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NASA to bomb the Moon this morning, watch from Earth


Last Update: 10/09/2009 7:46 am
Artist's rendering of the LCROSS spacecraft and Centaur missle (NASA)
Artist's rendering of the LCROSS spacecraft and Centaur missle (NASA)
TAMPA BAY, FL - NASA plans to crash a rocket into the moon this morning, blasting a huge hole in the lunar surface to search for hidden water.

The explosion, scheduled for 7:30 a.m. Florida time, is expected to visible with from Earth using amateur telescopes, according to NASA.

It's also expected to be aired live by NASA-TV and on www.nasa.gov/ntv.

According to NASA's website, the Centaur rocket will make impact at the Moon's south pole.

Scientists tell Scientific American Magazine that they expect the blast to be so powerful that a huge plume of debris will be ejected.

A spacecraft will fly through the debris plume, sending data back to Earth before crashing into the lunar surface and creating a second debris plume, according to NASA's website.

Why blast a hole in the moon? NASA wants to see if any water, ice or vapor is revealed in the cloud of debris. If there is, that might provide supplies for a future manned moonbase.

Friday's explosion is part of NASA's LCROSS (Lunar CRater Observing and Sensing Satellite) mission looking for lunar water.

Will you get up early to watch? Click 'add a comment' at the bottom of this page to soundoff.



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