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Twin NASA probes plunge into lunar mountain on purpose

Xinhua)  14:00, December 18, 2012

The Photo released by U.S. space agency NASA shows an artist's depiction of Ebb and Flow, the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission probes. Twin NASA spacecraft orbiting the moon ended their mission by crashing into a lunar mountain on purpose Dec. 17, 2012, NASA announced. (Photo/Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Twin NASA spacecraft orbiting the moon ended their mission by crashing into a lunar mountain on purpose Monday, the U.S. space agency NASA announced.

Ebb and Flow, the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission probes, were sent purposely onto the lunar surface because their low orbit and low fuel levels precluded further scientific operations. This ensures that they don't end up crashing into the Apollo landing sites or any other place on the moon with special importance.

According to NASA, both spacecraft hit the surface at 3,760 mph (1.7 km per second) at around 5:28 p.m. EST (2128 GMT). The mountain where they made contact is located near the moon's north pole. The impact site was in shadow at the time of the crash, so no video of Ebb and Flow's violent demise is expected.

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(Editor:朱蕤、陈丽丹)

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