NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Artist's concept of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Credit: NASA

In parallel with development of new human spacecraft under the Constellation Program, robotic explorers will serve as trailblazers to reduce the risks and costs of future human operations at the moon. Robots will build valuable mission experience that can provide insight into the preparations required for extended human presence to Mars and other destinations in the solar system.

The first in this wave of robotic probes is the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, slated to launch in 2008. Its mission is to create high-resolution maps, seek landing sites, and continue to search for water ice and other useful resources.

The Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, will launch with LRO, then travel independently of the orbiter and crash into the lunar surface to search for water ice.

> More on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
> More on the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite