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A description on what happened the day NASA launched two spacecraft’s to the moon in search of water.

On October 9,2009, NASA crashed two spacecraft’s into the moon.  This mission started around 7:30a.m.  The mission is part of an effort to determine whether or not the moon contains water, and ultimately ice, which is something the space agency has hoped to find for a long time.  Both of the spacecraft’s were powered by Pratt & Whitney engines.  The upper-stage rocket called the Centaur, is the first and larger of the spacecraft’s.  These spacecraft’s were set to plunge into a crater near the moon’s South Pole.

If you could imagine, a classroom full of children ready to watch this mission.  Then there is the disappointment that comes after they all see that NASA got no immediate pictures of the crash or the six mile plume of lunar dust that was also a big part of the mission.  This was supposed to be a live event, but all they had to show were fuzzy screens.  One would think that for a mission that took two years of planning and a cost of $79million would be better planned out.  Although some children may be disappointed, scientists are pleased with their mission.  It will take about two weeks to determine if there is water on the moon.  The next time NASA decides to plan a close to $80million mission will they be able to broadcast live?  Why wasn’t there a back-up incase something went wrong?  Could it really of cost that much more to ensure that a live show could be produced?  My guess is it goes to the big screen in some years to come.  Time will tell.