It's about time we start seriously thinking about colonizing space, yes? Enter, LCROSS: Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite.

(Above) Artists rendering of LCROSS moments before lunar impact.

 
In April 2006, NASA selected the LCROSS proposal for a low-cost, fast-track companion mission to the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). The main LCROSS mission objective is to confirm the presence or absence of water ice in a permanently shadowed crater near the lunar south pole.

LCROSS launched with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on June 18, 2009. After launch, the LCROSS shepherding spacecraft and the Atlas V's Centaur upper stage rocket executed a fly-by of the moon on June 23 and entered an elongated Earth orbit to position LCROSS on a correct trajectory to impact the lunar south pole on October 9, 2009. On final approach, the shepherding spacecraft and Centaur will separate. Both spacecrafts will then impact and do their jobs.

Finding water ice on the moon will be crucial for the beginnings of colonizing...don't think I really needed to explain that but yea.

I'll be posting news data about this mission and others so stay tuned.

For more information about the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite click here.

(Above) Gravitational Lensing in Galaxy Cluster Abell 370. Credit: NASA, ESA, the Hubble SM4 ERO Team, and ST-ECF

 
Pictured above is the gravitational lensing effect observed of Galaxy Cluster Abell 370, probably one of the most interesting effects observed in the observable Universe so far.

"Galaxy clusters are the most massive structures of the universe, located at the crossing of the filaments of the cosmic web of dark matter. The most massive clusters can contain up to 1,000 galaxies and intergalactic hot gas, all held together primarily by the gravity of dark matter."

These observations were made with Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) in its Wide Field mode on July 16, 2009. The composite image was made using filters that isolate light from green, red, and infrared wavelengths.

Be expecting the Hubble Space Telescope to ensure many more astronomic breakthroughs in the near future. Oh, and by all means don't forget to browse through The Hubble Space Telescope's NASA Homepage.