Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.
Profile image
Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

The twin GRAIL spacecraft will impact the moon’s surface on December 17, 2012

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.


The two Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecrafts, Ebb and Flow, are running out of fuel after being in lunar orbit since January 2012. They will be commanded to crash into the rim of an unnamed crater near the Moon’s north pole at speed of 1.7 km/s (3,760 mph) on December 17 at 19:28 UTC. GRAIL spacecraft were originally tasked with 90-day science missions, which ran from March to May, but NASA extended mission, allowing the two probes to gather a trove of additional data.

Maps of Earth’s moon highlight the region where the twin spacecraft of NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission will impact  (Credit: NASA/GSFC)

Ebb spacecraft will undergo a controlled impact slamming into a 2 km high rim of a crater that has been buried in ejecta near north pole of the Moon and Flow spacecraft will impact about 30 seconds later, about 40 apart. About 54 minutes before impact, they’ll burn the remaining fuel to complete the last maneuver.

Unfortunately, the impact region will be shadowed at the time so there will be no imagery provided.


Earlier this year the duo were lowered from their prime mission orbit of 55 kilometers above the Moon to 23 km, and last week lowered to 11 km to enable even higher resolution data.

The two spacecraft have been providing unprecedented detail about the Moon’s internal structure by measuring changes as small as 50 nanometers per seconds. By sending radio signals to each other and monitoring changes in distance between the two as they circle the Moon, they were able to create the most detailed gravity map of the Moon.

The 2009. impact by LCROSS (Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite) confirmed the presence of water ice and an array of volatiles in a permanently shadowed crater at the Moon’s South Pole, and it is expected GRAIL would be targeted for similar observations.

 

NASA will provide live commentary of the scheduled lunar surface impacts of its twin Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft beginning at 2 p.m. PST (5 p.m. EST) Monday, Dec. 17. The event will be broadcast on NASA Television and streamed on the agency’s website.

For NASA TV streaming video, schedule and downlink information, visit:http://www.nasa.gov/ntv . The coverage will also be streamed live on Ustream at:http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl2 .

Featured image: Artist concept of Ebb and Flow, the two GRAIL spacecraft in orbit of the Moon. (Credit: NASA)

The twin GRAIL spacecraft will impact the moon’s surface on December 17, 2012


Source:


Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.


LION'S MANE PRODUCT


Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules


Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.



Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.


Report abuse

    Comments

    Your Comments
    Question   Razz  Sad   Evil  Exclaim  Smile  Redface  Biggrin  Surprised  Eek   Confused   Cool  LOL   Mad   Twisted  Rolleyes   Wink  Idea  Arrow  Neutral  Cry   Mr. Green

    MOST RECENT
    Load more ...

    SignUp

    Login

    Newsletter

    Email this story
    Email this story

    If you really want to ban this commenter, please write down the reason:

    If you really want to disable all recommended stories, click on OK button. After that, you will be redirect to your options page.