Nasa’s moon-orbiting robot crashes down

In this artist’s concept provided by NASA the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (Ladee) spacecraft is seen orbiting the moon as it prepares to fire its maneuvering thrusters to maintain a safe orbital altitude. AP

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida  — Nasa’s small moon-orbiting spacecraft Ladee is no more. Flight controllers confirmed early Friday that Ladee crashed into the back side of the moon.

Researchers believe the robotic explorer vaporized upon contact because of its high orbiting speed of 3,600 mph (5,800 kph), possibly smacking into a mountain or side of a crater. As of late Thursday afternoon, the spacecraft was flying 300 feet (100 meters) above the lunar surface. Its altitude had been lowered on purpose to ensure a crash by Monday.

Ladee — short for Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer — was launched in September. It completed its main science mission last month and was on overtime.