LCROSS: the story
LCROSS · Chapter 1 of 7
18 June 2009
Launch
LCROSS left Earth on a Atlas V 401 from Space Launch Complex 41.
LCROSS · Chapter 2 of 7
February 2009
Arrival in Florida
LCROSS arrived at Astrotech in Florida from Northrop Grumman in Redondo Beach, California.
LCROSS · Chapter 3 of 7
May 2009
Stacked with LRO
LRO and LCROSS were lifted into the tower at Launch Complex 41.
LCROSS · Chapter 4 of 7
18 June 2009
Liftoff
They launched together on an Atlas V at 21:32 UT.
LCROSS · Chapter 5 of 7
August 2009
A fuel scare
A sensor problem burned 140 kg of propellant, more than half of what was left. The mission still had enough.
LCROSS · Chapter 6 of 7
13 November 2009
Water
NASA announced that LCROSS data showed water near the Moon's south pole.
LCROSS · Chapter 7 of 7
9 October 2009
Impact
The Centaur stage struck Cabeus crater first. LCROSS followed four minutes later, sending data until the moment it hit.
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