LCROSS
Mission type | Lunar impactor |
---|---|
Operator | NASA / ARC |
COSPAR ID | 2009-031B |
SATCAT no. | 35316 |
Website | NASA - LCROSS |
Mission duration | Launch to last impact: 3 mo., 20 days, 14 hrs., 5 min. |
Spacecraft properties | |
Bus | Eagle-0 |
Manufacturer | Northrop Grumman |
Launch mass | Shepherding Spacecraft: 621 kilograms (1,369 lb) Centaur: 2,249 kilograms (4,958 lb)[1] |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | June 18, 2009, 21:32:00 | UTC
Rocket | SLC-41 |
Contractor | United Launch Alliance |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | High Earth |
Period | 37 days |
Lunar impactor | |
Impact date | October 9, 2009, 11:37 | UTC
The Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) was a
It was launched together with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) on June 18, 2009, as part of the shared Lunar Precursor Robotic Program, the first American mission to the Moon in over ten years.
LCROSS was designed to collect and relay data from the impact and debris plume resulting from the launch vehicle's spent Centaur upper stage (and data-collecting Shepherding Spacecraft) striking the crater Cabeus near the south pole of the Moon.
Centaur had nominal impact mass of 2,305 kg (5,081 lb), and an impact velocity of about 9,000 km/h (5,600 mph),
LCROSS suffered a malfunction on August 22, depleting half of its fuel and leaving very little fuel margin in the spacecraft.[8]
Centaur impacted successfully on October 9, 2009, at 11:31
Contrary to media reports at the time, neither the impact nor its dust cloud could be seen from Earth, using the naked eye or telescopes.
Mission
LCROSS was a fast-track, low-cost companion mission to the LRO. The LCROSS
LCROSS launched with the
Early in the morning on August 22, 2009, LCROSS ground controllers discovered an anomaly caused by a sensor problem, which had resulted in the spacecraft using up 140 kilograms (309 pounds) of fuel, more than half of the fuel remaining at the time. According to Dan Andrews, the LCROSS project manager, "Our estimates now are if we pretty much baseline the mission, meaning just accomplish the things that we have to [do] to get the job done with full mission success, we're still in the black on propellant, but not by a lot."[8]
Lunar impacts, after approximately three orbits, occurred on October 9, 2009, with the Centaur crashing into the Moon at 11:31
On its final approach to the Moon, the Shepherding Spacecraft and Centaur separated October 9, 2009, at 01:50 UTC.[16] The Centaur upper stage acted as a heavy impactor to create a debris plume that rose above the lunar surface. Following four minutes after impact of the Centaur upper stage, the Shepherding Spacecraft flew through this debris plume, collecting and relaying data back to Earth before it struck the lunar surface to produce a second debris plume. The impact velocity was projected to be 9,000 km/h (5,600 mph) or 2.5 km/second.[17]
The Centaur impact was expected to excavate more than 350 metric tons (390 short tons) of lunar material and create a crater about 27 m (90 ft) in diameter to a depth of about 5 m (16 ft). The Shepherding Spacecraft impact was projected to excavate an estimated 150 metric tons (170 short tons) and create a crater approximately 18 m (60 ft) in diameter to a depth of about 3 m (10 ft). Most of the material in the Centaur debris plume was expected to remain at (lunar) altitudes below 10 km (6 mi).[1]
It was hoped that
Whether or not LCROSS would find water had been stated to be influential in whether or not the United States government pursues creating a Moon base.[18] On November 13, 2009, NASA confirmed that water was detected after the Centaur impacted the crater.[5]
Spacecraft
The LCROSS mission took advantage of the structural capabilities of the
LCROSS is managed by NASA's ARC and was built by Northrop Grumman. The LCROSS preliminary design review was completed on September 8, 2006. The LCROSS mission passed its Mission Confirmation Review on February 2, 2007,[21] and its Critical Design Review on February 22, 2007.[22] After assembly and testing at Ames, the instrument payload, provided by Ecliptic Enterprises Corporation,[23] was shipped to Northrop Grumman on January 14, 2008, for integration with the spacecraft.[24] LCROSS passed its review on February 12, 2009.
Instruments
The LCROSS Shepherding Spacecraft science instrument payload, provided by NASA's ARC, consisted of a total of nine instruments: one visible, two near infrared, and two mid-infrared cameras; one visible and two near-infrared spectrometers; and a photometer. A data handling unit (DHU) collected the information from each instrument for transmission back to LCROSS Mission Control. Because of the schedule and budget constraints, LCROSS took advantage of rugged, commercially available components. The individual instruments went through a rigorous testing cycle that simulated launch and flight conditions, identifying design weaknesses and necessary modifications for use in space, at which point the manufacturers were allowed to modify their designs.[1]
Results
The impact was not as visually prominent as had been anticipated. Project manager Dan Andrews believed that this was due to pre-crash simulations that exaggerated the plume's prominence.[citation needed] Because of data bandwidth issues, the exposures were kept short, which made the plume difficult to see in the images in the visible spectra. This resulted in the need for image processing to increase clarity. The infrared camera also captured a thermal signature of the booster's impact.[25]
Presence of water
On November 13, 2009, NASA reported that multiple lines of evidence show water was present in both the high-angle vapor plume and the ejecta curtain created by the LCROSS Centaur impact. As of November 2009[update], the concentration and distribution of water and other substances required more analysis.
Imagery
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One of the first images from the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) using the visible light camera during the swingby of the Moon. LCROSS has nine science instruments that collect different types of data which are complementary to each other.
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An infrared camera image of the Moon taken with the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mid-infrared camera. This is the first infrared image ever taken of the far side of the Moon.
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Another visible light camera image of the Moon taken by the LCROSS spacecraft during lunar swingby
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Image taken of the Centaur upper stage impact in the Cabeus crater near the south pole of the Moon. The images were taken by the LCROSS Shepherding Spacecraft.
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Locations of the Diviner LCROSS impact swaths overlain on a grayscale daytime thermal map of the Moon’s south polar region. Diviner data were used to help select the final LCROSS impact site inside Cabeus Crater, which sampled an extremely cold region in permanent shadow that can serve as an effective cold trap for water ice and other frozen volatiles.
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Preliminary, uncalibrated LRO/Diviner thermal maps of the Centaur/LCROSS impact site acquired two hours before the impact, and 90 seconds after the impact. The thermal signature of the impact was clearly detected in all four Diviner thermal mapping channels.
Awards
LCROSS has received numerous awards for its technical, managerial, and scientific accomplishments.
- 2010: Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman Corporate 2010 Award for Excellence (Northrop Grumman team)[citation needed]
- 2010: Popular Mechanics magazine's 2010 Breakthrough Award for innovation in science and technology.[33]
- 2010: NASA Honor Award – Group Achievement, (LCROSS Science Team)
- 2010: NASA Honor Award – Group Achievement, (LCROSS Mission Operations Team)
- 2010: NASA Honor Award – Group Achievement, for "outstanding professionalism, innovation in outreach and education, and for integrating outreach for two missions into one launch." (LRO/LCROSS/LPRP EPO teams)
- 2010: NASA Honor Award - Exceptional Achievement Medal, (Rusty Hunt)
- 2010: NASA Honor Award - Outstanding Leadership Medal, (Dan Andrews & Tony Colaprete)
- 2010: NASA Honor Award - Group Achievement, LCROSS Science and Payload Team
- 2010: NASA Ames Honor Award, category "Exceptional Achievement" (Ken Galal)
- 2010: Northrop Grumman AS Sector President's Award, category "Operational Excellence" (Northrop Grumman team)
- 2010: Aviation Week Laureate Award Nominee, Category "Space"[34]
- 2010: Space Foundation "John L. 'Jack' Swigert Jr., Award for Space Exploration"[35]
- 2010: National Space Society "Space Pioneer Award" 2009, Category "Science and Engineering"
- 2010: Northrop Grumman "Distinguished Engineering Project Achievement Award", 55th Annual Engineering Council[citation needed]
- 2010: NASA OCE Systems Engineering Award, NASA Office of Chief Engineer[36]
- 2010:
- 2009: Northrop Grumman Technical Services' "Award for Excellence": 2009, (LCROSS team)
- 2009: NASA Ames Honor Award, category "team" (LCROSS Team)[39]
- 2009: NASA Ames Honor Award, category "Engineering" (Tom Luzod)[39]
- 2009: NASA Honor Award - Exceptional Achievement Medal, (Dan Andrews)[citation needed]
- 2009: NASA Honor Award - Group Achievement, LCROSS Project Team[citation needed]
- 2009: NASA Systems Engineering Excellence Award, (Darin Foreman, Bob Barber)[citation needed]
- 2008: ILEWG International Lunar Exploration "Technology Award", for the development of advanced technologies within hard constraints of short time and cost[40]
- 2008: NASA Ames Honor Award, category "Engineering" (Bob Barber)[39]
- 2008: Northrop Grumman "Mission Excellence" Award, LCROSS Spacecraft Team[citation needed]
- 2007: NASA Ames Honor Award - Group Achievement, Successful completion of CDR[citation needed]
- 2006: NASA Ames Honor Award, category "Project Management" (Dan Andrews)[39]
See also
- List of artificial objects on the Moon
- Lunar water
- nuclear explosive devicemission of the 1950s, never attempted
References
- ^ a b c "LRO/LCROSS Press Kit v2" (PDF). NASA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-10-27. Retrieved 2009-08-04.
- ^ Tompkins, Paul D.; Hunt, Rusty; D'Ortenzio, Matt D.; Strong, James; Galal, Ken; Bresina, John L.; Foreman, Darin; Barber, Robert; Shirley, Mark; Munger, James; Drucker, Eric (2010-04-25). "Flight Operations for the LCROSS Lunar Impactor Mission" (PDF). NASA. Ames Research Center. Retrieved 2011-09-27.
- TheGuardian.com. 2009-09-24.
- ^ "NASA - LCROSS: Mission Overview". Nasa.gov. Archived from the original on 2010-05-05. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
- ^ a b c d Dino, Jonas; Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite Team (2009-11-13). "LCROSS Impact Data Indicates Water on Moon". NASA. Archived from the original on 2010-01-06. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
- ^ a b "NASA crashes rocket into moon". Toronto Star. 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
- ^ "NASA's LCROSS Mission Changes Impact Crater". NASA. 2009-09-29. Archived from the original on 2009-10-28. Retrieved 2009-11-21.
- ^ a b Stephen Clark (2009-08-25). "Managers mull options after moon mission malfunction". Spaceflight Now.
- ^ TheStar.com, "NASA crashes rocket into moon".
- ^ Tariq Malik (2006-04-10). "NASA Adds Moon Crashing Probes to LRO Mission". Space.com. Retrieved 2006-04-11.
- ^ "NASA Moon Impactor Successfully Completes Lunar Maneuver". NASA. 2009-06-23. Archived from the original on 2009-10-28.
- ^ "LCROSS Lunar Swingby Streaming Video". NASA. 2009-06-23. Archived from the original on 2009-08-30.
- ^ Seth Borenstein (2009-10-09). "NASA probes give moon a double smack". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
- ^ a b "LCROSS Observation Campaign". NASA. Archived from the original on 2012-05-04.
- ^ "Moon-crashing probe aimed at bigger target". NBC News. 2009-09-29.
- ^ "NASA - LCROSS". NASA.
- ^ "A Flash of Insight: LCROSS Mission Update". NASA. 2008-08-11. Archived from the original on 2009-01-05.
- ^ "NASA's Rocket Crash Might Boost Plans for Moon Colonies". The Chosun Ilbo. 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
- ^ "Evolved expendable launch vehicle secondary payload adapter - A New Delivery System for Small Satellites" (PDF).
- ^ "NASA - LCROSS Spacecraft". www.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
- ^ "NASA Moon-Impactor Mission Passes Major Review". www.nasa.gov. 2007-02-02.
- ^ "Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite Passes Critical Design Review". Moondaily.com. 2007-03-02.
- ^ "Ecliptic provides key elements of LCROSS payload". www.spaceflightnow.com. 2008-03-03.
- ^ Jonas Dino (2008-01-14). "NASA's Quest to Find Water on the Moon Moves Closer to Launch". NASA. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
- ^ Musser, George (2009-10-09). "LCROSS strikes Earth's moon as other moons continue to puzzle: Fourth dispatch from the annual planets meeting". Scientific American.
Shortly before the spacecraft itself hit, word came through that the infrared camera had indeed seen a thermal signature of the booster's crater.
- ^ Perlman, David (2009-11-14). "NASA chooses moon crater for crash of rocket". The San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2010-03-25.
- ^ NASA - NASA Radar Finds Ice Deposits at Moon's North Pole
- S2CID 206525375.
- ^ "Ice Confirmed at the Moon's Poles". NASA/JPL. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
- ^ "Visible light camera image during lunar swingby". NASA. 2009-06-23. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ "LCROSS Centaur Separation". NASA. 2009-10-09. Archived from the original on 2009-10-11. Retrieved 2009-10-13.
- ^ "Visible light camera image during lunar swingby". NASA. 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2009-10-13.
- ^ NASA - NASA'S LCROSS Wins 2010 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award
- ^ "CELEBRATING THE BEST 53rd Annual Awards". Aviation Week. Penton Media. 2010-01-11.
- ^ Space Foundation Honors LCROSS Mission Team with John L. "Jack" Swigert, Jr., Award for Space Exploration |National Space Symposium Archived July 1, 2012, at archive.today
- ^ "NASA - 2010 Systems Engineering Excellence Award". www.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
- ^ Photo Release -- Northrop Grumman-built LCROSS Satellite Wins 2009 Aviation Week Program Excellence Award Archived October 4, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ AVIATION WEEK Program Excellence Awards Honor Top Aerospace and Defense Programs and Leadership
- ^ a b c d "NASA Ames Honor Awards" (PDF). NASA Ames History Office. NASA. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
- ^ "International Lunar Exploration Awards 2008: who are the winners?". sci.esa.int. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
External resources
- NASA - LCROSS (Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite), nasa.gov
- Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite at NASA Ames Research Center, lcross.arc.nasa.gov
- LCROSS Flight Director's Blog on blogs.nasa.gov
- NASA's Post-Impact News Conference on YouTube
- Why NASA Should Bomb the Moon to Find Water: Analysis, 2009-09-11, Popular Mechanics, popularmechanics.com
- Anthony Colaprete (2010-10-22). "Detection of Water in the LCROSS Ejecta Plume". Science. 330 (6003): 463–468. S2CID 206525375.
- [1] Anthony Colaprete's public lecture on the mission in the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series
- Nancy Atkinson (2009-10-07). "Guide to Seeing the LCROSS Lunar Impact". Universe Today.
- [2] LCROSS Lunar Impactor - Lessons Learned from a Small Satellite Mission—Dan Andrews (NASA LCROSS Program Director) (PDF)