CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –– At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., technicians prepare the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, for installation of the solar array panels. The orbiter will carry seven instruments to provide scientists with detailed maps of the lunar surface and enhance our understanding of the moon's topography, lighting conditions, mineralogical composition and natural resources. Information gleaned from LRO will be used to select safe landing sites, determine locations for future lunar outposts and help mitigate radiation dangers to astronauts. The polar regions of the moon are the main focus of the mission because continuous access to sunlight may be possible and water ice may exist in permanently shadowed areas of the poles. Launch of LRO is targeted for June 2. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2009-2801

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –– At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., technicians prepare the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, for installation of the solar array panels. The orbiter will carry seven instruments to provide scientists with detailed maps of the lunar surface and enhance our understanding of the moon's topography, lighting conditions, mineralogical composition and natural resources. Information gleaned from LRO will be used to select safe landing sites, determine locations for future lunar outposts and help mitigate radiation dangers to astronauts. The polar regions of the moon are the main focus of the mission because continuous access to sunlight may be possible and water ice may exist in permanently shadowed areas of the poles. Launch of LRO is targeted for June 2. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2009-2801

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Summary

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –– At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., technicians prepare the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, for installation of the solar array panels. The orbiter will carry seven instruments to provide scientists with detailed maps of the lunar surface and enhance our understanding of the moon's topography, lighting conditions, mineralogical composition and natural resources. Information gleaned from LRO will be used to select safe landing sites, determine locations for future lunar outposts and help mitigate radiation dangers to astronauts. The polar regions of the moon are the main focus of the mission because continuous access to sunlight may be possible and water ice may exist in permanently shadowed areas of the poles. Launch of LRO is targeted for June 2. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

date_range

Date

19/04/2009

place

Location

Launch Control Center, Florida

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Source

NASA

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Link

https://images.nasa.gov/

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