# LCROSS Earth Departure Upper Stage

> NASA lunar impactor

**Wikidata**: [Q124649538](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124649538)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/lcross-earth-departure-upper-stage

## Summary
The LCROSS Earth Departure Upper Stage (EDUS) was a Centaur rocket stage used as a lunar impactor during NASA's LCROSS mission. It deliberately crashed into the Moon's Cabeus crater on October 9, 2009, to search for water ice. The stage was part of the Atlas V 401 launch vehicle and was launched from Cape Canaveral on June 18, 2009.

## Key Facts
- **Class**: Centaur rocket stage and impact probe
- **Mass**: 2,307.4 kg (as of October 9, 2009)
- **Height**: 12.68 meters
- **Aliases**: LCROSS EDUS, Earth Departure Upper Stage, EDUS
- **COSPAR ID**: 2009-031C
- **Engine**: RL-10A-4-2
- **Launch Date**: June 18, 2009, at 21:32:00 UTC
- **Launch Vehicle**: Atlas V 401 (AV-020)
- **Launch Site**: Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41
- **Manufacturer**: United Launch Alliance
- **Impact Site**: Cabeus crater on the Moon
- **Impact Time**: October 9, 2009, at 11:31:19 UTC
- **Destruction Cause**: Lunar impact

## FAQs
### Q: What was the LCROSS Earth Departure Upper Stage used for?
A: The LCROSS EDUS was used as a lunar impactor to search for water ice in the Moon's Cabeus crater. It was part of NASA's LCROSS mission, which aimed to confirm the presence of water on the Moon.

### Q: When and where was the LCROSS EDUS launched?
A: The LCROSS EDUS was launched on June 18, 2009, from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41 aboard an Atlas V 401 rocket.

### Q: What happened to the LCROSS EDUS after launch?
A: After separating from the LCROSS spacecraft, the EDUS stage was used as a kinetic impactor to create a debris plume in the Cabeus crater, which was then analyzed for water ice.

### Q: Who manufactured the LCROSS EDUS?
A: The LCROSS EDUS was manufactured by United Launch Alliance, the same company that built the Atlas V 401 launch vehicle.

### Q: What was the significance of the LCROSS EDUS's impact?
A: The impact of the LCROSS EDUS confirmed the presence of water ice in the Moon's polar regions, a discovery that has implications for future lunar exploration and potential resource utilization.

## Why It Matters
The LCROSS Earth Departure Upper Stage played a crucial role in NASA's LCROSS mission, which aimed to search for water ice on the Moon. By deliberately crashing the Centaur stage into the Cabeus crater, scientists were able to analyze the resulting debris plume for signs of water. The mission's success confirmed the presence of water ice in the Moon's polar regions, a discovery with significant implications for future lunar exploration and potential resource utilization. The LCROSS mission also demonstrated the feasibility of using impactors to study celestial bodies, paving the way for future missions to explore the Moon and other planetary bodies.

## Notable For
- **First confirmed detection of water ice on the Moon**: The LCROSS EDUS's impact provided definitive evidence of water ice in the Moon's polar regions.
- **Use of a Centaur stage as an impactor**: The mission repurposed a Centaur rocket stage, showcasing its versatility as both a space tug and impact probe.
- **Collaborative mission with LRO**: The LCROSS mission was launched alongside the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), enabling coordinated observations of the impact site.
- **Technological demonstration for future missions**: The LCROSS mission demonstrated the effectiveness of kinetic impactors for studying celestial bodies, influencing future planetary science missions.
- **Significant event in lunar exploration**: The impact of the LCROSS EDUS marked a milestone in the search for water resources on the Moon, shaping future strategies for lunar habitation and exploration.

## Body
### Overview
The LCROSS Earth Departure Upper Stage (EDUS) was a Centaur rocket stage repurposed as a lunar impactor during NASA's LCROSS mission. Launched on June 18, 2009, aboard an Atlas V 401 rocket, the EDUS separated from the LCROSS spacecraft and later impacted the Moon's Cabeus crater on October 9, 2009. The mission aimed to search for water ice by analyzing the debris plume created by the impact.

### Design and Specifications
The LCROSS EDUS had a mass of 2,307.4 kg and a height of 12.68 meters. It was powered by an RL-10A-4-2 engine and was part of the Centaur family of rocket stages, known for their versatility as space tugs. The stage was manufactured by United Launch Alliance, the same company that built the Atlas V 401 launch vehicle.

### Mission Details
The LCROSS mission was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41. After a series of maneuvers, the EDUS stage separated from the LCROSS spacecraft and was used as a kinetic impactor. The impact occurred at 11:31:19 UTC on October 9, 2009, in the Cabeus crater, which is located near the Moon's south pole. The resulting debris plume was analyzed by the LCROSS spacecraft and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) for signs of water ice.

### Scientific Significance
The impact of the LCROSS EDUS confirmed the presence of water ice in the Moon's polar regions, a discovery with implications for future lunar exploration. The mission demonstrated the feasibility of using impactors to study celestial bodies and paved the way for future missions to explore the Moon and other planetary bodies.

### Legacy
The LCROSS mission marked a significant milestone in lunar exploration, shaping future strategies for lunar habitation and resource utilization. The use of a Centaur stage as an impactor showcased the versatility of rocket stages and influenced future planetary science missions. The mission's success also highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in space exploration, as the LCROSS spacecraft and LRO worked together to analyze the impact site.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/lcross.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. Locating the LCROSS Impact Craters
4. [Source](https://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu/lunar/lcross-e_l-mir1-2-raw-v1/lcro_0001/catalog/mission.cat)
5. [Source](https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/lcross/in-depth/)
6. [Source](https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/360020main_LRO_LCROSS_presskit2.pdf)
7. [LRO/LCROSS Press Kit v2](http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/360020main_LRO_LCROSS_presskit2.pdf)