Browse Archive

  • Plume of material from impact

    Waiter, There's Metal in My Moon Water

    Water ice recently discovered on the moon is accompanied by mercury, magnesium, calcium, a bit of silver, and now sodium.

  • 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.

    NASA Missions Uncover the Moon's Buried Treasures

    Nearly a year after announcing the discovery of water molecules on the moon, scientists Thursday revealed new data uncovered by NASA's Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO.

  • Students watch the launch of LRO and LCROSS from the GAVRT control room.

    Media Telecon: LCROSS and LRO Science Science Results of Lunar Impact

  • Mayor Bloomberg

    Mayor Bloomberg Views LCROSS in 3D

    New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is watching a modified video of the LCROSS mission through 3D glasses.

  • Artist concept of LCROSS Shepherding Spacecraft and Centaur prior to lunar impact.

    NASA's LCROSS Wins Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award

    NASA's Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, mission has won Popular Mechanics magazine's 2010 Breakthrough Award for innovation in science and technology.

  • John Marmie

    LCROSS Mission Honored by National Space Society

    NASA has made technological breakthroughs in its efforts to reach for the stars and explore our solar system – these achievements were recently recognized by the National Space Society (NSS), which selected NASA's Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission as the 2010 recipient of the Space Pioneer Award in the Science and Engineering category.

  • Anthony Colaprete

    LCROSS Press Conference

    Miss the Nov. 13 announcement about preliminary LCROSS results?

  • The Visible camera image showing the ejecta plume at about 20 seconds after impact.

    LCROSS Impact Data Indicates Water on Moon

    Preliminary data from the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite indicates that the mission successfully uncovered water during the Oct. 9, 2009, impacts near the moon's south pole.

  • LCROSS (Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite) impact artwork

    NASA Briefs Preliminary Plume Findings From Moon Mission

    NASA will hold a news conference Friday to talk about early science results from its successful moon impacting mission, the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS.

  • LCROSS (Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite) impact artwork

    Successful Partnerships Enable a Successful Mission

    The success of the LCROSS mission is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the men and women of the LCROSS team.

  • LCROSS impact crater

    More Images from the Centaur Impact

    Last week, NASA’s Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) plunged headlong into Cabeus crater, and the nine LCROSS instruments successfully captured each phase of the impact sequence: the impact flash, the ejecta plume, and the creation of the Centaur crater.

  • Image of LCROSS impact plume.

    NASA'S LCROSS Captures All Phases of Centaur Impact

    NASA’s Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) was a smashing success, returning tantalizing data about the Centaur impact before the spacecraft itself impacted the surface of the moon.

  • Diviner thermal map of the LCROSS impact sites.

    Diviner Observes LCROSS Impact

    LRO's Diviner instrument obtained a series of thermal maps before and after the impact at approximately two hour intervals at an angle of approximately 48 degrees off nadir.

  • View of the moon from the LCROSS spacecraft.

    NASA Spacecraft Impacts Lunar Crater to Find Water Ice

    NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, created twin impacts on the moon's surface early Friday in a search for water ice. Scientists will analyze data from the spacecraft's instruments to assess whether water ice is present.

  • LCROSS Centaur

    Centaur Separation

    LCROSS Centaur Separation occurred at 9:50 p.m. EDT (6:50 p.m. PDT), Oct. 8. After separation, the spacecraft performed a 180 degree pitch maneuver (turning around) to reorient the LCROSS science payload towards the receding Centaur.

  • LCROSS (Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite) impact artwork

    NASA Invites Reporters to Events for LCROSS Impact

    NASA is inviting journalists to events this week in Washington and California to observe the twin impacts of the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, and its rocket's upper stage as they impact the moon. The goal of the mission is to search for water ice on the moon.

  • Illustration of debris plume from LCROSS impact

    NASA Ames to Showcase Spectacular LCROSS Lunar Impacts

    NASA’s Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission will come to a dramatic conclusion at approximately 4:30 a.m. PDT (7:30 a.m. EDT) on Friday, Oct 9, 2009.

  • Cabeus lunar crater

    NASA's LCROSS Mission Changes Impact Crater

    NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite mission (LCROSS) based on new analysis of available lunar data, has shifted the target crater from Cabeus A to Cabeus (proper).

  • Centaur upper stage

    Centaur is No Longer the Bridesmaid

    For almost 50 years, the Centaur high-energy upper stage rocket has been the behind-the-scenes workhorse of NASA’s exploration of space.

  • LCROSS logo.

    NASA Invites Media to Ames for LCROSS Impact Events

    NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite mission, known as LCROSS, will culminate with two lunar impacts at approximately 4:30 a.m. PDT on Oct. 9.