Two more to bite the lunar dust

RedOrbit - Space - NASA Chooses New Spacecraft to Search for Water on Moon

NASA's got quite the mission planned for the moon coming up in 2008. They're sending up the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. First the LCROSS will smash into the south pole creating a massive plume of debris. Then the Sensing Satellite portion of it will fly through that debris to collect all sorts of interesting data. If that wasn't enough, once that's sent its information back to earth from its flyby it too is going to slam into the moon's surface creating yet another plume of debris. That moon dust explosion will be NASA's second chance to try and get a glimpse into what's lurking beneath the surface of the moon. Is it ice water? That's what they really want to know. If there is, then this could be the spot that'll become a permanent moon base. Many other nations stated their intentions to go back to the moon, so of course the U.S. wants to beat everyone to the punch to make sure they're first to establish themselves in the good spot - should they find one.
These two new robotic lunar tools, may their souls rest in peace post the 2008 mission, will become the newest alumnists that'll make the moon their final resting place. Check out what else is on the moon.
At least one thing is for sure, these future moon relics won't be without many other leftover earth-based relics once they die up there. Junk. Junk. And more junk. At least it's distinguished junk though. All of it represents close to 40-years of moon exploration and research. Then there's the company, TransOrbital Inc., which is the first commercial venture with plans to head to the moon. That'll add to the earth-junk up there, especially since they're taking orders to send your mementos to the moon.
A few years ago, there was a scientist who was rallying to try and designate the moon a World Heritage Site. When I spoke with him back in 2002, he was doing everything he could to preserve the moon as the near-pristine site that it is to prevent all of this development. I tried to get a hold of him again yesterday because I knew I wanted to write this post. He's away until June, so I don't know how far he got in his efforts. My guess is: not far.
Now this new lunar mission is set to accomplish its pretty spectacular maneuvers so we can find out exactly what's underneath the dusty surface of the moon. Water ice or not, soon these robotic components will most likely become somewhat buried underneath the dust as they join the many other earthly relics up there that have also bitten the dust.