Kaguya impacts lunar surface
Posted: Thu, Jun 11, 2009, 7:42 AM ET (1142 GMT)
A Japanese spacecraft completed its mission Wednesday by crashing to the lunar surface. The Japanese space agency JAXA confirmed that the Kaguya spacecraft hit the lunar surface at 2:25 pm EDT (1825 GMT) Wednesday in the Moon's southern hemisphere. The impact point was in darkness, and a flash apparently caused by the impact was observed by at least one telescope on Earth. The orbiter, launched in September 2007, had been gradually lowering its orbit in recent months in preparation for the impact. The impact comes just a week before the launch of another Moon mission, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. A second spacecraft on that launch, LCROSS, will observe the impact of the rocket's upper stage on the Moon before colliding with the Moon itself.
A Japanese spacecraft completed its mission Wednesday by crashing to the lunar surface. The Japanese space agency JAXA confirmed that the Kaguya spacecraft hit the lunar surface at 2:25 pm EDT (1825 GMT) Wednesday in the Moon's southern hemisphere. The impact point was in darkness, and a flash apparently caused by the impact was observed by at least one telescope on Earth. The orbiter, launched in September 2007, had been gradually lowering its orbit in recent months in preparation for the impact. The impact comes just a week before the launch of another Moon mission, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. A second spacecraft on that launch, LCROSS, will observe the impact of the rocket's upper stage on the Moon before colliding with the Moon itself.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Monday, April 21
Moving would have ‘enormous cost’; Mayor Mobolade calls for Space Command to stay put
KRDO-TV Colorado Springs — 6:26 am ET (1026 GMT) SpaceX launches third fleet of spy satellites in 8 days
UPI — 6:24 am ET (1024 GMT) Sorry Katy Perry, you are no firework in space exploration
The Scotsman — 6:22 am ET (1022 GMT) He Was a Prophet of Space Travel. His Ashes Were Found in a Basement.
New York Times — 6:18 am ET (1018 GMT) Isro's SpaDeX satellites complete second docking successfully, more tests to follow
India Today — 6:16 am ET (1016 GMT) |
