After Hours

NASA spacecraft crashes into the moon

By // October 9, 2009, 2:55 AM PST

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  • On Friday morning, NASA successfully rammed the LCROSS satellite and its booster rocket into a crater near the south pole of the moon in an attempt to search for hidden pockets of ice.

    The Centaur booster rocket hit the Cabeus crater at 4:31 a.m. PT and the LCROSS satellite followed at 4:36 a.m. PT.

    Although the flash from LCROSS didn't produce spectacular fireworks as many had hoped, it can be seen as a small pinpoint in the center in this image. A zoom is at bottom left and an even larger image of the flash is at bottom right. NASA's live coverage went blank just as the impacts occurred but the space agency says their instruments were working.

    See gallery of LCROSS preparations.

    Credit: NASA TV

  • This image was taken from the LCROSS satellite around 4:35 a.m. PT after the Centaur rocket hit the moon. The spacecraft was traveling around 5,600 miles per hour and excavated a crater about 65 feet wide and 13 feet deep.

    See gallery of LCROSS preparations.

    Credit: NASA TV

  • The impact target.

  • Here is the Centaur after it separated from the main satallite earlier Friday morning.

    Credit: NASA TV

  • One of the first views of the moon from LCROSS.

    Credit: NASA

  • LCROSS gets closer - about 10 minutes away from impact.

    Credit: NASA TV

  • NASA organized LCROSS parties around the country for moon gazers to view the impact.

  • NASA scientists react to the crash.

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On Friday morning, NASA successfully rammed the LCROSS satellite and its booster rocket into a crater near the south pole of the moon in an attempt to search for hidden pockets of ice.

The Centaur booster rocket hit the Cabeus crater at 4:31 a.m. PT and the LCROSS satellite followed at 4:36 a.m. PT.

Although the flash from LCROSS didn't produce spectacular fireworks as many had hoped, it can be seen as a small pinpoint in the center in this image. A zoom is at bottom left and an even larger image of the flash is at bottom right. NASA's live coverage went blank just as the impacts occurred but the space agency says their instruments were working.

See gallery of LCROSS preparations.

Credit: NASA TV

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