NASA Smashes Space Probe into Moon

(Thumbnail image from NOAO - National Optical Astronomy Observatory)

“NASA has just smashed a space probe and its booster rocket into the lunar surface.  The impact has kicked up hundreds of tons of lunar dirt, which the scientists are hoping to analyze.  They are looking for water hydrogen and other minerals, which could be used to supply a future lunar base.” (Russia Today)

NASA’s lunar project called LCROSS is drawing mixed reaction among the media after the rocket crashed into the moon early Friday morning.   We are analyzing what actually happened and why this is such a big deal.  

We are following perspectives from NBC, space.com, The San Francisco Chronicle and National Geographic.

First NBC and Space.com have the perspective that the crash didn’t live up to expectations.  Some thought that the massive explosion could possibly be seen from earth.

“'Well it’s hard to tell what we saw there.' The pictures didn’t end up showing what NASA scientists predicted.”

"I don't know about you, but I didn't see anything," said Columbia University astronomer Arlin Crotts, who was watching the impact on NASA TV.  "This was anti-climactic at best." 

But The San Francisco Chronicle takes the opposing view calling the event “A Smashing Success” and notes how accurate the crash actually was.

“It was a remarkable feat of precision space navigation by engineers and scientists... So precise was the mission control team's aim that the Centaur hit barely more than 1500 feet from the exact center of the 12-mile-wide assigned spot.”

Space experts on NBC and CBS tell us why discovering ice bbon the moon would be so monumental.

“Substantial water on the moon would not only serve the astronauts thirst, it would give them oxygen to breathe and hydrogen fuel for their spaceships.”

“It's not just the moon.  If you find this on the moon there’s no reason to think that it’s not across the solar system.  And if we ever move out into the solar system with exploration or colonists that’s a big step."  

But National Geographic was one of many organizations critical of the crash, and worried that we might be harming the moon.

“NASA's LCROSS moon 'bombing' this morning is just the latest mission in a decades-long tradition of bullying the moon in the name of science—in this case, the search for water.”

By the way, the results of the mission won't be known for one to two weeks.  So what do you think of NASA’s latest mission?  Do you think there is water on the moon?