Ebb and Flow being crashed into the moon?

[James Reese]

I heard from someone today that they read that the Satellites named "Ebb and Flow" are being crashed into the moon by NASA when their mission is complete.

Am...am I the only person who thinks this is "odd"?

Why? I mean, its one thing if they just lose orbit and crash themselves or if their mission is complete, just let them "fly off" into the solar system

but to deliberately crash them?

 

[Muadib]

This isn't the first time they've crashed objects into the moon's surface, I'd imagine it's so they can study the effects on the surface of the moon, in order to better understand how craters are formed and things like that.

 

[exo_doc]

That's part of it Muadib, the other part is to keep orbital space clear for future missions.

 

[Muadib]

That's part of it Muadib, the other part is to keep orbital space clear for future missions.

Makes sense, I was watching an episode of The Universe today and they were talking about the two satellites that smashed into each other and how if things like that keep happening it's going to be difficult for us to keep satellites in orbit due to the amount of debris up there whizzing around at 10 miles per second.

 

[exo_doc]

Makes sense, I was watching an episode of The Universe today and they were talking about the two satellites that smashed into each other and how if things like that keep happening it's going to be difficult for us to keep satellites in orbit due to the amount of debris up there whizzing around at 10 miles per second.

I've seen that episode. I love that series. Didn't they say that there are currently over 10,000 loose objects that are kept track of? I think I remember something like that.