Twin NASA probes plunge into lunar mountain on purpose

（Xinhua）  14:00, December 18, 2012

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.