The primary mission of the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing
Satellite (LCROSS) was a search for lunar water; according to
the mission website: The Mission Objectives of the Lunar Crater
Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) include confirming
the presence or absence of water ice in a permanently shadowed
crater at the Moon’s South Pole. The identification of water is
very important to the future of human activities on the Moon.
LCROSS will excavate the permanently dark floor of one of the
Moon’s polar craters with two heavy impactors in 2009 to test
the theory that ancient ice lies buried there. The impact will
eject material from the crater’s surface to create a plume that
specialized instruments will be able to analyze for the presence
of water (ice and vapor), hydrocarbons and hydrated materials.
LCROSS was successfully launched on June 18 and consisted of two
components: the Shepherding Spacecraft and the Centaur rocket.
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) was launched at the same
time, but wi