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Old 06-19-2009, 04:01 PM   #28
iainl140285
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Scotland
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Default Re: NASA prepares to bomb the moon...

The second mission, the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS), aims to answer whether there is water on the Moon - either in the form of ice or hydrated minerals. It consists of two elements: a shepherding spacecraft and a Centaur upper stage rocket.

After being guided to a permanently shadowed crater at the Moon's south pole by its shepherding spacecraft, the Centaur rocket separates.


LCROSS will crash a rocket into the lunar surface
Hitting the Moon at more than 9,000 km/h (5,600 mph), the 2,200kg Centaur will kick up a huge plume of debris which could rise to 50km (30 miles).

It is expected to excavate some 350 metric tonnes of lunar material.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8107197.stm
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