NASA launches robotic explorer to moon, orbiting craft will study lunar atmosphere, dust

NASA's newest robotic explorer
rocketed into space late Friday in
an unprecedented moonshot from
Virginia that dazzled sky watchers
along the East Coast of the U.S.
But the LADEE spacecraft quickly
ran into equipment trouble, and
while NASA assured everyone early
Saturday that the lunar probe was
safe and on a perfect track for the
moon, officials acknowledged the
problem needs to be resolved in the
next two to three weeks.
S. Peter Worden, director of NASA's
Ames Research Center in California,
which developed the spacecraft,
told reporters he's confident
everything will be working properly
in the next few days.
LADEE's reaction wheels were
turned on to orient and stabilize
the spacecraft, which was spinning
too fast after it separated from the
final rocket stage, Worden said. But
the computer automatically shut
the wheels down, apparently
because of excess current. He
speculated the wheels may have
been running a little fast.
Worden stressed there is no rush to
"get these bugs ironed out."
The LADEE spacecraft, which is
charged with studying the lunar
atmosphere and dust, soared
aboard an unmanned Minotaur
rocket a little before midnight.
"Godspeed on your journey to the
moon, LADEE," Launch Control said.
Flight controllers applauded and
exchanged high-fives following the
successful launch. "We are headed
to the moon!" NASA said in a tweet.