Early tomorrow morning, NASA will slam two spacecraft into the moon in the hope of unearthing signs of water. The spacecraft, called the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite or LCROSS, will break into two parts to hit the moon a few minutes apart. First the Centaur upper stage rocket will hit the lunar crater Cabeus near the southern pole, sending a plume of debris about 6 miles above the moon. LCROSS then will fly through the debris, collecting and analyzing the debris, searching for signs of water ice before slamming into the moon at 5,000 miles per hour. Space-based and Earth-based telescopes will scrutinize the plumes. Observers here in Utah plan to join the party. Several members of the Salt Lake Astronomical Society will attempt to catch a glimpse of the plumes. Is this too far-fetched? In our current economical state is this even important? What will water ice on the moon allow us to do? GO!
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