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Post by flash on Jul 28, 2009 20:25:58 GMT -7
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is now in orbit around the Moon.I built this model of the Orbiter.LRO has taken pictures of the Apollo mission landing sites. As the mission goes forth higher resolution images will be beamed back to earth. I cannot wait. Enjoy! Thomas the Flash www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/multimedia/lroimages/apollosites.html
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Post by Tim Collins on Jul 29, 2009 3:48:51 GMT -7
Is this mission in prep for a future return to the moon?
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Post by flash on Jul 29, 2009 6:11:03 GMT -7
Snill This orbiter is looking for landing sites but also water and other resources.Here is the instruments on board the orbiter.My favorite is the Lamp which will help give our military better night vision.Also part of this mission is the impact mission which will crash into the southern polar area of the Moon. A small spacecraft call LCROSS will follow a rocket body to impact.LCROSS will fly through the material ejected by the rocket body impact looking for water and studing the material that is ejected before impacting on the moon itself.These impacts should be visiable in a small telescope on the morning of October the 9th. Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter LRO instruments Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation The Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) will characterize the lunar radiation environment and determine its potential biological impacts. CRaTER will also test models of radiation effects and shielding, which may enable the development of protective technologies.
Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment The Diviner Lunar Radiometer (DLRE) will provide orbital thermal mapping measurements, giving detailed information about surface and subsurface temperatures (identifying cold traps and potential ice deposits), as well as landing hazards such as rough terrain or rocks.
Lyman Alpha Mapping Project The Lyman Alpha Mapping Project (LAMP) will map the entire lunar surface in the far ultraviolet. LAMP will search for surface ice and frost in the polar regions and provide images of permanently shadowed regions illuminated only by starlight.
Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector The Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND) will create high resolution hydrogen distribution maps and provide information about the lunar radiation environment. LEND can be used to search for evidence of water ice on the Moon's surface, and will provide space radiation environment measurements useful for future human exploration.
Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter The Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) will measure landing site slopes, lunar surface roughness, and generate a high resolution 3D map of the Moon. LOLA will also identify the Moon's permanently illuminated and permanently shadowed areas by analyzing Lunar surface elevations.
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) will retrieve high resolution black and white images of the lunar surface, capturing images of the lunar poles with resolutions down to 1m, and will image the lunar surface in color and ultraviolet. These images will provide knowledge of polar illumination conditions, identify potential resources & hazards, and enable safe landing site selection.
Mini-RF Technology Demonstration The Mini-RF technology demonstration's primary goal will be to search for subsurface water ice deposits. In addition, Mini-RF will take high-resolution imagery of permanently-shadowed regions.
Thomas the Flash
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