LRO Begins Detailed Mapping of Moon's South Pole

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, has successfully completed its testing and calibration phase and entered its mapping orbit of the moon. The spacecraft already has made significant progress toward creating the most detailed atlas of the moon's south pole to date.

Artist's concept of LRO. Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

NASA showcased new images from LRO's seven instruments and provided updates about the topography of the moon's south pole during a news conference on September 17.

› NASA press release
› View briefing materials

Five Things to Know about LRO

• LRO is leading NASA’s way back to the moon.
• The primary objective of LRO is to conduct investigations that prepare for future lunar exploration. Specifically LRO will scout for safe and compelling landing sites, locate potential resources (with special attention to the possibility of water ice) and characterize the effects of prolonged exposure to the lunar radiation environment. In addition to its exploration mission, LRO will also return rich scientific data that will help us to better understand the moon’s topography and composition.
• Seven scientific instruments outfit LRO. These instruments will return lunar imagery, topography, temperature measurements and more.
• Launched along with LRO was the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS), a partner mission that will search for water ice on the moon.
• In response to LRO's "Send Your Name to the Moon" initiative, the spacecraft carries a microchip with nearly 1.6 million names submitted by the public. Click here to view a photo of the microchip containing the names as engineers prepare to install it on the spacecraft.

For more information visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/main/index.html