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LCROSS Mission Updates
  • Post Impact Press Conference
    The LCROSS Centaur and Spacecraft impacted the moon at approximately 4:30 a.m. PDT. Scientists are reviewing the initial data and will report what they know at a Post Impact News Conference at 7:00 a.m. PDT / 10:00 a.m. EDT on NASA TV.

  • Data Assessment
    The LCROSS science team is making their preliminary assessment of approximately four minutes of data collected from the LCROSS Spacecraft. Observatories involved in the LCROSS Observation Campaign are reporting in.


  • LCROSS impact into Cabeus.


  • Centaur Impact into Cabeus.

  • Power-up of LCROSS Payload
    The mission operations team has initiated power-up of the LCROSS science payload and is evaluating the health of the spacecraft instruments. Spacecraft data being transmitted to LCROSS mission control at NASA Ames at 1.5 Mbps via the Goldstone Deep Space Network Facility in California. Spacecraft and science instrument data are relayed in real-time.

  • LCROSS Live Broadcast
    Live coverage of LCROSS Impact Event starts at 3:15 a.m. PDT or 6:15 a.m. EDT on NASA TV http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

  • Targeting Update
    Final: CENTAUR IMPACT -84.674, 311.302 E, 11:31:20 UTC / 4:31:20 a.m. PDT
    Final: S-S/C IMPACT 84.731, 310.52 E, 11:35:36 UTC / 4:35:36 a.m. PDT

  • LCROSS Coverage
    Live coverage of LCROSS Impact Event starts at 3:15 a.m. PDT or 6:15 a.m. EDT on NASA TV http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

  • Breaking Maneuver
    Mission operations is initiating the breaking maneuver. This will create the 4 minute, 373 mile (600 km) separation planned for optimal data of the Centaur Impact Flash and debris plume. The breaking burn is 4 min 5 sec. in duration.

  • Successful Centaur Separation Mission Update
    At 6:50 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8 the LCROSS shepherding spacecraft successfully separated from the Centaur that is has been attached to since early June 2009, when the LCROSS and LRO were stacked at Space Launch Complex 41, a few days before launch from Cape Canaveral. After the separation sequence was initiated, sensors attached to three break wires indicated a successful separation.

    After the separation, the LCROSS shepherding spacecraft completed a 180 degree flip maneuver and powered up the science payload to watch the Centaur steadily increase the distance between them. Mission operations then commanded the spacecraft to perform a breaking burn to create a separation distance of 600 km from the Centaur, This was determined by the science team as the optimal distance to view the Centaur on the surface of the moon.

    The Centaur will impact the floor of Cabeus crater at 4:31:19 a.m. PDT. Following about 4 minutes behind and collecting and transmitting data back to LCROSS mission control, the Shepherding spacecraft will impact the surface at approximately 4:35:45 a.m. PDT.

  • Centaur Separation
    The mission operations team has initiated the Centaur separation sequence. The tripping of 3 breakwire sensors will be the most immediate indication of a successful separation. After verification by the mission operations team, the spacecraft will perform a 180 degree pitch maneuver (turning around) to reorient the LCROSS sciene payload towards the receding Centaur. This is the first maneuver performed by the LCROSS spacecraft in a detached configuration. The maneuver takes approximately three minutes.

  • Targeting Accuracy Requirement
    The LCROSS mission has a targeting accuracy requirement of a 12.4 mile (20km) circle, however the team has managed to greatly improve that accuracy to better than a 2.17 mile (3.5 km) circle.

  • LCROSS is on the correct trajectory
    The mission operations team has waived off Trajectory Correction Maneuver (TCM) 10. Spacecraft telemetry indicates that the spacecraft is on the correct trajectory to impact the designated location within Cabeus.

  • Centaur Separation
    Impacts into Cabeus in approximately 12 hours. Impact of the Centaur is currently scheduled for 4:31:19 a.m. PDT followed closely by the impact of the LCROSS Shepherding Spacecraft at 4:35:45 a.m. PDT. These times may change slightly after the LCROSS Navigation team has reviewed the separation and breaking burn data. The final times will be known around 2 a.m. PDT Oct 9th and will be posted here. At impact minus 12 hrs, LCROSS is approximately 29,879 miles (48,086 km) from the moon traveling at 2,691 miles per hour (MPH) or 1.20 kilometers per second (km/s).

  • NASA's LCROSS Mission Changes Impact Crater
    MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. -- 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.

    The general consensus of lunar experts led by the LCROSS science team is that Cabeus shows, with the greatest level of certainty, the highest hydrogen concentrations at the south pole. Further consideration of the most current terrain models provided by JAXA's Kaguya spacecraft and the LRO Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) was important in the decision process.The models show a small valley in an otherwise tall Cabeus perimeter ridge, which will allow for sunlight to illuminate the ejecta cloud on Oct. 9, and much sooner than previously estimated for Cabeus. While the ejecta does have to fly to higher elevations to be observed by Earth assets, a shadow cast by a large hill along the Cabeus ridge, provides an excellent, high-contrast, back drop for ejecta and vapor measurements.

    The LCROSS team concluded that Cabeus provided the best chance for meeting its mission goals. The team critically assessed and successfully advocated for the change with the Lunar Precursor Robotic Program (LPRP) office. The change in impact crater was factored into LCROSS' most recent Trajectory Correction Maneuver, TCM7.

    During the last days of the mission, the LCROSS team will continue to refine the exact point of impact within Cabeus crater to avoid rough spots, and to maximize solar illumination of the debris plume and Earth observations.

  • LCROSS Emergency Status Lifted
    At 5 p.m. (PDT) on Sept. 3, the LCROSS Project took the LCROSS spacecraft off of Emergency status. For the past two weeks, under close, continuous monitoring from the LCROSS mission operations team, the spacecraft has not exhibited any repeat of the anomalous behavior which had caused the spacecraft to consume large amounts of fuel while out of view. All spacecraft systems are operating in a nominal state.

    "I am very proud and impressed by this LCROSS team," said Daniel Andrews, LCROSS project manager. "From the moment we discovered the spacecraft needed help, this team has tirelessly worked mitigations to assure we are able to finish the mission"

    The LCROSS team closely studied the cause of the intermittent Inertial Reference Unit (IRU) data fault and have put additional controls in place to assure a similar situation does not occur again. The team has also retuned the spacecraft control system to optimize fuel efficiency. Nominal fuel efficiency has been improved by a factor of three, while contingency fuel efficiency has been improved by a factor of 100.

    "We have adopted a new miserly approach to the rest of the mission and we anticipate full mission success," Andrews added,

    The spacecraft recently conducted a planned pitch-flip maneuver to maintain good antenna alignment with the Earth, assuring the highest communications rates possible, as the spacecraft entered into it third and final orbit of the Earth before lunar impact.

  • Post-Anomaly Update
    A little more than a week has passed since the discovery of the LCROSS’ propellant-consuming anomaly and the spacecraft remains under close observation by the LCROSS mission operations team and the Deep Space Network. The team has not seen any further anomalous trips from the Inertial Reference Unit (IRU) flags since re-booting the unit after the original anomaly. All spacecraft systems and the Attitude Control System (ACS) are currently operating in a nominal state.

    The flight team is working around the clock monitoring the spacecraft while concurrently developing and testing the on-board mitigations needed to minimize further fuel loss in the event of an anomalous condition. The team has uploaded new software safeguards to prevent a similar situation to protect the spacecraft’s remaining fuel. The team also has implemented a “Prop-Saver mode" to specifically monitor conditions in which excessive propellant might occur, and halt them.

    The LCROSS spacecraft has enough fuel to complete its mission to impact a specific target crater at the lunar South Pole on Oct. 9, 2009. The LCROSS team remains optimistic the spacecraft will be able to return to a normal but guarded operational status in the near future.

  • Spacecraft Anomaly
    Upon starting an early morning communications pass on Aug. 22, 2009, the
    Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission operations
    team discovered the spacecraft had experienced an anomaly.

    According to spacecraft data, the LCROSS Inertial Reference Unit (IRU)
    experienced a fault. The IRU is a sensor used by the spacecraft's attitude
    control system (ACS) to measure the orientation of the spacecraft. The
    anomaly caused the spacecraft ACS to switch to the Star Tracker Assembly for
    spacecraft rate information and caused the spacecraft's thruster to fire
    excessively, consuming a substantial amount of fuel. Initial estimates
    indicate that the spacecraft still contains sufficient fuel to complete the
    full mission.

    LCROSS mission operations declared a 'spacecraft emergency' and were
    allocated additional communications time on the Deep Space Network. The team
    conducted procedures to mitigate the problem and were able to restart the
    IRU and reduce fuel consumption to a nominal level. Automatic operations
    procedures also were implemented to minimize the possibility of another IRU
    anomaly from occurring while the spacecraft is out of contact with the
    ground. Since the re-start, IRU has not experienced any additional problems.

    The team continues to actively assess and mitigate the situation and is in
    contact with the manufacturers of the IRU and star tracker to investigate
    the root cause of the problems. Mission managers remain optimistic the
    LCROSS mission can reach its successful conclusion with projected impact at
    the lunar south pole currently set for 4:30 a.m. PDT on Oct. 9, 2009.

    LCROSS is a low-cost, highly risk-tolerant, fast-tracked mission of
    opportunity that was co-manifest with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Both
    spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on June 18, 2009. The main
    LCROSS mission objective is to confirm the presence of water ice in a
    permanently shadowed region near a lunar pole.

  • Meeting of LCROSS Minds
    Members of the LCROSS science team, observation team, LRO and the lunar community have gathered at NASA Ames to discuss the LCROSS mission status, review results from Lunar Swingby and Earth Look Calibrations, and the final hours of the LCROSS mission- Centaur separation to the impacts on the lunar surface. The LCROSS Science Workshop gives the various participants in the LCROSS mission a chance to meet in person and to provide an update on the work performed since their last meeting.

    During the three-day workshop, the team will be discussing various topics including: LCROSS payload status and observations to date, impact expectation, impact dynamics, target crater selection criteria, permanently shadowed crater characteristics, observation campaign planning, and strategies for observing the impacts. Data presented at the workshop will be used by the LCROSS science team for determining the optimal impact site from the short list of candidate craters. The LCROSS target crater announcement will be released in early September.

  • Halfway Point
    The LCROSS mission operations team successfully completed rehearsals for the
    Centaur and the LCROSS Shepherding Spacecraft impacts into a permanently
    shadowed crater on the lunar south pole. The goal of the impacts starting
    at 4:30 a.m. on Oct 9, 2009 is to search for the presence of water ice.

    On Aug, 13, 2009 at 9:30 p.m. PDT, LCROSS was at the halfway point of the
    mission. The spacecraft was 319,900 miles (514,885, km) from the Earth and
    539,700 miles (868,561 km) from the moon traveling at a speed of 1,774 mph
    (0.79 km/s). LCROSS had traveled approximately 2,753,950 miles (4,432,050
    km). All spacecraft systems remain in a nominal state.

  • Mission Rehearsal: TCM 10 to Braking Burn
    The LCROSS mission operations team is currently rehearsing critical maneuvers that will prepare LCROSS for impact on the moon. The team is practicing Trajectory Correction Maneuver (TCM) 10 through the Shepherding Spacecraft Braking Burn. TCM 10 is the final opportunity for LCROSS mission operations to refine the targeting accuracy of the Centaur impactor at the selected crater. After the burn, the spacecraft will release the Centaur and conduct a 180° turn to point the spacecraft's instruments at the Centaur and the moon. Meanwhile, the team will power-up the science instruments to observe the Centaur as it departs, to estimate Centaur rotation rates following the separation event. The final maneuver for the practice is the Braking Burn where the spacecraft fires thrusters to increase the distance between itself and the Centaur prior to the impact event.

    On impact night, once these maneuvers are complete, the team will concentrate on collecting data from the Centaur impact and relaying it back to Earth before the LCROSS spacecraft also impacts the surface.

  • Mission Rehearsal: TCM 10 to Braking Burn
    The LCROSS mission operations team is currently rehearsing critical maneuvers that will prepare LCROSS for impact on the moon. The team is practicing Trajectory Correction Maneuver (TCM) 10 through the Shepherding Spacecraft Braking Burn. TCM 10 is the final opportunity for LCROSS mission operations to refine the targeting accuracy of the Centaur impactor at the selected crater. After the burn, the spacecraft will release the Centaur and conduct a 180° turn to point the spacecraft's instruments at the Centaur and the moon. Meanwhile, the team will power-up the science instruments to observe the Centaur as it departs, to estimate Centaur rotation rates following the separation event. The final maneuver for the practice is the Braking Burn where the spacecraft fires thrusters to increase the distance between itself and the Centaur prior to the impact event.

    On impact night, once these maneuvers are complete, the team will concentrate on collecting data from the Centaur impact and relaying it back to Earth before the LCROSS spacecraft also impacts the surface.

  • Successful FIRST LGALRO
    LCROSS recently completed the first of three polar Earth orbits on its 9
    million km journey to the moon by successfully completing two mission
    activities, the Cold-Side Bake on July 31 and the Earth-Look Calibration on
    Aug.1. The operations teams are evaluating the need for additional Cold-Side
    Bakes and two additional science instrument calibrations, using the Earth
    and the moon as targets, are planned for the remainder of the LCROSS cruise
    phase.

    During the latest communications pass with LCROSS, the spacecraft reported
    all systems remain in a nominal state. At 9:30 a.m. PDT, the spacecraft was
    254,100 miles (408,900 km) for Earth and 447,500 miles (720,200 km) from the
    moon and traveling at 2290 mile per hour (1.02 km/sec. Total miles logged to
    date, 2,351,640 miles (3,784,600 km).

  • Cold-Side Bake
    Yesterday, LCROSS mission operations completed a cold-side bake of the LCROSS spacecraft and Centaur. Since there are no moving parts on LCROSS , the entire spacecraft is rotated to orient the solar arrays towards the sun. The side of the spacecraft and Centaur facing the sun gets very warm while the shaded side stays very cold. The purpose of this maneuver is to expose the cold side to the sun in order to remove any water or other volatiles that may still be present following launch. LCROSS Mission Operations plans on conducting further cold-side bakes to ensure the spacecraft and Centaur are free of any contaminants that may decrease targeting accuracy or complicate the interpretation of impact observations.

    Today, the LCROSS science payload will be activated and pointed at the Earth. This activity is designed to further refine the calibrations of the LCROSS science instruments. The spacecraft will be approximately 224,600 mile (361,460 km) from the Earth traveling at 2,570 mph (1.14 km/sec) during the calibrations.

    Tonight, if you are in the SF Bay area, join us for ‘Observe the Moon Night’ at NASA Ames from 8:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. PDT.

  • PLAR Passed
    The LCROSS mission has passed another milestone on its incredible journey in search of water on the moon. Yesterday, the LCROSS mission team passed their Post Launch Assessment Review with flying colors! The review looked at mission events, milestones, procedures, concerns and upcoming goals and action items as the team looks forward to mission completion.

    Upcoming mission milestones and activities: Cold-side bake- July 30, Completion of first LGALRO- July 31 and Earth Calibration of the science payload- Aug. 1.

    At 4:30 a.m. PDT, the spacecraft was 222,280 miles (357,725, km) from the Earth and 457,615 miles (736,460 km) from the moon traveling at a speed of 2,590 mph (1.16 km/s). LCROSS has traveled approximately 1,788,300 miles (3,284,500 km). All spacecraft systems remain in a nominal state.

  • Modular Design
    One of the innovations of the LCROSS shepherding spacecraft is its modular design. The spacecraft consisted of an ESPA ring and fuel tank as the spacecraft’s central hub surrounded five equipment panels and a solar array. This design feature saved valuable time by allowing the LCROSS science payload to be built at NASA Ames, Moffett Field, Calif., as the rest of the spacecraft was being built 364 miles south at the Northrop Grumman facility in Redondo Beach, Calif. In January of 2008, the LCROSS science payload, built on panel 6, was shipped to Northrop Grumman to be plugged into the rest of the spacecraft.

    At 11:30 p.m. PDT, the spacecraft was 247,834 miles (398,850 km) from the Earth and 442,440 miles (712,035 km) from the moon traveling at a speed of 2,354 mph (1.05 km/s). LCROSS has traveled approximately 1,788,300 miles (2,878,000 km). All spacecraft systems remain in a nominal state.

  • TCM 5
    Yesterday, at 6:00 a.m. PTD, the LCROSS spacecraft successfully completed the first and largest of several post-lunar flyby trajectory correction maneuvers (TCM) to target a nominal impact time of 4:30 a.m. PDT on October 9, 2009. During the maneuver, LCROSS mission operations performed a burn of nearly 30 minutes with an associated delta V, or change of velocity, of 69 feet per second (21 m/s). Firing thrusters basically perpendicular to the spacecraft’s direction of travel, the maneuver rotated the LCROSS orbit plane to intercept the moon at the baseline impact time that will accommodate coverage of the impact by key observatories in Hawaii and western continental states. Preliminary evaluations indicate that maneuver execution was nominal.

    At the 4:40 p.m. PDT the spacecraft is traveling at approximately 2029 mph (0.91 m/s ) and has logged more than 1,563,300 miles (2,515,880 km).

  • Moonfest a Success!
    Moonfest 2009, hosted by the LCROSS mission and the NASA Lunar Science Institute at NASA Ames Research Center, this past Sunday was a great success. More than 11,000 people braved the heat and traffic to join in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the moon landings, the LCROSS mission and space exploration! Stay tuned for images from the event.

    LCROSS mission operations is preparing for the next milestone in the mission- Trajectory Correction Maneuver (TCM) 5. This TCM is a major burn and will refine the spacecraft’s course for impact in 80 days.

    At 4:30 a.m. PDT, the spacecraft was 306,100 miles (492,580 km) from the Earth 482,600 miles (776,740 km) from the moon traveling at a speed of 1,949 mph (0.87 km/s). LCROSS has traveled approximately 1,491,600 miles (2,400,500 km). All spacecraft systems remain in a nominal state.

  • Moonfest Celebration this Sunday
    On Sunday July 19, 2009, from noon to 6 p.m. PDT, NASA’s Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., is hosting Moonfest 2009, a family friendly event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first steps on the moon to NASA's current robotic missions to the moon and beyond. The event is free and everyone is welcome.

    This event will be focused on NASA’s Apollo 11 moon mission and showcase current and future missions to the moon including NASA Ames’ Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite or LCROSS mission. The day will include scientific talks, model rocket launches, musical performances, and more.

    For more information, visit:
    http://moonfest.arc.nasa.gov

    At approximately 5:30 a.m. PDT, the spacecraft was 342,700 miles (551,500_km) from the Earth 469,600 miles (755,700 km) from the moon traveling at a speed of 1,764 mph (0.788 km/s). LCROSS has traveled approximately 1,271,700 miles (2,046,600 km). All spacecraft systems remain in a nominal state.

  • Moonfest Celebration this Sunday
    On Sunday July 19, 2009, from noon to 6 p.m. PDT, NASA’s Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., is hosting Moonfest 2009, a family-friendly event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first steps on the moon to NASA's current robotic missions to the moon and beyond. The event is free and everyone is welcome.

    This event will be focused on NASA’s Apollo 11 moon mission and showcase current and future missions to the moon including NASA Ames’ Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite or LCROSS mission. The day will include scientific talks, model rocket launches, musical performances, and more.

    For more information, visit:
    http://moonfest.arc.nasa.gov

    At approximately 5:30 a.m. PDT, the spacecraft was 342,700 miles (551,500 km) from the Earth 469,600 miles (755,700 km) from the moon traveling at a speed of 1,764 mph (0.788 km/s). LCROSS has traveled approximately 1,271,700 miles (2,046,600 km). All spacecraft systems remain in a nominal state.

  • Moonfest on July 19,2009
    This Sunday, July 19, 2009 from noon to 6 p.m. PDT NASA’s Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., is hosting Moonfest 2009, a family friendly event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first steps on the moon to NASA's current robotic missions to the moon and beyond.

    This event will be focused on NASA’s Apollo 11 moon mission and showcase current and future missions to the moon including NASA Ames’ Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite or LCROSS. The day will include scientific talks, model rocket launches, musical performances, and more. Everyone is welcome.

    For more information, visit:
    http://moonfest.arc.nasa.gov

    At 5:30 p.m. PDT, the spacecraft was 345,400 miles (555,890 km) from Earth and 460,400 miles (740,980 km) from the moon traveling at a speed of 1,750 mph (0.78 m/s). The spacecraft has traveled 1,250,600 miles (2,012,600 km). All spacecraft systems remain in a nominal state.

  • Ruggedizing Science Instruments
    The commercially available instruments picked for the LCROSS payload suite may be rugged, but they were not qualified for space. First, they needed to go through 'Shake and Bake!'

    From the violent vibration of launch to the vacuum of space, spaceflight is a very hostile environment. To ensure the instruments could survive, function properly and meet requirements, the LCROSS team worked with the vendors to modify the units as appropriate, then put the instruments though a rigorous series of tests. All of the instruments were tested on a shake table and put through many thermal cycles (heating and cooling) in a vacuum chamber. These tests pushed the instruments beyond the conditions they most likely would experience during the mission and some failed. The manufacturers of these instruments, all small companies, were very motivated and adept at fixing problems. With a short turn-around, they were able to provide instruments that the science team would be confident to certify as flight ready.

    A win-win! These small companies can say they have a space rated instrument and LCROSS gets a very capable suite of cost effective instruments.

    At 4:30 a.m. PDT, the spacecraft was 356,200 miles (573,200 km) from Earth and 405,300 miles (652,300 km) from the moon traveling at a speed of 1,697 mph (0.758 m/s). The spacecraft has traveled 1,145,500 miles (1,843,500 km). All spacecraft systems remain in a nominal state. 88 days until impact!

  • Commercially Available Instruments
    How do you develop a spacecraft science payload fast and on a budget? You re-purpose commercially available instruments for your needs.

    When LCROSS was selected on April 2006, the science team had to get some instruments quickly (ready for an original launch date of October 2008) and for relatively little money; they looked at what was already available on the market. Armed with a list of specifications to fulfill the mission measurement goals, the team found rugged instruments used in a variety of industry applications that could be modified to become flight hardware. Could a hand-held thermal camera used to monitor racecar engines, a spectrometer used in the recycling of carpet, a rocket camera and other commercially available products be re-purposed into a NASA science payload? The answer is YES! ...and on schedule and under budget, too.

    At 10:30 p.m. PDT, the spacecraft was 360,900 miles (580,900 km) from Earth and 344,200 miles (553,900 km) from the moon traveling at a speed of 1,668 mph (0.745 m/s). Mission operations contacted the spacecraft a few hours ago and all systems remain in a nominal state. 90 days until impact!

  • Moonfest 2009: From Apollo to LCROSS, and Beyond
    On July 19, 2009, NASA's Ames Research Center is hosting Moonfest 2009, a
    family friendly event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first steps
    on the moon to NASA's current robotic missions to the moon and beyond.

    This event will be focused on NASA's Apollo 11 moon mission and showcase
    current and future missions to the moon including NASA Ames' Lunar CRater
    Observation and Sensing Satellite or LCROSS. The day will include scientific
    talks, model rocket launches, musical performances, and more.

    For more information, visit:
    http://moonfest.arc.nasa.gov

    At approximately 1:30 p.m. PDT, the spacecraft was 360,400 miles (580,000
    km) from the Earth and 285,300 miles (459,200 km) from the moon traveling at
    a speed of 1,663 mph (0.74 km/s). LCROSS has traveled approximately
    1,544,800 miles. All spacecraft systems remain in a nominal state.

  • Moonfest 2009: From Apollo to LCROSS, and Beyond
    On July 19, 2009, NASA’s Ames Research Center is hosting Moonfest 2009, a family friendly event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first steps on the moon to NASA’s current robotic missions to the moon and beyond.

    This event will be focused on NASA’s Apollo 11 moon mission and showcase current and future missions to the moon including NASA Ames’ Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite or LCROSS. The day will include scientific talks, model rocket launches, musical performances, and more. Check the Moonfest website for the latest details.

    http://moonfest.arc.nasa.gov

    At approximately 1:00 a.m. PDT, the spacecraft was 347,400 miles (559,100 km) from the Earth and 243,300 miles (392,300 km) from the moon traveling at a speed of 1,721 mph (0.77 km/s). LCROSS has traveled approximately 1,314,400 miles. All spacecraft systems remain in a nominal state.

  • The ESPA Ring
    The LCROSS mission is full of firsts and "out of the box" uses for different pieces of flight hardware and commercially available components. One of these firsts was use of the ESPA (EELV Secondary Payload Adapter) ring as the backbone of the LCROSS spacecraft. Originally developed as a structural component to launch small secondary payloads, the LCROSS team saw the potential to develop a highly modular, easily assembled spacecraft. At times during the building of LCROSS at the Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems facility in Redondo Beach, Calif., the spacecraft resembled a flower. The ESPA ring and fuel tank formed the center of the flower with the petals being represented by the panels containing the spacecrafts systems as they were unbolted from the ESPA ring and laid flat on worktables.

    At approximately 4:30 p.m. PDT, the spacecraft was 338,300 miles (544,500 km) from Earth and 241,900 miles (389,300 km) from the moon. The spacecraft is traveling at 1,770 mph (0.79 km/s) and has traveled a distance of 760,900 miles (1,224,500 km). Impact in 97 days! All spacecraft systems remain in a nominal state.

  • Selection of LCROSS
    When the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) upgraded to an Atlas V launch system, NASA requested proposals for a companion mission to take advantage of the launch vehicle’s extra payload capability. The companion mission could not exceed 1000 kg, cost no more than $80 million and had to be ready to launch when LRO was ready. The Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite proposal was for a total cost of $79 million.

    Nineteen exciting proposals from NASA Centers and industry partners were submitted in response to the request for proposals. In April 2006, the proposal from NASA’s Ames Research Center in partnership with Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems was selected. A small, dynamic team was assembled and the rest is history!

    At 5:30 p.m. PDT the spacecraft was 320,700 miles (516,100 km) from the Earth and 241,200 miles (388,200 km) from the moon traveling at a speed of .052 miles/sec (0.84 km/s). All spacecraft systems remain in a nominal state.

  • Moonfest 2009: From Apollo to LCROSS, and Beyond
    On July 19, 2009, NASA’s Ames Research Center is hosting Moonfest 2009, a family friendly event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first steps on the moon to NASA’s current robotic missions to the moon and beyond.

    This event will be focused on NASA’s Apollo 11 moon mission and showcase current and future missions to the moon including NASA Ames’ Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite or LCROSS. The day will include scientific talks, model rocket launches, musical performances, and more.

    For more information, visit:
    http://moonfest.arc.nasa.gov

    The LCROSS mission operations communicated with the spacecraft at about 1 p.m. PDT during the scheduled communications window. The spacecraft is 309,900 miles (498,700 km) from the Earth and 236,200 miles (380,200 km) from the moon traveling at a speed of 0.88 km/s. All spacecraft systems remain in a nominal state.

  • Amateur Observations
    The LCROSS Observation Campaign is not restricted to professional astronomers. A very excited community of amateur astronomers will be observing the LCROSS impacts. Mission scientists estimate that the Centaur impact plume will be visible from Earth, west of the Mississippi, through amateur-class telescopes with apertures greater than 10 inches. The LCROSS science team is actively soliciting images from the public. The amateur community has already helped increase the image database of the lunar south pole and helped with refining procedures for targeting the impact site.

    To participate in the LCROSS Amateur Observation Campaign, visit:
    http://groups.google.com/group/lcross_observation

    At 7:00 p.m. PDT, the spacecraft was approximately 298,300 miles (480,000 km) from Earth and 229,300 miles (369,000 km) from the moon traveling at a speed of 0.92 km/s. All spacecraft systems remain in a nominal state.

  • Professional Observatories
    The LCROSS mission has a robust observation campaign. Teams of professional astronomers are using some of the most powerful observatories to view the LCROSS impacts and after effects. The observatories planning to participate are: Lunar Orbit- Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, Chandrayaan-1; Low Earth Orbit- Hubble Space Telescope, Odin; Hawaii- Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, Infrared Telescope Facility, Keck, Gemini North, Subaru, Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing Site; Continental United States- Apache Point Observatory, MMT Observatory, Magdalena Ridge Observatory, Mount Wilson Observatory, Automated Lunar and Meteor Observatory, Allen Telescope Array; International- South Africa Large Telescope and the Korea Astronomy and Space Institute.

    On impact night, the LCROSS science team will be sharing real-time information about the exact time and location of the impacts. The ejecta clouds produced by the impacts should be in view of Earth assets several seconds after impact and will peak in brightness around 30-100 seconds after impact.

  • Payload Bakeout
    By design, the science instruments on LCROSS are very sensitive to water. On Earth, water or its components are absorbed by many materials, including wire insulation, that make up the science payload. To help remove this water, the mission operations team sends a command to turn the science payload heaters on. The elevated temperatures produced by the heaters speed up the out-gassing of any water onto space, helping prevent any anomalous water readings during impact.

    At 12:00 p.m. PDT, the spacecraft was approximately 256,000 miles (412,000 km) from Earth and 154,700 miles (249,000 km) from the moon in LCROSS’ unusual orbit around the Earth. Due to the accuracy of the orbital trajectory measured after Lunar swing-by, an upcoming planned Trajectory Correction Maneuver has been deemed not necessary. All spacecraft systems remain in a nominal state.

  • Cruise Phase Communications
    During the cruise phase of the mission, LCROSS mission operations will
    eventually have a regularly scheduled communications window with the
    spacecraft of three hours every three days through the Deep Space Network.
    LCROSS mission operations will ease into this schedule with more frequent
    communications windows that decrease as the mission progresses. The mission
    operations re-established communications with LCROSS at approximately 12:00
    p.m. PDT after the first scheduled communications outage. The spacecraft
    reported all systems nominal.

    At 2:30 p.m. PDT, the spacecraft was approximately 246,000 miles (395,000
    km) from the Earth and 122,000 miles (196,000 km) from the moon. During this
    portion of the LGALRO, spacecraft is currently moving away from both the
    Earth and the moon.

    If you are interested in hearing about the mission from the flight
    director's perspective, read the LCROSS Flight Director's blog at
    http://blogs.nasa.gov/cm/blog/lcrossfdblog.

  • Beginning of Cruise
    The LCROSS spacecraft is now in the cruise phase of the mission. At 12:00 noon PDT, spacecraft was approximately 380,000 km from the Earth in an unusual orbit call a Lunar-Gravity Assist, Lunar-Return Orbit or LGALRO. Each orbit takes approximately 37 days and the spacecraft will make about three orbits. On Oct. 9, 2009, the spacecraft and moon will meet in space. Visit the Swingby page to view images that can help explain LCROSS' LGALRO flight path.

  • Swingby Complete
    The LCROSS spacecraft has successfully completed its swingby of the Moon and is being steered back into normal cruise mode. This swingby has provided a gravity assist into the LCROSS cruise orbit. During this cruise phase, the operations team will evaluate the spacecraft's health and status. The LCROSS spacecraft won't be "up close and personal" with the moon again until the day of impact on October 9, 2009!

  • Second Limb Crossing
    The LCROSS spacecraft is 6,609 miles (10,636 km) from the Moon and doing the second limb crossing. This limb crossing is orientated 90 degrees from the first limb crossing. The same commands to point the payload three degrees above and three degrees below the limb are performed.

  • Scanning the Limb
    The LCROSS spacecraft is 6,209 miles (9,992 km) from the Moon and doing the first limb crossing. During this limb crossing, the spacecraft is commanded to point three degrees above and below the limb.

  • Lunar Limb
    The LCROSS spacecraft is now being steered to look at the lunar limb or horizon. This is a technique used for alignment.

  • Third Crater
    The LCROSS spacecraft is now maneuvering to its third (and final) target, Giordano Bruno located at 35.9 degrees North latitude and 102.8 degrees East longitude. Giordano Bruno is a relatively young crater (350 million years old) at the center of a system of bright rays.

  • Second Crater
    The LCROSS spacecraft is now maneuvering to the second target which is the Goddard C crater complex located at 15.6 degrees North latitude and 84.3 degrees East longitude. The spacecraft is targeting a worn iron-rich crater with mare basalt flows mixed with rugged highlands-type material.

  • First Crater
    The LCROSS spacecraft is currently 5,022 miles (8,082 km) from the moon. The spacecraft payload is collecting data of the Mendeleev region of the moon (located at 5.7 degrees North latitude, 140.9 degrees East longitude). Mendeleev is a large, ancient impact basin with relatively uniform floor deposits. Mendeleev is located on the far-side of the Moon (not visible from Earth), and the uniformity of the region provides a good calibration target for the down-looking LCROSS instruments.

  • Powered Up
    The science instruments onboard the LCROSS spacecraft are now being powered in preparation for lunar swingby. The science instruments within the LCROSS payload that will be used for swingby include a visible camera, 2 near-infrared cameras, 2 mid-infrared cameras, visible spectrometer, and 2 near-infrared spectrometers. One of the near-infrared spectrometers will be looking within 10 degrees of the sun during this activity. All other instruments are positioned to look downward towards the lunar surface.

  • Medium Gain Antenna
    The LCROSS spacecraft is now conducting a yaw/roll to orient the spacecraft antennas towards the Earth. This lunar swingby is the first test of the Medium Gain Antenna (MGA) during the mission. The MGA is used to support the highest download rate for science data.

  • Automated Timed Sequence
    The LCROSS mission operations team at NASA's Ames Research Center has issued the start of an automated timed sequence to command the spacecraft into the proper orientation to collect observations of the lunar surface.

  • Periselene
    LCROSS has reached periselene at 3:30:33 a.m. PDT. This is where LCROSS is at its closest approach to the moon during lunar swing-by. The spacecraft is 1,988 miles (3200 km) from the moon.

  • Streaming Coverage of the Lunar Swingby
    The flight team successfully completed the third trajectory correction
    maneuver (TCM) at approximately 4:00 a.m. PDT as the spacecraft prepares to
    execute its lunar swingby. At 6:00 a.m. PDT the spacecraft was approximately
    218,000 miles (350,000 km) from the Earth and 47,000 miles (75,000 km) from
    the moon. All systems nominal.

    The science operations team, successfully conducted a star field calibration
    of the science instruments. The team pointed the LCROSS cameras and
    spectrometers at a known pattern of stars. With the star Altair in the field
    of view of the ultraviolet/visible spectrometer, the team checked the
    post-launch instrument alignment of the science instruments. During this
    activity the Telescope Aperture Door Assembly (TADA) is open. This door
    protects the very sensitive spectrometers and total luminance photometer
    from inadvertent exposure to light.

    At approximately, 3:30 PDT on June 23, the spacecraft will make its closest
    approach to the moon or periselene. LCROSS will then perform the lunar flyby
    maneuver traveling south to north along the far-side of the moon. The
    spacecraft will conduct a survey of selected sites on the moon and the lunar
    horizon. Stay tuned for live streaming coverage of the lunar swingby
    starting at 5:20 a.m. PDT!

  • Updates for June 20th
    The flight operations team successfully completed the second trajectory correction maneuver and the spacecraft is steadily approaching the moon. At 5:00 p.m. PDT the spacecraft was approximately 125,000 miles (200,000 km) from the moon. All spacecraft systems nominal.

    The science operations team, successfully powered up the spacecraft’s science payload and looked into deep space to assess the health of the cameras and spectrometers. All instruments are in good health and appear to be returning good data.

    Upcoming mission events:
    TCM 3 (6/22)
    Star Field Calibration (6/22)
    Periselene (6/23)
    Lunar Swingby Calibration (6/23)

  • Updates for June 19th
    Flight operations team has tested payload and instruments are functional. Perfect performance!

    First trajectory correction maneuver completed.

    LCROSS is currently on its way to swing-by the moon. Closest approach is timed for June 23, 2009 at 6:28 AM EDT. Then LCROSS goes into a Lunar Gravity Assist Lunar Return Orbit (LGALRO) for 113 days until impacting the Lunar south pole on Oct 9, 2009 at 7:30 AM EDT. Flight team will refine impact location and time 30 days prior to impact - so check back then for the most up-to-date and refined info!

    Flight operations team (at NASA Ames Research Center in California) is now in control of pointing & orientation in space (attitude).

    Solar arrays are deployed and facing the Sun. Communications back to Earth are working.

  • Successful Spacecraft Separation
    NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, successfully separated from the Centaur upper stage and Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, spacecraft at 6:16:43 p.m. EDT.

    The official transfer of control from the Centaur rocket to LCROSS is expected about 9:30 p.m. EDT.

    LRO is on schedule to reach the moon on June 23 at 5:43 a.m. EDT.

    LCROSS and the Centaur rocket will stay attached for the next four months. They will then separate and be directed to impact the moon on Oct. 9, 2009.

  • Launch Success
    NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter launched at 5:32 p.m. EDT aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The satellite will relay more information about the lunar environment than any other previous mission to the moon.

    The orbiter, known as LRO, separated from the Atlas V rocket carrying it and a companion mission, the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite. The LCROSS handoff is expected to occur in about two hours and 10 minutes.

  • LRO and LCROSS Race for the Moon
    The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has separated from the Centaur upper stage and LCROSS spacecraft. LRO is on its way to the Moon. The trip will take about four days.

    Meanwhile the LCROSS spacecraft will stay connected to the Centaur upper stage and enter into a long orbit around the moon and Earth that will terminate in their planned impact into the lunar south pole.

  • Lunar Spacecraft Launch to Moon!
    The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite are bound for the moon after a flawless liftoff from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida aboard an Atlas V rocket.

    The Atlas V roared off the launch pad at Launch Complex 41 at 5:32 p.m. EDT to begin NASA's return to the moon missions.

  • Countdown Enters Final Minutes
    Mission managers have announced a "go" for the last launch attempt at 5:32 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

    The launch of two missions to the moon marks the first lunar foray for NASA's Constellation Program that aims to return humans to the lunar surface.

    The pair of spacecraft at the top of the Atlas V rocket are loaded with instruments to survey and document conditions on the moon, look for possible landing sites and evaluate the possibility that the moon's surface contains water or water vapor.

  • Last Launch Opportunity Chosen
    No technical issues have arisen for an on-time liftoff, but mission managers have decided for a launch attempt on the last opportunity of the day, at 5:32 p.m. EDT, in hopes the storm cell will move away from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

    If the launch slips to Friday, June 19, the launch opportunities would be 6:41 p.m., 6:51 p.m. and 7:01 p.m. EDT.

  • Atlas and Centaur Fueling Completed
    Fueling of the Atlas rocket and its Centaur upper stage has concluded. Small amounts will be replaced as the countdown continues to keep the fuel at flight levels for launch.

    No technical issues have arisen for an on-time liftoff, but mission managers continue to monitor the approaching storm clouds closing in on Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

    Today's launch opportunities at 5:12 p.m., 5:22 p.m. and 5:32 p.m. EDT could provide enough time for the Atlas V to lift off after the storm passes.

  • Storm Watch Over Launch Site
    Mission weather officers are monitoring a potential storm cell expected within the next hour.

    Fueling of the Atlas V/Centaur second stage will continue on schedule right now while mission managers look for the weather to clear before launch time.

    Today's launch opportunities at 5:12 p.m., 5:22 p.m. and 5:32 p.m. EDT could provide enough time for the Atlas V to lift off after the storm passes.

  • Fueling Under Way for Atlas V
    Supercold propellants are flowing into the first and second stages of the Atlas V rocket as it proceeds smoothly toward today's scheduled liftoff at 5:12 p.m. EDT.

    The first stage of the Atlas V uses highly refined kerosene and liquid oxygen to power its two main engines. The upper stage, known as Centaur, uses liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, just like the three main engines on the space shuttle.

    Launch Services Program officials including the launch director are watching the fueling and other processes carefully from NASA's Mission Director's Control Center at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, a short distance from the launch pad.

    The launch team is not working any technical issues now and the weather forecast remains 60 percent favorable for liftoff.

  • NASA's Return to the Moon on Track
    NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite are set to lift off together aboard an Atlas V rocket today at 5:12 p.m. EDT. The forecast looks promising with only a 40 percent chance that weather could hamper this afternoon's launch.

    Two additional launch opportunities also are available at 5:22 p.m. and 5:32 p.m.

    Live launch coverage is available on NASA TV at www.nasa.gov/ntv and up-to-the minute countdown milestones can be found on NASA's Launch Blog.

  • LRO/LCROSS Launch Day Arrives
    NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite are set to lift off together aboard an Atlas V rocket today at 5:12 p.m. EDT. Two additional launch opportunities also are available at 5:22 p.m. and 5:32 p.m.

    Live coverage begins at 2 p.m. on NASA TV at www.nasa.gov/ntv and up-to-the minute countdown milestones can be found on NASA's Launch Blog.

  • LRO/LCROSS Launch Date Set
    NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite are set to lift off together aboard an Atlas V rocket on Thursday, June 18, at 5:12 p.m. EDT. Two additional launch opportunities are available at 5:22 p.m. and 5:32 p.m.

    In preparation for liftoff, the Atlas V launch vehicle is scheduled to roll out to the pad Wednesday at 10 a.m.

    Countdown milestones can be found on NASA's Launch Blog beginning at 2 p.m. EDT.

  • New Launch Date Set
    As a result of the rescheduling of space shuttle Endeavour's STS-127 mission for June 17, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite are now set to lift off together aboard an Atlas V rocket on Thursday, June 18.

    There will be three launch opportunities from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 5:12 p.m., 5:22 p.m. and 5:32 p.m. EDT.

  • LRO/LCROSS Closer to Launch
    The Flight Readiness Review for LRO/LCROSS was held June 10, and there were no issues or concerns that would preclude a launch on June 17.

    On June 11, a mission dress rehearsal was conducted. This was a high-fidelity exercise for the launch team, affirming their readiness for the countdown.

    The Atlas V and LRO/LCROSS spacecraft have been undergoing prelaunch preparations in the Vertical Integration Facility adjacent to the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The spacecraft closeouts for flight were completed June 10.

    In preparation for launch, the Atlas V launch vehicle with LRO/LCROSS atop is scheduled to be rolled out to the pad June 16 at 10 a.m. EDT.

    The countdown on launch day will start at 8:41 a.m. for a liftoff targeted for 3:51 p.m.

    Watch the LRO/LCROSS prelaunch news conference set for today at 1 p.m. EDT broadcast on NASA TV.

  • LRO/LCROSS Launch Moves Forward
    The launch and mission teams for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Spacecraft missions met on Wednesday in Florida for the Flight Readiness Review, or FRR.

    The teams announced that there are no major issues or concerns to hamper launch at this time.

    Final spacecraft closeouts are underway at the launch pad and countdown dress rehearsal activities are planned for all day Thursday.

    A Launch Readiness Review, or LRR, is scheduled for Monday at 9 a.m. EDT. A prelaunch news conference will be held after the LRR and is planned for 1 p.m. EDT. The briefing will be broadcast live from the news center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on NASA TV.

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