LCROSS Hits Its Mark!



Onlookers participate in LCROSS pre-impact activities at NASA’s Ames
Research Center. Credit: NASA

The crowd at NASA Ames was poised and ready for impact as the LCROSS camera started sending back stunning images of the moon’s south pole. At impact, a flash or large plume wasn’t visible with the LCROSS camera, but even though we didn’t see it doesn’t mean it wasn’t there.


The LCROSS mission operations team initiated power-up of the LCROSS science
payload and captured this image of the moon. Credit: NASA

Mission scientists confirmed the LCROSS spacecraft monitored whatever the Centaur rocket lifted from the crater floor. At this time, it isn’t yet clear how much dust was raised but LCROSS Principal Investigator Tony Colaprete did confirm that the instruments onboard the sheparding spacecraft captured the Centaur impact crater.

Now mission scientists need more time to study the data. In the next few weeks, scientists will pore over the information to determine if water ice does exist in the Cabeus crater.

To stay up to date, be sure to follow the LCROSS website, the LCROSS twitter feed, and its Facebook page.

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/main/index.html

21 thoughts on “LCROSS Hits Its Mark!”

  1. I teach a 3rd grade class and they really enjoyed watching the LCROSS mission pictures because it didn’t happen as predicted with a visible plume. They loved knowing that real scientists hypothesis aren’t always 100% accurate just like theirs. As budding scientists they wanted me to let you know that they think you would get a better plume of moon dust if you make a rocket slide across the surface of the crater (like a baseball player slides into home plate and kicks up a cloud of dust). I just thought you would get a little encouragement from hearing the scientific thinking you are creating at the elementary level!

  2. I was so desperate to watch the impact, but the computers at my school had problems, so I wasn’t able to observe until after the fact, but I want to congratulate everyone involved with this mission and all our efforts to return to the moon.

    So, Luna- Got Water?

  3. Hi,

    I didn’t see any plume or flash in the live NASA visual image stream. But I think I saw impact of Centaur during playback of the NASA infrared image stream. At one point and I don’t know what the time was, a small diameter red disk of light appeared about where the simulated impact showed it would be. It lasted less than 5 seconds. After that there were red wavy regions on the left side of the IR image. I don’t know what they were. It would be wonderful if the last 10 or so minutes of the IR video stream would be posted on the LCROSS website.

    Sincerely,

    Jim Melka An assistant coordinator of the Mars section of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO)

  4. It was great watching the LCROSS broadcast this morning on NASA.gov. I’m a little concerned about the media reaction to this event, I don’t think people quite understand the scientific significance behind this event; they wanted Hollywood explosions. Also, the media calling what happened “bombing the moon” raises some concern. I hope new pictures are posted soon!

    Can’t wait for Ares on October 27th. Carry the torch!

    All my support

  6. It came as no surprise to me that people didn’t get to see any of the blast of the Centaur crater. This indicates to me and many others thier is a coverup of all up close photos of the moon surface. There are better pictures circulating taken from Earth that are better than the one’s NASA let all of us see. We need to wake up and let our government know this has to stop.

  8. Data Data Data!

    We need Data!!! So tell us! Did the entry-level craft detect and send telemetry back to earth? I’m sure it did! What was the verdict? Did you sample any water composing molecules in the near-surface atmosphere? Just give us a little bit of chocolate – lol! I know something important is not being released, and I can speculate what it is. Several seconds of the impact were trunicated – this implies a significant disruption on the surface. If you want the Conspiracists to start believing in Nasa, and the ‘Man on the Moon’ missions, then your going to have to start divulging more data. Why did the adjacent craft hit so fast after the booster module impacted? When are pictures going to be released of the impact? Like from Hubble, ect.? Don’t tell me Hubble can’t see this event either! If you need someone to pour over the numbers quicker for you, give me a howler!

    Nasa is going to have to give something back to the public, or the public is not going to want Nasa spending money on upcoming missions.

    Data Data Data please! 🙂

  9. Hello!
    Nice Work, however it would be nice if you let us know more data. If the experiment went wrong you can try another way. I don�t understand why the pictures and videos were so low quality. Can NASA o somebody else explain that to us?

    Sincerely
    MG8A
    🙂

  10. We are pleased to offer a Limited Edition commemorative bottle of Moon WaterTM celebrating the success of the NASA LCROSS mission that confirmed the existence of water on the moon. Please feel free to e-mail us if you have any questions: moonwater@spiritofthemoonstore.com

  11. Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is extremely helpful and beneficial to your readers.



  12. I also want to be their. But because of work i can't be their.
    Congregates for new mission and good luck for it's success.

  19. Hi! This is my first time viewing of your site! I appreciate your sharing, I always enjoy reading quality articles by an author who is obviously knowledgeable on their chosen subject. I’ll be following this thread with great interest. I love your blog, and am a regular follower.

  20. wats the hot news with these 19/03/2011 moon coming nearer to earth??????? is it the starting of end?

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