US spacecraft set for Moon crash

Nasa is set to crash two unmanned spacecraft into the Moon in a bid to detect the presence of water-ice.

A 2,200kg rocket stage will be first to collide, hurling debris high above the lunar surface. A second spacecraft packed with science instruments will then analyse the contents of this dusty cloud before meeting a similar fate.

The identification of water-ice in the impact plume would be a major discovery, scientists say.

Not least because a supply of water on the Moon would be a vital resource for future human exploration.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8297811.stm

Amazing. It sounds like science fiction...

"If ice is present in the permanently shaded craters... it could potentially provide a water source for the eventual establishment of a manned base on the Moon," said Dr Vincent Eke, from Durham University, UK, who is not a member of the LCROSS team.

"There is hydrogen down in that crater, we're going to go dig some of it up," he explained.

With an energy equivalent to that released by one-and-a-half tonnes of TNT, the collision will carve out a crater some 20m (66ft) wide and about 4m (13ft) deep.

What if there was a huge supply of this "water- ice" in the crater, and they blow it to smithereens!

"Yes uh, we found that there was in fact a large supply of water on the moon,and we have inconclusive evidence supporting the delivery of water to the Moon and the Earth."

"Fantastic! does that mean we can use it as a water source for the eventual establishment of a manned base on the Moon?"

"Welllllll, we kinda......vaporized it"

When I first heard about this I immediately thought of this sketch.

Active Discussion

Anon • February 9th 2012

Joey • October 9th 2009 • Reply

lol, that is very true...
although i think the point is, there are thousands of other craters on the moon, so if they find nothing (or even if they find something) its all good...at least they finally got to crash shit into the moon

on that note, you should also check out this article
it basically says that we can use microwaves (yes, the same exact kinds in our kitchen) to extract water out of moon dust.

say whaaat???

gina • October 9th 2009 • Reply
All of this sounds too creepy and possibly catastrophic for me. Man must diminish his impact on the universe, not increase it!

Mark • October 9th 2009 • Reply
"But don't feel bad for the moon. It gets crashes this size about four times a month from space rocks." - The Union Tribune