![]() LRO initial data sets were deposited in the Planetary Data System (PDS), a publicly accessible repository of planetary science information, within six months of primary mission completion and thereafter, the data sets have been deposited in the PDS every three months. Although the original objectives of LRO were explorative in nature, the payload included instruments with considerable heritage from previous planetary science missions, enabling the transition, after one year, to the science phase under NASA's Science Mission Directorate. However, there has been particular emphasis on the polar regions of the moon where continuous access to solar illumination may be possible and the prospect of water in the permanently shadowed regions at the poles may exist. The instruments on board the spacecraft return global data, such as day-night temperature maps, a global geodetic grid, high resolution color imaging and the moon's UV albedo. The science and exploration measurements will be a legacy of LRO that will be extremely useful to generations of lunar scientists and explorers. ![]() The mission has provided technical innovations and made surprising discoveries that have changed our view of the Moon. focusing on contributions across LRO's evolving objectives without attempting to be fully comprehensive. The dual role of LRO as an exploration and science mission has proven to be very successful, with important advances in both realms. The LRO mission has been extended to continue lunar science and exploration. The Exploration Mission completed on Septemwhen responsibility for LRO was transferred to NASA's Science Mission Directorate for a two-year Science Mission with a new set of science goals. The Exploration Mission was focused on supporting the extension of human presence in the solar system, LRO continues to help identify sites close to potential resources with high scientific value, favorable terrain and the environment necessary for safe future robotic and human lunar missions. LRO entered lunar orbit on Jand after spacecraft commissioning, the Exploration Mission began on September 15, 2009. EDT, June 18, 2009, an United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket roared off the launch pad at Launch Complex 41 to begin the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite missions to the moon. It’s like going to your favourite art gallery and seeing your favourite painting in a different light every day.At 5:32 p.m. “Everytime I think God, that’s a beautiful place…Everytime you take a different picture of the moon you see something in a different light. “I’ve looked at the moon now professionally for almost 10 years now,” said Noah Petro, a research scientist at NASA Goddard, just outside Washington, D.C. And a similar mosaic of the far side of the moon is soon to be shot. The images have been described as jaw-dropping, showing details such as the tracks made by the Apollo rovers and other artifacts and paraphenalia left on the moon.īut the latest set of pictures are equally stunning, say NASA officials. The narrow cameras were used earlier in the mission to take photos of the Apollo landing sites which show the paths made by astronauts during the missions. The LRO also has two other narrow angle cameras on it as well as a laser altimeter. ![]() NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which has been circling the moon at a low altitude since mid-2009, snapped the pictures using a special high resolution wide-angle camera. NASA has just released photos of the moon’s near side that have such clarity and detail they show mountains and craters kilometres high.
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