Spacecraft to crash into moon

2012-12-14 14:15

Twin Nasa spacecraft are preparing to crash into the lunar surface. (AP)

Los Angeles - The moon is about to take another hit.

Twin Nasa spacecraft are preparing to crash into the lunar surface next week after a successful mission mapping the moon's gravity.

Scientists say the crash won't be visible from Earth. The spacecraft - named Ebb and Flow - are too small and light to carve a crater or kick up a lot of dust. They're aiming for a mountain that's far away from the Apollo landing sites.

Ebb and Flow slipped into orbit around the moon last New Year's weekend. By measuring the moon's uneven gravity field, they found it took quite a beating in the past, more than commonly thought.

During the mission, students got a chance to direct the spacecraft to photograph craters and mountains.

- AP