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 "photo of a cake")
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LRO's Project Site
LCROSS Web Site
The Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS), managed by NASA's Ames Research Center in California, launched with LRO on June 18, 2009. LCROSS will search for water ice in a permanently shadowed crater near one of the moon's poles. Visit the Web site below for more information about LCROSS and the crater impact.
Mission News
- 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.
Trail of Discovery at Fra Mauru
A month has already passed since LROC acquired its first images of the Apollo landing sites. In this time the Moon completed one rotation beneath LRO’s orbit, thus providing another set of overflights. Because LRO is not in synch with the lunar day we see the same ground with different lighting – this time the Sun is 24 degrees higher above the horizon providing a clearer view with fewer shadows. Albedo contrasts are greater, and more clearly show soil disturbances from landing, astronaut surface operations, and blast off.
› For more information and images
Additional Resources
› LRO Fact Sheet
› LRO Lithograph
› LRO/LCROSS Press Kit
Five Things to Know about LRO
A month has already passed since LROC acquired its first images of the Apollo landing sites. In this time the Moon completed one rotation beneath LRO’s orbit, thus providing another set of overflights. Because LRO is not in synch with the lunar day we see the same ground with different lighting – this time the Sun is 24 degrees higher above the horizon providing a clearer view with fewer shadows. Albedo contrasts are greater, and more clearly show soil disturbances from landing, astronaut surface operations, and blast off.
› For more information and images
Additional Resources
› LRO Fact Sheet
› LRO Lithograph
› LRO/LCROSS Press Kit
Five Things to Know about LRO
News and Features
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NASA And ISRO Satellites Perform In Tandem To Search For Ice On The Moon
NASA and ISRO will attempt a novel joint experiment that could yield more information on whether ice exists in a permanently shadowed crater near the north pole of the moon.
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NASA Radar Tandem Searches For Ice On The Moon
With the Mini-RF instrument flying aboard NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, the space agency now has two powerful tools searching for ice on the moon.
 "Still from flyover video")
 "Composite image of LOI conceptual image and LRO MOCC room")
