Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
hideThe Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is a robotic spacecraft launched by NASA, currently orbiting the Moon. The unmanned launch of the Lunar Precursor Robotic Program occurred on June 18, 2009, the first United States mission to the Moon in over ten years. LRO is the first mission of the United States's Vision for Space Exploration program. To successfully attain the goals of "The Vision", including human exploration of the Moon, LRO will orbit the Moon, survey lunar resources, and identify possible landing sites. The orbiting probe will be able to provide a 3-D map of the Moon's surface and has provided some of the first images of Apollo equipment left on the Moon. The LRO Atlas V launch vehicle also carries the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS), which is designed to detect water liberated when the launch vehicle's spent upper stage strikes a lunar crater. Together, LCROSS and LRO form the vanguard of the NASA Lunar Precursor Robotic Program's return to the Moon.
The first images taken by the LRO were published on the July 2, 2009, aimed at the region in the lunar highlands south of Mare Nubium (Sea of Clouds). On July 17, 2009, some images of the Apollo landing sites were released.
For more information about Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
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News tagged with lcross
LCROSS Impact Finds Water on the Moon
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 13, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- The argument that the moon is a dry, desolate place no longer holds water. Secrets the moon has been holding, for perhaps billions of years, are now being revealed to the delight of scientists ...
LCROSS Captures All Phases of Centaur Impact
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Oct 18, 2009 |
4 / 5 (10) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA’s Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) was a smashing success, returning tantalizing data about the Centaur impact before the spacecraft itself impacted the surface ...
Astronomers Detect Sodium Gas Ejected by Lunar Impact
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Oct 12, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Boston University astronomers announced today observations of a cloud of sodium gas ejected from the Moon’s surface as a result of the NASA impact experiment that was part of its Lunar Reconnaissance ...
Hubble observes LCROSS impact: Preliminary analysis shows no clear evidence for hydroxyl
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Oct 12, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has made a series of observations immediately preceding and following the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) Centaur rocket stage and shepherding ...
Diviner Observes LCROSS Impact
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Oct 12, 2009 |
4 / 5 (5) |
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The LRO Diviner instrument obtained infrared observations of the LCROSS impact. LRO flew by the LCROSS Centaur impact site 90 seconds after impact at a distance of ~80 km. Diviner was commanded to observe ...
Moon crash: Public yawns, scientists celebrate
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Oct 10, 2009 |
3.9 / 5 (19) |
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(AP) -- NASA's great lunar fireworks finale fizzled. After gearing up for the space agency's much-hyped mission to hurl two spacecraft into the moon, the public turned away from the sky Friday anything but ...
NASA probes hit moon twice (Update 2)
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Oct 09, 2009 |
4.4 / 5 (7) |
11
NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, created twin impacts on the moon's surface early Friday in a search for water ice. Scientists will analyze data from the spacecraft's instruments ...
LRO Sees Apollo 14's Rocket Booster Impact Site
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Oct 08, 2009 |
4.8 / 5 (6) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- A distinctive crater about 35 meters (115 feet) in diameter was formed when the Apollo 14 Saturn IVB (upper stage) was intentionally impacted into the moon. The energy of the impact created ...
You can watch NASA give the moon a one-two punch
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Oct 07, 2009 |
5 / 5 (7) |
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(AP) -- NASA will throw a one-two punch at the big old moon Friday and the whole world will have ringside seats for the lunar dust-up.
Southern Arizona Telescopes Will Point at Lunar Impact Early Friday
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Oct 07, 2009 |
5 / 5 (3) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Astronomers at the some of the best ground-based telescopes in southern Arizona plan to observe two lunar impacts at 4:30 a.m. and 4:34 a.m. Arizona time Friday.
LCROSS Viewer's Guide
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Oct 05, 2009 |
4.3 / 5 (8) |
1
Just imagine. A spaceship plunges out of the night sky, hits the ground and explodes. A plume of debris billows back into the heavens, leading your eye to a second ship in hot pursuit. Four minutes later, ...
NASA's LCROSS Mission Changes Impact Crater
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Sep 29, 2009 |
5 / 5 (4) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite mission (LCROSS) based on new analysis of available lunar data, has shifted the target crater from Cabeus A to Cabeus (proper).
NASA's LCROSS Reveals Target Crater For Lunar South Pole Impacts
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Sep 11, 2009 |
4.6 / 5 (8) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA has selected a final destination for its Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, after a journey of nearly 5.6 million miles that included several orbits around Earth ...
LCROSS Selects Crater with Best Chance of Finding Water
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Sep 08, 2009 |
4.5 / 5 (4) |
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NASA has identified the spot where it will search for water on the moon.
NASA's new moon probe sends back moon shots
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Jun 24, 2009 |
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(AP) -- NASA's new lunar probe launched less than a week ago has already sent back some shots of the moon.
