NASA Launches Two Lunar Probes On Thursday

by Rob Walker | June 19, 2009 at 05:52 am

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NASA launched two probes into space on Thursday, hoping to explore the moon for water sources and landing sites. The launch of the probes was pushed back a day to allow the shuttle Endeavour to try its mission, which was scrubbed for the second time due to a hydrogen gas leak.

The probes are set to search for landing sites for a manned lunar mission planned for 2020. They are also designed to let them know how the radioactive environment may impact the human body. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is carrying patches of fake human tissue to determine radiation risks.

The launch marked "America's first step in a lasting return to the moon," a NASA official said moments after a rocket carrying the probes launched at 5:32 pm (2132 GMT), a day after the US space agency scrubbed the shuttle Endeavour launch for the second time in a week because of a nagging hydrogen fuel leak.