LCROSS to Crash into the moon today.

[te_lanus]

See that NASA is going to crash "rockets" into the moon today.

See: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33196816/ns/technology_and_science-space/
and can be watched : NASA - NASA TV

Get ready for a unique cosmic collision! Early Friday morning, NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite will end its mission with a bang — literally.

 

[Humanistheart]

I read about that earlier today too. You'd think they'd be a cheaper way to figure out if there's water on the moon or not. And I thought we already knew there was, but maybe I was confusing that with mars. Also, who cares? It's cool looking for life and other things on mars, where it might have existed, but what's the point with the moon thing?

 

[Zardoz]

I read about that earlier today too. You'd think they'd be a cheaper way to figure out if there's water on the moon or not. And I thought we already knew there was, but maybe I was confusing that with mars.

It's a lot cheaper than sending something that lands and digs. AFAIK this is to confirm previous tests.

Also, who cares? It's cool looking for life and other things on mars, where it might have existed, but what's the point with the moon thing?

Water means a sustainable moon base, as solar energy is free and will split H2O into air and fuel.

 

[silvermoon383]

I'm meeting up with my astronomy club later this morning to see if we can watch the impact (we're in the low-chance area). I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[te_lanus]

Here is a link for updates of the crash:
SPACE.com -- LCROSS UPDATES: Spacecraft Separate Ahead of Moon Crash

 

[MSizer]

It's cool looking for life and other things on mars, where it might have existed, but what's the point with the moon thing?

I think there's the consideration that the moon could potentially act as a better launch pad for larger manned missions. Since the gravitational restrictions are so much lower on the moon than on earth, and so much fuel is needed to get out of the earth's gravity, it would be way easier to launch from the moon. If there is water on the moon, they could mine fuel right from the moon and launch from there far more easily than from earth.

 

[cardero]

Water means a sustainable moon base, as solar energy is free and will split H2O into air and fuel.

I thought that the aliens made it clear that they do not want us returning to the moon?

 

[Heneni]

I bet 'Pinky' and the 'Brain' is extatic! What shall we do today? Try and take over the moon.

In the future...perhaps the moon shall become the old australia....a place were convicts are sent.

Oh I love a good conspiracy theory. I'm bet ya them rockets have more than just scientific gadgets to determine the water content of the rocks on the moon. Ya never know...some bacteria in the rockets? Sent to crash down on the rocks to observe whether it can survive....

Would be a real laugh if the rockets actually have water in them...and then crash on the moon to 'discover it', you know so that there would be more funding for future space explorations......

If we say there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq to warrant a war, a trace of water on the moon could persuade some folk to spend lots of money to go there.

Naaaaa......

Heneni