Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
Also known as: LRO
- 1The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is a robotic spacecraft operated by NASA.
- 2It maintains an eccentric polar mapping orbit around the Moon.
- 3The orbiter conducts detailed mapping to identify safe landing sites for future missions.
- 4It is used to locate potential natural resources on the lunar surface.
- 5The spacecraft characterizes the lunar radiation environment for mission safety.
- 6It serves as a platform for demonstrating new space exploration technologies.
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is a NASA robotic spacecraft currently orbiting the Moon in an eccentric polar mapping orbit.
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This NASA spacecraft has provided detailed mapping and imagery of the Apollo 11 landing site within Mare Tranquillitatis, confirming the location of the descent stage.
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is a NASA robotic spacecraft currently orbiting the Moon in an eccentric polar mapping orbit. Data collected by LRO have been described as essential for planning NASA's future human and robotic missions to the Moon. Its detailed mapping program is identifying safe landing sites, locating potential resources on the Moon, characterizing the radiation environment, and demonstrating new technologies.
Atlas V carrying LRO and LCROSSWikimedia CommonsOnboard instrumentsWikimedia CommonsIn this image, the lower of the two green beams is from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter's dedicated tracker.Wikimedia CommonsAnimation of LRO trajectory around Earth Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter · Earth · MoonWikimedia CommonsAnimation of LRO ' s trajectory from June 23, 2009, to June 30, 2009 LRO · MoonWikimedia CommonsLOLA data provides three complementary views of the near side of the Moon: the topography (left) along with maps of the surface slope values (middle) and the roughness of the topography (right). All three views are centered on the relatively young impact crater Tycho, with the Orientale basin on the left side.Wikimedia CommonsTycho crater's central peak complex casts a long, dark shadow near local sunrise.Wikimedia CommonsCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At Astrotech Space Operations Facility in Titusville, Fla., NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as LCROSS, are being prepared for fairing installation. The LRO includes five instruments: DIVINER, LAMP, LEND, LOLA and LROC....Wikimedia Commons; NASA; http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=41269; Public domain; Wikimedia Commons: Category:Lunar Reconnaissance OrbiterThe Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is the first mission in NASA's Vision for Space Exploration , a plan to return to the moon and then to travel to Mars and beyond. The LRO objectives are to finding safe landing sites, locate potential resources, characterize the radiation environment, and demonstrate new technolo...Wikimedia Commons; National Aeronautics and Space Administration http://lro.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery-media.html >; NASA website; Public domain; Wikimedia Commons; Wikidata P154 (logo image)Image attached to Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter on Wikidata.Wikimedia Commons; Public domain; Wikimedia Commons; Wikidata P18 (image) 63 words