Scientists to Launch Missle Attack on the Moon -Will Jupiter's Europa Follow?

Researchers are preparing to launch a missile attack on the moon in the name of science.  If you're anything like us, this news has you fist-pumping and thinking "It's about time!"

Last week British Ministry of Defense (MoD) spin-off Qinetiq test-fired three "Penetrator" missiles into a moon-simulating sand bank at over two hundred and fifty meters per second.  As the name suggests, these missiles aren't designed to blow the moon up (sorry to disappoint any Michael Bays out there) but to embed themselves into the lunar surface.  Three meters into it, for anybody concerned about the exact dimensions of BLASTING INTO THE MOON.

From under the lunar soil a battery of seismic sensors and mineral analyzers can uncover a wealth of information about the moon's makeup. The high-speed approach tactic also sidesteps a major problem in exoplanet analysis, the nail-biting need for a soft landing where a single mistake can cost the entire mission. Instead, the "Moonlite" mission probes are designed to withstand high velocity impacts while preserving their scientific cargo.

The moon is only the first planned stop for Qinetiq's kinetic probes.  The same approach can be applied to other rocky planets like Enceladus and Titan, though the most interesting destination has to be Europa.  Long suspected of hiding a liquid ocean in a heated core, a prime life-capable site, seismic data from inside the icy shell would be extremely revealing.

The recent tests exceeded all expectations.  Since they could just go out with shovels and dig up the fired probes (an option that won't be available off-planet for some time), the makers could analyse exactly how the penetrating probes fared.  While the external shells took something of a hammering, the all-important instruments were unharmed.  The test also provides valuable data on the effect the violent passage has on the native material, with frictional scorching modifying its makeup.

Posted by Luke McKinney.
Moonlite Mission Successful test

Comments

[Howie]

Very nice idea! I'm def. interested in Europa probing..

[Catharina Helena]

My gut reaction - not "It's about time!" - but: (suck in breath with shock) ""HOW DARE YOU!" It is disrespectful. Now the moon will probably be raped for its minerals by greedy colonists, just as the earth has been.

The name 'Penetrator' says it all - may the MoD boys test it on their own backsides first.