      
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhbpGpMe3qY

[xfahctor]

 i just wish they were waiting a few more hours so I could watch it. This is a pretty nifty astronomical event and I am going to miss it. I'm at least hoping the dust plume will still be fairly prominent by the time the moon is visible in my corner of the country.

[Freeski]

I'm not too worried, but it's more just messing with nature with unprecedented experiments where they don't really know how it will turn out.  I have absolutely no idea what shooting a rocket into the moon could do, probably nothing, but if there's a chance that something could go catastrophically wrong, I have absolutely no confidence that the scientists or the media would tell us that. Maybe that's the real problem - no credibility whatsoever.

And how did they get this project up and running so quickly?  Didn't they just find water on the moon like, two weeks ago? 

Well said, but I think this story first popped up here MONTHS ago.

[reed026]

The euthanizing, child sacrificing, wealth pilfering, perpetually butt f**king, New World order is a waste of our time and money... the colonization of space, for our expanding numbers, and a glorious future... is not!

I hope we are clear.

--Oldyoti

"The reason for the Second Amendment may not be
fully understood until such time as it is needed."
~Thomas Jefferson

hmm.. colonizing space so we can repeat this shit all over? While it might be a great idea, we as civilization are doomed to constantly repeat itself as the unwashed masses do not, I REPEAT, DO NOT open their eyes see their surrounds and read the real history of recorded civilization.

One can only go so far. I, myself, would enjoy an adventure like this. However, my feelings just seem to loom around the whole HALO story lines of how this story ends.

[Sub-X]

The euthanizing, child sacrificing, wealth pilfering, perpetually butt f**king, New World order is a waste of our time and money... the colonization of space, for our expanding numbers, and a glorious future... is not!

I hope we are clear.

--Oldyoti

"The reason for the Second Amendment may not be
fully understood until such time as it is needed."
~Thomas Jefferson

I agree,just wondering is the timing right with so many more important things down here that are just that tad bit more important,colonization of space is a brilliant,but I believe our glorious future starts here.  

[Freeski]

Yoti I have to say I agree with you on the principle, but I just do not believe that NASA should be the one doing the colonization.  We should grant charters for private entities to enter into space and colonize it, but Jesus, Johnson (iI think it was Johnson) already SEVERELY limited our ability to go into space peacefully and claim territory, through the signing of the Outer Space Treaty.

Who is "we"?

I'd take it one step further and say no government control or management of outer space. How's it any different than the settling of the North American West? Just let it happen naturally.

[CheneysWorstNightmare]

Wait a minute!

Didn't the London Times (as well as AJ) ALREADY way there is ice on the moon according to India!

This all must be tying in somehow.