An Overview of the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) post-Impact Results

Details An Overview of the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) post-Impact Results An Overview of the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) post-Impact Results

Dec 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009agufm.u22a..07c&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2009, abstract #U22A-07

Physics

[5494] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Instruments And Techniques, [6250] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Moon

Scientific paper

The primary objective of the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) is to confirm the presence of water ice at the Moon’s South Pole. The June 18th launch dictated an October 9, 2009 impact at approximately 11:30 UTC. The 2300 kg kinetic impactor, the spent Centaur upper stage of the Atlas V launch vehicle, is expected to excavate more than 350 metric tons of lunar regolith. The resulting ejecta cloud will be observed from a number of Lunar-orbital and Earth-based assets. The Centaur is guided to its target by the Shepherding Spacecraft (S-SC), which after release of the Centaur, flies toward the impact plume, sending real-time data and characterizing the morphology, evolution and composition of the plume with a suite of cameras, spectrometers and radiometer. The S-SC then becomes a 600kg impactor itself, to provide a second opportunity to study the nature of the Lunar Regolith. LCROSS provides a critical ground-truth for Lunar Prospector and LRO neutron and radar maps providing significant insight into form and distribution of lunar hydrogen as well as the processes that delivered the hydrogen to the lunar poles in the first place. This talk reviews the results from the mission, including lunar swing-by and impact.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

An Overview of the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) post-Impact Results does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with An Overview of the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) post-Impact Results, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and An Overview of the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) post-Impact Results will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1775223