Andrew Yee[_1_]
March 12th 08, 04:58 AM
Jonas Dino
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. Feb. 29, 2008
650-604-5612/207-3280
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
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. Feb. 29, 2008
650-604-5612/207-3280
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