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LCROSS Focuses Its Aim Based on New Lunar Water Data

By Keith Cowing on September 28, 2009 4:25 PM

4 Comments

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). The decision was based on continued evaluation of all available data and consultation/input from members of the LCROSS Science Team and the scientific community, including impact experts, ground and space based observers, and observations from Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), Lunar Prospector (LP), Chandrayaan-1 and JAXA's Kaguya spacecraft. This decision was prompted by the current best understanding of hydrogen concentrations in the Cabeus region, including cross-correlation between the latest LRO results and LP data sets."

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Fred Sanford | September 29, 2009 3:46 PM | Reply

Now is this new trajectory based on previous readings or is it because of the propellant leak and or thruster firing early this month?I'm wondering.. I mean its kinda late in the game (10 days 13 hrs left ) to change targets..

Josh Cryer | September 29, 2009 6:52 PM | Reply

They've said that they could change targets up until two days before impact, if I recall correctly. Moving from Cabeus A to Cabeus (proper) probably required a very minute amount of correction given how far out they are.

This looks solely due to water finding data rather than due to the propellant problem.

TitanLakes | September 30, 2009 12:47 AM | Reply

The main Cabeus crater looks like a good target to me. I'm pretty excited about this mission. I hope we get a nice ejecta plume. Unfortunately, viewing conditions will be unfavorable where I am, so I'll have to stick to watching NASA TV. I wish the LCROSS team the best!

Tony | September 30, 2009 9:41 AM | Reply

@Fred Sanford,

The target change did not have anything to do with the propellent status. Since the previous anomaly, it forced LCROSS to become much more efficient in use of consumables, and so they should have adequate propellant to hit either the big one or the small one, assuming no more problems.

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LCROSS Focuses Its Aim Based on New Lunar Water Data

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LCROSS Focuses Its Aim Based on New Lunar Water Data

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