NASA Launched Our First Step, LRO & LCROSS, to Go Back to the Moon Yesterday!
I am so excited. It has been a long time comming… for the human race to return to the moon. This time we will be able to do more than just scoop rocks and survey our landing spot. We actually will be able to build a lunar base and have people there all year around like we do on the international space station.
What we sent into space yesterday:
The LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter) is a satellite that will orbit the moon and create an atlas of the entire surface. It is going to study the moon, making observations that will make it possible for us to go back to the moon and make every trip as usefull as possible. The NASA website puts it this way: “Just as a scout finds the safest way for expeditions on Earth, NASA will first send a robotic scout, called the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), to gather crucial data on the lunar environment that will help astronauts prepare for long-duration lunar expeditions.”
The LCROSS (Lunar CRater Observing and Sensing Satellite) is basically going to the moon to see if there is water in the base of craters that are permanantly in the shadow from the sun. Scientists have found signs there is hydrogen in these craters. This probe will settle the mystery. Again, the NASA website puts it this way: “After launch, the LCROSS shepherding spacecraft and the Atlas V’s Centaur upper stage rocket will execute a fly-by of the moon and enter into an elongated Earth orbit to position LCROSS for impact on a lunar pole. On final approach, the shepherding spacecraft and Centaur will separate. The Centaur will act as a heavy impactor to create a debris plume that will rise above the lunar surface. Following four minutes behind, the shepherding spacecraft will fly through the debris plume, collecting and relaying data back to Earth before impacting the lunar surface and creating a second debris plume. The debris plumes are expected to be visible from Earth- and space-based telescopes 10-to-12 inches and larger.”
This is exciting. I am looing forward to seeing what comes from this mission. I will post more information as I find it.
