LCROSS Scientists Explain Need For Time to Analyze Data

The exciting impact of the LCROSS spacecraft and its Centaur upper stage at the Moon’s South Pole this morning apparently left some members of the press, and perhaps the public, dissatisfied with the outcome because scientists could not provide an instant answer to what was discovered.

At a 10:00 am EDT press conference at NASA’s Ames Research Center near San Francisco, which managed the mission, exhausted LCROSS scientists patiently explained that more than three hours are needed to analyze the data. An array of ground- and space-based assets were trained on the Moon to observe the impact and an expected plume of “ejecta.” Media sources reported public disappointment that they did not see a promised “flash” at the time of impact. That part of the video – or lack thereof – was indeed puzzling.

Anthony Colaprete, LCROSS principal investigator, said that results from the data analysis will be presented at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) meeting in December. At that time, answers may be known about whether or not water exists in the permanently shadowed regions of the lunar south pole, the major question LCROSS was designed to investigate. AGU is only a short two months away. Stay tuned. In the meantime, check the LCROSS website for any breaking news.