NASA Crashes Twin Spacecraft Into Moon

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

NASA Crashes Twin Spacecraft Into Moon | VIDEO

NASA Crashes Twin Spacecraft Into Moon - Artist's Depiction 12-17-12

'So long, Ebb and Flow': NASA crashes probes into moon

By CNN
12-17-12

(CNN) -- A pair of robotic twins that have been diligently mapping the moon this year went out with a bang Monday.

As scheduled, the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory probes Ebb and Flow crashed into a mountain on the moon, ending a fruitful mission to study the surface and composition of the celestial body.

"The two probes were sent purposely into the moon because they no longer had enough altitude or fuel to continue science operations," NASA said.

The agency named the site where the spacecraft crashed for Sally Ride, the first American woman astronaut in space. She died in July.

Ebb and Flow crashed on a mountain near the moon's north pole at 2:28 p.m. PT and 2:29 p.m. PT at a speed of 3,760 mph, NASA said. They were about the size of a washer and dyer. . . .

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