NASA “Bombs” the Moon

Posted by NG Kids in News Bites on October 9, 2009
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LCROSS mission picture courtesy NASA

This morning, NASA’s LCROSS (Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite) intentionally crashed into the moon’s surface in hopes of uncovering traces of ice near the moon’s south pole. The impact created a crater of about 100 feet (300 meters) wide and scattered 200 tons of material on the moon’s surface.

Impacts on the moon aren’t unusual. Other objects similar in size to LCROSS, such as meteors, hit the moon every month and more than two dozen NASA objects are already scattered across the moon’s surface.

Learn more about the LCROSS crash on National Geographic News.

Check out pictures of moon exploration on National Geographic Kids.

Quiz Your Noodle and find out how much you

know about the moon on National Geographic Kids.

Play Pluto’s Secret on National Geographic Kids.

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Categories: Space

Comments

  1. kpadro14
    October 9, 2009, 5:50 pm

    Wow…. I hope NASA finds something cool and intresting.

  2. emshemie3
    October 10, 2009, 4:08 pm

    I do not understand what they could possibly find that would be worth an almost 80 million dollar project. I have learned more about it on the T.V. news. So what if they discover water? Where is this world coming to? Oh well, hopefully I am wrong. I hate coming across so cold and negative sometimes. To be honest I have never been too fond of NASA. Outer Space is not really my thing!

  3. oooxeyoox2
    October 11, 2009, 5:01 pm

    I personaly think that that is totaly stupid cause a lot of people think that the moon is very beautiful I…am very shocked that NASA would do that wouldent you agree?

  4. oooxeyoox2
    October 11, 2009, 5:07 pm

    I still think that it is very stupid I just dont understand why they would do that cause I have never been too fond of NASA plus space really is not my thing I can tell you that to be honet with you.

  5. fuzziecheese
    October 13, 2009, 8:42 am

    I hope they find water on the moon thatd be realy cool

  6. llamasrock
    October 13, 2009, 6:47 pm

    this is very very very stupid and smart if they find water they might be able to to find out if the moon can support life or not… but on the other hand it is just to see something explode :D :)

  7. llamasrock
    October 13, 2009, 6:52 pm

    OK forget what i said about life THIS IS STUPID S-T-U-P-I-D stupid …. they could do something to help the ecnomeny(not that its super bad)i mean they are really wasting their money here NASA could be doing something more helpfull to the world :(

  8. llamasrock
    October 13, 2009, 7:07 pm

    I disagree with fuzziecheese i think that even if they do find water big WOOP their needs to be a better explaination for this…bombing the moon…….i mean..

  9. emshemie3
    October 13, 2009, 8:21 pm

    Oooxeyoox2, I agree with you! Plus, when you read my comment I got other reasons too.

  10. fishslayer1
    October 15, 2009, 11:46 am

    cool. my mom told me that they crashed into the moon but its great learning more aout it.!!:)

  11. Tomboy4563
    October 16, 2009, 1:04 pm

    Why in the world would they want to know if there is ice in the moon?!We have plenty!

  12. PurpleAnimalLUV
    October 16, 2009, 3:33 pm

    My friend told me about this. I find it cool to explore and discover but i dont like the “blowing up” part. What if they had caused serious damage to the moon?

  13. nckmeche
    October 22, 2009, 6:31 pm

    cool

  14. nckmeche
    October 22, 2009, 6:50 pm

    this article is awesome

  15. monkey
    October 25, 2009, 7:52 am

    wat if da whole moon blows up i do agree wit u oooxeyoox2 da moon is da most beatifull ting ever

  16. monkey
    October 25, 2009, 7:56 am

    NASA is stupid who agrees?

  17. emshemie3
    October 26, 2009, 3:53 pm

    Monkey, NASA is not entirely stupid. I must admit(read my other two comments) that NASA does not always make the right choices. However, I understand why you may say that…

  18. Tigerflame
    October 26, 2009, 10:37 pm

    I think NASA is really smart for doing this. If our planet is destroyed due to global warming, we might be able to move to the moon to be safe, so they want to know if it has any water on it.

  19. ram
    November 8, 2009, 12:41 am

    You’re right, Tigerflame. The Earth won’t be around forever.

  20. french fries
    November 16, 2009, 6:01 pm

    speaking of NASA they found a new star it really pretty

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