LCROSS Team Changes Target Crater For Impact 39
Matt_dk sends word that NASA has chosen a new target crater into which to crash the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission vehicles. "The decision means that when NASA's LCROSS probe and its spent Centaur rocket stage slam into the moon on Oct. 9, they will crash into the large crater Cabeus, and not the nearby (and smaller) Cabeus A crater that was previously targeted. ... The data suggests the new target Cabeus has a concentration of hydrogen — an indication of possible water ice — that's higher than anywhere else at the lunar south pole. ... A small valley etched into the otherwise tall crater ridge of Cabeus should allow sunlight to shine on the ejecta cloud kicked up when LCROSS and its Centaur rocket stage crash into the moon in successive impacts."
Why not remotely? (Score:3, Interesting)
We have the technology to analyze the spectrography of astral bodies. We can even detect the composition of stars many light years away from the Earth.
Why do we need to clutter up the Moon with these "crash landing" sensors? At least it would make sense to have sensor devices that could be actively mobile and roam the surface after landing.
Yes, it would be expensive, but if we're going to be doing something we should try to get the longest life out of it possible.
Re:Forty years ago they could land stuff (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Why not remotely? (Score:3, Interesting)
The target became a lot more visible at impact, due to a bunch of dust being kicked up (and reflecting sunlight).
The moon (around last quarter) will not particularly become more visible since it's a much bigger target than any dust cloud LCROSS might kick up - but maybe scoeps looking at the right part will see something.