Browse Archive

  • 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.

  • Potential water concentrations on the south pole of the moon

    NASA'S LCROSS Reveals Target Crater for Lunar Impacts

    NASA has selected a final destination for its Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, after a journey of nearly 5.6 million miles that included several orbits around Earth and the moon.

  • Image of possible craters for the LCROSS impact.

    LCROSS Selects Crater With Best Chance of Finding Water

    NASA’s search for lunar water now has an address. Learn about the target crater for the LCROSS mission.

  • View of Earth from the moon.

    Looking Back at Earth

    On Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009, the LCROSS spacecraft successfully completed its first Earth-look calibration of its science payload.

  • Short List of LCROSS target craters on the lunar south pole.

    Short List of LCROSS Candidate Impact Craters

    These candidate craters shown are based on current information about the age, depth and structure of the selected craters.

  • Aldrin's bootprint

    NASA Ames to Celebrate 40th Anniversary of Moon Landings

    MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. -- Forty years ago, humans took their first steps on the moon. NASA has just taken the first steps to return humans to the moon and everyone is welcome to join in the celebration.

  • Mosaics of Lunar Swingby Images

    Preliminary processed images from LCROSS Swingby on June 23, 2009.

  • 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 Moon Impactor Completes Lunar Maneuver

    The Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, successfully completed its most significant early mission milestone Tuesday with a lunar swingby and calibration of its science instruments.

  • NASA Successfully Launches Lunar Impactor

    NASA successfully launched the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, Thursday on a mission to search for water ice in a permanently shadowed crater at the moon's south pole.

  • Lunar Exploration Missions Roll to Pad for Thursday Launch

    NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, rolled aboard their Atlas V rocket to the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida Wednesday morning in preparation for launch on Thursday.

  • NASA Sets Lunar Spacecraft Launch Coverage Events

    NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, spacecraft are set to launch together to the moon aboard an Atlas V rocket on June 17.