Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and LCROSS Update Thread

[rodsky]

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Day ONE, of humanity's return to the moon ( 2017/2018 ) , just happened a few hours ago.



(CNN) -- Humans are a step closer to returning to the moon after NASA launched a lunar orbiter Thursday to provide a comprehensive survey of our nearest celestial neighbor.

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (with the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite or LCROSS) lifted off aboard an Atlas V Rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 5:32 p.m. ET, powered by two liquid-fueled engines and a pair of solid-fueled boosters.

NASA described the liftoff as "flawless" on its Web site.

It is the first mission in NASA's plan to return to the moon, then travel to Mars and beyond, NASA said. The data that the orbiter collects and sends back to Earth will be used to build an eventual lunar outpost, NASA said.

Full story here: NASA orbiter on way to explore the moon - CNN.com

Video of launch here: YouTube - LRO\LCROSS launch 06 18 09

Video of why there has to be an LRO mission: YouTube - LRO: The Next Step

This thread will perpetually follow the LRO and LCROSS throughout its mission. Just visit it for updates.

-RODION

[BackBeat]

Wow naka dayon jud ang Lunar Orbiter hehe.. makakita kaha sila ug tubig?

[ethzneuron]

i dont think naay water deposits sa moon. the main purpose of this lunar probe is to map out (not sure sa exact word) the lunar surface and seek the best spot for the lunar post.

@TS, correct me lang if im wrong.

[rodsky]

i dont think naay water deposits sa moon. the main purpose of this lunar probe is to map out (not sure sa exact word) the lunar surface and seek the best spot for the lunar post.

@TS, correct me lang if im wrong.

Some specific things the instruments on the LRO will try to accomplish...

1. Characterization of the deep space radiation environment in lunar orbit, including neutron albedo especially at energies in excess of 10 MeV, as well as: characterization of biological effects caused by exposure to the lunar orbital radiation environment and characterization of changes in the properties of multifunctional radiation shielding materials caused by extended exposure to the lunar orbital environment

2. Geodetic lunar global topography (at landing-site relevant scales)

3. High spatial resolution hydrogen mapping of the Moon’s surface

4. Temperature mapping in the Moon’s polar shadowed regions

5. Landform-scale imaging of lunar surfaces in permanently shadowed regions

6. Identification of putative deposits of appreciable near-surface water ice in the Moon’s polar cold traps

7. Assessment of meter and smaller-scale features to facilitate safety analysis for potential lunar landing sites

8. Characterization of the illumination environment in the Moon’s polar regions at relevant temporal scales


#6 was attempted back in Jan 1998-July 1999 by the Lunar Prospector (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_Prospector), but didn't find any sign of polar ice.


UPDATE:

( taken from http://www.nasa.gov/lro )

Successful Spacecraft Separation
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:34:16 AM GMT+0800

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, successfully separated from the Centaur upper stage and Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, spacecraft at 6:16:43 p.m. EDT.

The official transfer of control from the Centaur rocket to LCROSS is expected about 9:30 p.m.

LRO will reach the moon on Tuesday at 5:43 a.m.

LCROSS and the Centaur rocket will stay attached for the next four months. They will then separate and be directed to impact the moon on Oct. 9, UTC.

-RODION

[miyay]

^next stop, lunar tourism

[Hellblazer 2.1]

this is a very wonderful development.

[rodsky]

^next stop, lunar tourism

Murag layo-layo pa na. Granted, RSA (Russian Space Agency) once proposed an FRT flyby of the moon via a modified-Soyuz, that can be done daw in 2012, but the price of the ticket is something like US$ 50 million, so it's not a very attractive tourism business, as only the elite can afford it. True, affordable lunar tourism (i.e. tourists actually landing on the moon and exploring it in spacesuits) won't happen before 2025-26 (NASA's estimated time period for the establishment of the first "trial" lunar habitats). The first manned return to the moon missions won't happen til about 2018. Chances are, the "2nd batch" of return-to-the-moon explorers are still kids/teenagers now.

-RODION

[miyay]

^oh well. still something to look forward to.
and medieval skeptics say we can't fly to the moon

[cptn_star]

applications for lunar tourists could involve intense medical tests and physical exams...plus hours of rocket science lectures and space knowledge....

[rodsky]

Update: Lunar orbit insertion (LOR) will occur on June 23 at 5:43 a.m. EDT (Tuesday, June 23, 5:43PM, Philippine Time).

*whistles "Fly Me to the Moon" as sung by Frank Sinatra*

-RODION