7/31/99
Does the Moon Have H2O???
Who the &#% cares???
People are dying on earth for lack of water.
Something BBC conveniently failed to mention.
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Probe smashes into Moon
Impression of Lunar Prospector's final moments
Observatories all over the world are analysing data
from the crash of a Nasa spacecraft into the Moon to
see whether it has revealed the presence of water.
The space agency said Lunar Prospector landed on target,
deep within a lunar crater near the Moon's south pole.
Nasa is hoping the impact, calculated at 6,000 km/h (3,800 mph),
has sent up a plume of water vapour from what
are believed to be ice formations near the pole.
So far there has been no direct sighting of debris
and observatories around the world are watching
to see if any ice was melted, generating water vapour.
"Initial reports indicate that no plume
was visible at the expected impact time,"
said a Nasa spokesman.
Close-up of the impact point
The discovery of water on the Moon could
open the way to future lunar exploration and
even the establishment of a lunar base.
A secondary mission for the spacecraft was to
deposit the cremated remains of the renowned
astronomer Eugene Shoemaker, making him the
first person to be buried on another world.
Cautious optimism
Toby Murcott of BBC Science:
"The discovery of water could open the way to future lunar exploration"
Nasa scientists were wary of being too optimistic
that they would hit the right part of the moon.
"This is a low probability of success,"
said Dr Lisa Chu-Thielbar, a Nasa spokeswoman.
"In fact its been calculated at about 10% success."
"But it's still worth doing because the possible result is terrific."
Nasa insists that regardless of the outcome of this "final bold experiment",
Lunar Prospector has yielded "a gold mine of science data".
"We now have invaluable global maps of the Moon's
gravitational and magnetic fields, and the distribution
of its key elements, giving us a much better understanding
of the origin, evolution and composition of our rocky neighbour,"
said Dr Henry McDonald, director of Nasa's Ames Research Center.
'Outstanding mission'
After its launch in January 1998 and subsequent entry
into orbit over the lunar poles, instruments on board
the Lunar Prospector began surveying the Moon.
Among its discoveries:
- Tentative evidence of ice in permanently-shadowed craters near both poles
- The first precise gravity map of the entire lunar surface
- Confirmation of the presence of local magnetic fields that create the two smallest magnetospheres in the Solar System
- The first global maps of the Moon's elemental composition
Shoemaker honoured in death
The "burial" of one ounce of Eugene Shoemaker's ashes
is a rare honour accorded to a member of the space community.
Mr Shoemaker co-discovered the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9,
which collided with the planet Jupiter in 1994.
The renowned astro-geologist, was killed in a car crash two years ago.
"He is the very first human inhabitant of Earth
to be laid to rest on another celestial body,"
said Carolyn Porco, a University of Arizona professor
and Shoemaker's college on Nasa's Voyager expeditions.
"That's very significant because it says we have
arrived at our place in the solar system, the
solar system is our own and it's beckoning us."
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If the quotes in this report are true it shows that NASA is
composed of some really insane, short-sighted people.
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