Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

LUNAR RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER Launch Date: October 31, 2008. Launch Site: Kennedy Space Centre. Four days to moon 2 Orbiter released from upper stage of Atlas-Centaur rocket D 86 days after launch LCROSS S-S/C performs final targetting Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite 3 Goes into manoeuVre Lunar orbit - A Centaur performs 4-6 days divert manoeuvre, E s-S/C positioning itself for fly by of the moon 4 THRUSTER Orbiter will seperates from Centaur and then adjust until it is in correct orbit for mapping – up to 60 days manoeuvres to observe impact SOLAR PANEL 5 Polar mapping phase, 30 miles altitude, identifying likely sites – at least 1 year SPECTROMETER F s-S/C INFRA RED inverts and CAMERAS analyses plume after Centaur Moon's South Pole ·LEND provides measurements, creates maps, detects possible near-surface water ice deposits impacts moon at 5,600mph G 15 Minutes later S-S/C also impacts creating smaller earth observable plume SOLAR ARRAY SEE C Fuel tank is left open leaving remaining hydrogen and oxygen to boil off to avoid contaminating impact plume LAMP images the Moon's permanently shadowed region 2 hours in and Shepherd- ing Spacecraft (S-S/C) takes over navigation DIVINER measures lunar surface temperatures GRAPHIC: STEF BAYLEY SOURCE: NASA From Earth FIRST PASS