Moon Preservation: What if a Spaceshuttle or Missile Hit It?

[h.g.Whiz]

If a spaceshuttle collided with the moon what would happen?
What if a missile hit it?
If I am not mistaken the distance between our Earth and the moon varies, so let's say the impact occurs when the moon's position is at its farthest normal distance from earth.

 

[russ_watters]

The distance doesn't vary by much and such an impact would make little difference. The moon is pretty big.

 

[h.g.Whiz]

what about a nuclear bomb

 

[russ_watters]

Let me rephrase my previous answer: the moon is really big. And as tough as we think we are, we don't really have the capability to inflict the kind of destructive influence people think we can.

 

[h.g.Whiz]

Does anybody have an idea what happens when a 50 megaton bomb explodes in a vacuum, besides the fact that it would be silent?

 

[russ_watters]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starfish_Prime