Tag: LRO
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Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter discovers thermally stable areas in surface pits suitable for future lunar bases
Using data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), a group of NASA-funded researchers has discovered that shaded locations inside surface pits on the lunar surface harbor comfortable temperatures that could prove useful for future lunar exploration. Furthermore, LRO continues to operate in a healthy state around the Moon and is regularly returning data, so much…
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Year In Review, 2017 (Part 1): Sun and Moon illuminate science returns
Like most years, 2017 saw numerous scientific advancements and discoveries throughout the solar system and beyond, most of which passed public attention with little fanfare for these discoveries that are helping to shape and build not only our knowledge of our solar system but also how to navigate the space around Earth in the safest…
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Aging Mars rover could be shut down
The Opportunity Mars acquired images for this self-portrait mosaic in March 2014. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell Univ./Arizona State Univ. NASA’s Opportunity Mars rover and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, working well past their expected lifetimes, could be shut down in fiscal year 2016 as the agency tries to balance funding for older missions and development of modernized new space…
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Protecting Apollo sites from future visiting vehicles under NASA evaluation
As NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) produced the sharpest images ever taken from space of the Apollo 12, 14 and 17 landing sites, NASA managers are working on internal plans to protect the “heritage sites” from potential damage from future visiting spacecraft – such as the Google Lunar X PRIZE (GLXP) vehicles – listing a…
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NASA Successfully Launches LRO/LCROSS for Return to the Moon
An Atlas V rocket carrying NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and sister payload Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) has launched from complex 41 at Cape Canaveral on Thursday evening. Both its payload passengers were successfully sent on their journey to the moon. Atlas V/Launch Overview: The veteran Atlas V rocket – making its 19th…