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NASA moon bombing: Blow up the moon? (Watch Online)
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Image: Artists rendering of LCROSS spacecraft / NASA
Many citizens of the world were unaware that the U.S. via NASA plans to bomb the moon on October 9, 2009 though some Americans were informed via late night comedy monologues last night.
As of this writing, it is not too late to view this lunar explosion live and plenty of post moon bombing photos will be available. See online and offline options, including NASA TV video details, below.
So why is NASA bombing the moon? It is not a show of military might as the volatile news headlines may imply. Rather the officially named LCROSS (Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite)
mission has multiple purposes and tapping into the moon’s frozen water reserves is the most frequently referenced goal.
Launched last month, the half-billion dollar Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is on a year-long exploration mission. This includes isolating potential landing sites for future astronauts, obtaining updated maps of the moon's surface and better assessing the moon’s environment.
Meanwhile the LRO has been focused on the craters located on moon's south pole as a potential source of frozen water. While we won’t soon see bottled moon water on the shelves any time soon, such a discovery would impact future lunar exploration. Melted moon ice could provide hydrogen for fuel, for instance. The Cabeus crater was selected as the target for October 9.
Last month, studies published in the journal Science concluded "that the moon is saturated with at least hydrogen and oxygen, the ingredients of water—ending years of speculation," according to National Geographic.
NASA describes the moon bombing event in many ways, but the LCROSS flight crew blog provides one of the most evocative descriptions:
"Just imagine. A spaceship plunges out of the night sky, hits the ground and explodes. A plume of debris billows back into the heavens, leading your eye to a second ship in hot pursuit. Four minutes later, that one hits the ground, too. It's raining spaceships!"
Don't blow up the moon!
Not everyone is happy about slamming a missle into the moon. Facebook, for instance, contains verbal and video pleas for the LCROSS crew and NASA not to "blow up the moon." On the Current TV site one commenter states "
... [I] can think of maybe a hundred reasons not to do this. chief among them is that it's a colossal waste of money."
Loosely organized petitions against the moon bombing are also on the Internet. One can be found on Care2. If you prefer a bit more lofty discussion on the pros and cons -- geek jargon included -- try Slashdot.
Yet "Good Luck" sentiments to the LCROSS crew are plentiful as well. Scientists state that the moon will not be harmed by the mission.
How to view the moon bombing
Date: October 9, 2009
3:15 a.m. PST (pre-impact)
4:31 a.m. PST -- Moon Impact
7:00 a.m. -- LCROSS Post-Impact News Conference
As for watching live video of the moon bombing or viewing post-explosion photos and updates, there are several options online. Additionally, people located West of the Mississippi may see the crash and boom with a sufficient telescope of at least 10 to 12 inches in diameter. See the NASA Impact Viewers Guide.
Moon bombing live feeds and updates can be found at:
LCROSS via Twitter with updates, also check hashtag #lcross for twitter chatter
Alternate: SLOOH telescope system
Moon bombing and LCROSS slideshows Huffington Post
(stay tuned for updates here)
Sources:
NASA.gov
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