"Guess" when LADEE will crash into the moon

[Jasel]

Check this out.

I can't imagine KSP'ers guessing at this. So what are you best calculations? I'm trying to dig up technical info but I'm at work...Eyes on the Solar system might help with LADEE's current telemetry. I'm also trying to figure out what changes will take place for its orbital maintenance.

I think our goal should be able to get within 10 seconds of impact. Anybody up for the challenge?

[FanaticalFighter]

It'll probably be a total guess. We could try to get an accurate gravitational field map (Are there any reliable sources for getting these things online?) and integrate a trajectory or something, but I don't think we'll get even close that way either, as the maneuvers the craft performs aren't detailed anywhere AFAIK. If I had to take a guess, I'd say impact on... say April 21 at 4:23:45 AM GMT. Why? Because I typed out a number from the first 6 digits and that's what came out the other end

[Jasel]

Gravity map you ask? That's what the GRAIL mission did:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/grail/multimedia/pia16587.html

I'm certain the info is out there for everything needed.

[Sillychris]

4:20 pm Seattle time, April 20th

[Jasel]

4:20 pm Seattle time, April 20th

I see what you did there.

[vger]

In the slight possibility that I win, I won't be posting the times, because I've always had to make it a necessity to keep my gaming and IRL lives separate, but... I bit the lure.