Centaur upper-stage rocket would result in plumes of dust of more than 250 metric tons . After it hit , the debris was analyzed by a satellite -- launched along with the rocket -- that traveled through the dust cloud before its own impact on the moon . The goal of the $ 79 million mission was to determine whether there is water on the moon . After the impact , NASA officials called the mission a success , saying the satellite sent back a good amount of data that now will be analyzed . Jennifer Stracener of Vilonia , Arkansas , said she got up early to watch NASA 's live telecast of the impact . She was disappointed , and posted her reaction on CNN 's iReport.com . `` These was no plume , no nothing , '' she said by phone . `` It just kind of blacked out . '' She said the telecast did not show the rocket 's impact clearly . `` I was looking for some action -- something happening , '' she said . `` I think a lot of people were , because they -LSB- NASA -RSB- hyped it up ,
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- There was n't a cloud in the sky early Friday when Dave Samuels trained his telescopes at the moon , hoping to catch a glimpse of a NASA rocket striking the lunar landscape . The moon , shown shortly before NASA 's rockets hit on Friday morning . `` We saw nothing , '' he said . Samuels is vice president of the Fremont Peak Observatory near Monterey , California , which had invited members of the public to watch Friday 's NASA mission through its telescopes . The lunar strike happened shortly after 4:30 a.m. on the West Coast -LRB- 7:30 a.m. ET -RRB- . NASA had encouraged everyone around the country to host `` impact parties , '' saying the plume of dust generated by the lunar impact would be visible through `` mid-sized backyard '' telescopes 10 inches or larger . It said the chances of seeing the plume were greater for people living in areas that were still dark . The space agency even posted an interactive map on its Web site so people could find `` a public event near you . '' NASA officials had said the impact of the