Best Space Photos of the Week - Sept. 10, 2011

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NASA Moon Probes Reach Space

NASA TV

Two identical space probes are on their way to the moon, after launching Saturday (Sept. 10) on NASA's newest lunar science mission aimed at unlocking mysteries of the moon that are hidden beneath its surface.

In this image, the first Grail moon gravity probe (Grail-A) was spotted by a camera on its Delta 2 rocket just after the spacecraft separated from the booster. The Earth provides a stunning backdrop. A RocketCam launch camera caught this view about 80 minutes after liftoff. [Full Story]

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Space.com Staff
Space.com Staff
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Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.