NASA Collaborates with Astronomers in Search for Moon Water
- From: baalke@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 2 Mar 2008 23:33:07 -0800 (PST)
Jonas Dino Feb. 29, 2008
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
650-604-5612/207-3280
jonas.dino@xxxxxxxx
RELEASE: 08-16AR
NASA COLLABORATES WITH ASTRONOMERS IN SEARCH FOR MOON WATER
MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. - In early 2009, astronomers on Earth will
point
telescopes at the moon looking for water -- and NASA will help them
find
their target.
NASA experts and professional astronomers are gathering today at
NASA's
Ames Research Center for the Lunar CRater Observing and Sensing
Satellite,
or LCROSS, Astronomer Workshop. The workshop's goal is to facilitate
collaboration among experts concerning the best techniques to observe
the
expected debris plume created by the satellite's impacts on the lunar
South
Pole.
"The mission team, through the LCROSS Observation Campaign, will
encourage
astronomers using both ground- and space-based telescopes to observe
the
LCROSS lunar impacts," said Jennifer Heldmann, coordinator of the
LCROSS
Observation Campaign. "Participation by professional astronomers is a
key
component of the LCROSS mission. The campaign also will tap into the
knowledge and expertise of the large amateur astronomer community,"
Heldmann added.
The satellite's impacts are expected to be visible from Earth using
10-to-12 inch and larger telescopes. After the impacts, the mission's
science team plans to collect images and data and compile that
information
into a lunar knowledgebase for use by the scientific community as
NASA
plans future missions to the moon.
"The data collected by LCROSS and Earth-based assets will greatly
improve
our understanding of permanently shadowed craters on the moon," said
Anthony Colaprete, principle investigator for the mission. "If we
find
water ice, it will have great implications for human exploration of
the
moon."
The satellite is scheduled to launch with the Lunar Reconnaissance
Orbiter
aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla., at the end of
this
year. After launch, the LCROSS shepherding spacecraft and the Atlas
V's
Centaur upper stage rocket will execute a fly-by of the moon and enter
into
an elongated Earth orbit. This maneuver will position the satellite
for
optimal impact with the moon's South Pole. On final approach, the
shepherding spacecraft and Centaur will separate. The Centaur will act
as a
heavy impactor that will excavate the crater floor and create a
debris
plume extending above the lunar surface. Following four-minutes behind
the
Centaur, the shepherding spacecraft will fly through the debris plume
collecting data. That information will be sent back to Earth before
the
spacecraft impacts the lunar surface, creating a second debris plume.
The LCROSS Astronomer Workshop is co-sponsored by the Lunar and
Planetary
Institute, the LCROSS project office, NASA Ames and NASA Science and
Exploration Systems Mission Directorates at NASA Headquarters,
Washington.
For more information about the Lunar CRater Observing and Sensing
Satellite Astronomer Workshop, visit:
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lcross2008/
For more information about the Lunar CRater Observing and Sensing
Satellite, visit:
http://lcross.arc.nasa.gov
For information about NASA programs, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov
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