Busy week for STS-127 ISS mission and LRO/LCROSS Moon mission

William Atkins
Tuesday, 16 June 2009 18:36

Science - Space

The LRO/LCROSS mission to orbit the Moon will take place over about one year.

The spacecraft will orbit the moon at about 31 miles (50 kilometers) above the lunar surface. NASA says that this is the closest altitude any spacecraft has orbited the Moon.

The NASA article states, “The primary objective of LRO is to conduct investigations to prepare for future explorations of the moon."

NASA’s goal for the dual satellite LRO/LCROSS mission is to discover more about the Moon and apply it for future manned missions to the lunar surface.

For instance, NASA wants to locate suitable landing sites for future manned missions, along with understanding more about the radiation that impacts the Moon so that astronauts are as safe as possible while exploring and living on the Moon.

LCROSS, according to NASA, “… will search for water ice on the moon by sending the spent upper-stage Centaur rocket, about the size of a sports utility vehicle, to impact part of a polar crater in permanent shadows. LCROSS will fly into the plume of dust left by the impact and measure the properties before also colliding with the lunar surface.”

You can watch both launches on NASA Television, just check your local listing, or at NASA TV on the Web.