NASA's LRO Sees GRAIL's Explosive Farewell

On December 17, 2012, NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission came to an explosive end. The twin spacecraft, Ebb and Flow, were intentionally crashed into a lunar mountain near the Moon's north pole. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) captured images of the impact site and revealed new insights into the Moon's composition and history.

What is GRAIL?

The GRAIL mission was launched in September 2011 with the goal of mapping the Moon's gravitational field. The twin spacecraft, Ebb and Flow, orbited the Moon in tandem, using radio signals to measure tiny variations in gravity caused by mountains, craters, and other features on the lunar surface.

Why did GRAIL end with an explosion?

After completing their primary mission objectives, Ebb and Flow were running low on fuel. Rather than leaving them in orbit indefinitely, NASA decided to end the mission with a controlled impact. By crashing the spacecraft into a mountain near the Moon's north pole, NASA was able to collect valuable data about the Moon's interior structure.

What did LRO see?

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) captured images of the impact site just hours after Ebb and Flow crashed into the lunar surface. The images revealed a bright flash of light followed by a plume of debris that rose more than 6 miles (10 kilometers) above the surface.

What did scientists learn from GRAIL?

By analyzing data from GRAIL and LRO, scientists were able to create detailed maps of the Moon's gravitational field. These maps revealed that the Moon's crust is much thinner than previously thought, with large holes and gaps beneath the surface.

The impact site also provided new insights into the Moon's composition. Analysis of the debris plume revealed that it contained a mix of materials, including water ice, which had been hidden in shadowed craters near the Moon's north pole.

What are the implications of these findings?

The discovery of water ice on the Moon has important implications for future lunar exploration. Water can be used to produce oxygen for breathing and hydrogen for rocket fuel, making it a valuable resource for human missions to the Moon and beyond.

The thin crust and large gaps beneath the Moon's surface also suggest that the Moon may have a more complex interior structure than previously thought. This could provide clues about how the Moon formed and evolved over time.

Conclusion

The GRAIL mission may have come to an explosive end, but it provided valuable insights into the Moon's composition and history. By crashing Ebb and Flow into a lunar mountain, NASA was able to collect data that will help scientists better understand our nearest neighbor in space.

FAQs

1. What was the primary goal of the GRAIL mission?

- The primary goal of the GRAIL mission was to map the Moon's gravitational field.

2. Why did NASA end the GRAIL mission with an explosion?

- NASA ended the GRAIL mission with an explosion because Ebb and Flow were running low on fuel and it was more useful to crash them into a mountain near the Moon's north pole to collect data about the Moon's interior structure.

3. What did LRO see after Ebb and Flow crashed into the lunar surface?

- LRO captured images of a bright flash of light followed by a plume of debris that rose more than 6 miles (10 kilometers) above the surface.

4. What did scientists learn from GRAIL?

- Scientists learned that the Moon's crust is much thinner than previously thought, with large holes and gaps beneath the surface. They also discovered water ice hidden in shadowed craters near the Moon's north pole.

5. What are the implications of these findings?

- The discovery of water ice on the Moon has important implications for future lunar exploration. The thin crust and large gaps beneath the Moon's surface also suggest that the Moon may have a more complex interior structure than previously thought.

This abstract is presented as an informational news item only and has not been reviewed by a subject matter professional. This abstract should not be considered medical advice. This abstract might have been generated by an artificial intelligence program. See TOS for details.

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