Nasa rocket to the moon

Squonk

At 13:31am SA time today (Fri 9 Oct), NASA will smash the LCROSS Space Probe into the surface of the moon at several thousand mile per hour. Another probe will fly through the resulting debris cloud 4 minutes later, in an attempt to identify water.
The impact will take place at the moon's South Pole: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap091008.html

This event and the plume can probably be seen from earth through a large (10"+) telescope, although viewing from the SA will not be ideal as it will be broad daylight.

However, NASA are covering the event with a live webcast: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html from 11:15.

More details about LCROSS here: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/overview/index.html

Or just google it for more info.

Manfred-Klose

So what if it has a effect on the world, like some tsunami's in the next few days?

[deleted]

They've planned to have the tsunami hit a Third World country. No problem... ? ?

Yeah, I heard about this the other day - very interested to know what they might find... Of course, there is a lot of merit in the naysayers' argument that all the money spent on finding water on the moon could've gone towards easing the economic pain down here on earth...cos while everyone's happily chasing yields in emerging markets thanks to liquidity from First World government bailouts, governments are trying to figure out how they're going to pay for all those bailouts once this new bubble pops.

dee

For once NASA can crash a spacecraft and say, "We did that on purpose..." 8)

[deleted]

Stratisfear wrote: cos while everyone's happily chasing yields in emerging markets thanks to liquidity from First World government bailouts, governments are trying to figure out how they're going to pay for all those bailouts once this new and false bubble pops.

Simple... the 'people' pay, in the long-run... called tax... or simply print new money, then dilute all our hard earned money... screw goverments the world over...

3 things you have to do in life... play guitar, pay tax and die...

Ray

In the 60's we were listening to the wireless when they first landed on the moon and took a trap around there. We were all hoping they wouldnt crash, ne? I dont really know what else you okes want them to spend the money on. Maybe a war.

inflames

Read the News24 report this morning. Can't wait to watch the video tonight!!!

FatBoy

I think this kinda sucks, what gives them the right to bomb the moon? Do they own it?

Well ya no point in moaning about it I guess, could be interesting, but ya what if something goes wrong?

Manfred-Klose

I think this kinda sucks, what gives them the right to bomb the moon? Do they own it?

Well ya no point in moaning about it I guess, could be interesting, but ya what if something goes wrong?

.....mother nature(guia) will oneday bite mankind in the ass i suppose.........one has to make mistakes in order to educate the future. ?

FatBoy

Yea I agree man, but I think we've made plenty of mistakes here on earth that we can fix already, rather than starting to mess up space as well.

Wizard

The nature of science.
Today they're bombing the moon with missiles; in 50 years they'll be moaning about "Moon Abuse".

Just like they were trashing Antarctica 50 years ago; and now they're trying to restore it to its former glory.

In decades to come, the lunar residents will be complaining bitterly about their backyard being strewn with fragments of bombs & the idiocy of science.

You do have to wonder about how advanced we are, when the best way to learn about something is to bomb the place ...

Gearhead

Anyone who has ever had a look at the moon must realise that this moon has been bombarded for as long as it has existed - in fact in all likelihood it is a piece of earth ripped off in a cosmic clash between our planet and another object. My point is that on a larger cosmic scale this tiny little bomb on this tiny little moon of this tiny little planet of this tiny little solar system is insignificant.
To me it would be different if the bomb actually lands in someone's back yard - or rather in them. As far as we can tell life is so unique that we should try our absolute best to preserve it - even if it means forgetting about countries, religion, disturbed fans and discoveries. Maybe even about cutting it up to build guitars.

Riaan

It's made of cheese, I don't know what they're up to now.... ?

Sean

Gearhead wrote: in fact in all likelihood it is a piece of earth ripped off in a cosmic clash between our planet and another object.

Saw the footage on the news tonight, really not that spectacular at all, in fact, did not see a thing. I imagine nothing like the supposed impact that Gearhead speaks about ?