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LRO Mission Updates
  • LRO Images Crater in Lunar Lake of Death
    LRO's camera has captured a view of a 40-km diameter (about 25 miles)
    crater located within Lacus Mortis (the Lake of Death) on the near side
    of the moon.

    View the image and read a detailed description at www.nasa.gov/lro.

  • LRO Sends its First Lunar Images to Earth
    NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has transmitted its first images
    since reaching the moon on June 23. The spacecraft's two cameras,
    collectively known as the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera, or LROC,
    were activated June 30. The cameras are working well and have returned
    images of a region in the lunar highlands south of Mare Nubium (Sea of
    Clouds).

    As the moon rotates beneath LRO, LROC gradually will build up
    photographic maps of the lunar surface.

    View these images and more at: www.nasa.gov/LRO

  • LRO Reaches Commissioning Orbit
    The final rocket burn that put the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter into its
    commissioning orbit around the moon was completed Saturday, June 27.

    While LRO is in this temporary orbit, engineers will activate and test
    the spacecraft's instruments.

  • LRO Executes Orbital Insertion Burn No. 4
    At 8:25 a.m. EDT on June 26, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter executed
    LOI-4. The 10-minute burn placed LRO in a 200 km circular polar orbit.
    Now in this low circular polar orbit, operations will begin to resemble
    the nominal mission with ground station passes coming and going on a
    regular frequency as the spacecraft passes behind the moon each orbit.

  • Additional LRO Engine Burns Completed Successfully
    Two more engine burns designed to place the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
    in a commissioning orbit around the moon have been successfully
    completed. The burns were conducted on June 24 and 25, respectively.
    (The burn that placed LRO in its initial orbit took place June 23.)

    Two more burns remain to establish the commissioning orbit, which is
    something of a temporary orbit that engineers use to power up and
    calibrate LRO’s instruments and systems. The next burn is scheduled for
    the morning of June 26.

    Roughly two months later, LRO transitions into its permanent orbit, 50
    km (about 31 miles) above the moon’s surface. From there it will begin
    in earnest its mission to map the lunar surface and search for the
    resources that would make possible a future human presence on the moon.

  • LRO Enters Orbit Around the Moon
    After a successful insertion rocket burn on the morning of June 23, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter's orbit was established shortly before 6:30 a.m. EDT.

    Rocket burns initiated by controllers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., have helped the moon capture LRO, which arrived after a five-day journey.

    Now LRO begins its primary mission of mapping the lunar surface to find future landing sites and searching for resources that would make possible a permanent human presence on the moon.

    Over the next several days, LRO's instruments will be turned on and its final orbit around the moon will be reached.

  • LRO Enters Orbit Around the Moon
    After a successful insertion rocket burn on the morning of June 23, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter entered orbit around the moon shortly after 6 a.m. EDT.

    Rocket burns initiated by controllers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., have helped the moon capture LRO, which arrived after a five-day journey.

    Now LRO begins its primary mission of mapping the lunar surface to find future landing sites and searching for resources that would make possible a permanent human presence on the moon.

    The rocket burn continues for several minutes to more firmly establish LRO's orbit.

  • LRO Enters Orbit Around the Moon
    After a successful insertion rocket burn on the morning of June 23, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter entered orbit around the moon shortly after 6 a.m. EDT.

    Rocket burns initiated by controllers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., have helped the moon capture LRO, which arrived after a five-day journey.

    Now LRO begins its primary mission of mapping the lunar surface to find future landing sites and searching for resources that would make possible a permanent human presence on the moon.

  • LRO On Track for Lunar Rendezvous
    Following a successful launch and separation on June 18, the Lunar
    Reconnaissance Orbiter is on schedule to reach the moon on June 23 at
    5:43 a.m. EDT.

  • Successful Spacecraft Separation
    NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, successfully separated from the Centaur upper stage and Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, spacecraft at 6:16:43 p.m. EDT.

    The official transfer of control from the Centaur rocket to LCROSS is expected about 9:30 p.m.

    LRO will reach the moon on Tuesday at 5:43 a.m.

    LCROSS and the Centaur rocket will stay attached for the next four months. They will then separate and be directed to impact the moon on Oct. 9, UTC.

  • Launch Success
    NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter launched at 5:32 p.m. EDT aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The satellite will relay more information about the lunar environment than any other previous mission to the moon.

    The orbiter, known as LRO, separated from the Atlas V rocket carrying it and a companion mission, the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite. The LCROSS handoff is expected to occur in about two hours and 10 minutes.

  • LRO and LCROSS Race for the Moon
    The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has separated from the Centaur upper stage and LCROSS spacecraft. LRO is on its way to the Moon. The trip will take about four days.

    Meanwhile the LCROSS spacecraft will stay connected to the Centaur upper stage and enter into a long orbit around the moon and Earth that will terminate in their planned impact into the lunar south pole.

  • Lunar Spacecraft Launch to Moon!
    The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite are bound for the moon after a flawless liftoff from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida aboard an Atlas V rocket.

    The Atlas V roared off the launch pad at Launch Complex 41 at 5:32 p.m. EDT to begin NASA's return to the moon missions.

  • Countdown Enters Final Minutes
    Mission managers have announced a "go" for the last launch attempt at 5:32 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

    The launch of two missions to the moon marks the first lunar foray for NASA's Constellation Program that aims to return humans to the lunar surface.

    The pair of spacecraft at the top of the Atlas V rocket are loaded with instruments to survey and document conditions on the moon, look for possible landing sites and evaluate the possibility that the moon's surface contains water or water vapor.

  • Last Launch Opportunity Chosen
    No technical issues have arisen for an on-time liftoff, but mission managers have decided for a launch attempt on the last opportunity of the day, at 5:32 p.m. EDT, in hopes the storm cell will move away from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

    If the launch slips to Friday, June 19, the launch opportunities would be 6:41 p.m., 6:51 p.m. and 7:01 p.m. EDT.

  • Atlas and Centaur Fueling Completed
    Fueling of the Atlas rocket and its Centaur upper stage has concluded. Small amounts will be replaced as the countdown continues to keep the fuel at flight levels for launch.

    No technical issues have arisen for an on-time liftoff, but mission managers continue to monitor the approaching storm clouds closing in on Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

    Today's launch opportunities at 5:12 p.m., 5:22 p.m. and 5:32 p.m. EDT could provide enough time for the Atlas V to lift off after the storm passes.

  • Storm Watch Over Launch Site
    Mission weather officers are monitoring a potential storm cell expected within the next hour.

    Fueling of the Atlas V/Centaur second stage will continue on schedule right now while mission managers look for the weather to clear before launch time.

    Today's launch opportunities at 5:12 p.m., 5:22 p.m. and 5:32 p.m. EDT could provide enough time for the Atlas V to lift off after the storm passes.

  • Fueling Under Way for Atlas V
    Supercold propellants are flowing into the first and second stages of the Atlas V rocket as it proceeds smoothly toward today's scheduled liftoff at 5:12 p.m. EDT.

    The first stage of the Atlas V uses highly refined kerosene and liquid oxygen to power its two main engines. The upper stage, known as Centaur, uses liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, just like the three main engines on the space shuttle.

    Launch Services Program officials including the launch director are watching the fueling and other processes carefully from NASA's Mission Director's Control Center at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, a short distance from the launch pad.

    The launch team is not working any technical issues now and the weather forecast remains 60 percent favorable for liftoff.

  • NASA's Return to the Moon on Track
    NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite are set to lift off together aboard an Atlas V rocket today at 5:12 p.m. EDT. The forecast looks promising with only a 40 percent chance that weather could hamper this afternoon's launch.

    Two additional launch opportunities also are available at 5:22 p.m. and 5:32 p.m.

    Live launch coverage is available on NASA TV at www.nasa.gov/ntv and up-to-the minute countdown milestones can be found on NASA's Launch Blog.

  • LRO/LCROSS Launch Day Arrives
    NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite are set to lift off together aboard an Atlas V rocket today at 5:12 p.m. EDT. Two additional launch opportunities also are available at 5:22 p.m. and 5:32 p.m.

    Live coverage begins at 2 p.m. on NASA TV at www.nasa.gov/ntv and up-to-the minute countdown milestones can be found on NASA's Launch Blog.

  • LRO/LCROSS Launch Date Set
    NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite are set to lift off together aboard an Atlas V rocket on Thursday, June 18, at 5:12 p.m. EDT. Two additional launch opportunities are available at 5:22 p.m. and 5:32 p.m.

    In preparation for liftoff, the Atlas V launch vehicle is scheduled to roll out to the pad Wednesday at 10 a.m.

    Countdown milestones can be found on NASA's Launch Blog beginning at 2 p.m. EDT.

  • New Launch Date Set
    As a result of the rescheduling of space shuttle Endeavour's STS-127 mission for June 17, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite are now set to lift off together aboard an Atlas V rocket on Thursday, June 18.

    There will be three launch opportunities from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 5:12 p.m., 5:22 p.m. and 5:32 p.m. EDT.

  • LRO/LCROSS Closer to Launch
    The Flight Readiness Review for LRO/LCROSS was held June 10, and there were no issues or concerns that would preclude a launch on June 17.

    On June 11, a mission dress rehearsal was conducted. This was a high-fidelity exercise for the launch team, affirming their readiness for the countdown.

    The Atlas V and LRO/LCROSS spacecraft have been undergoing prelaunch preparations in the Vertical Integration Facility adjacent to the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The spacecraft closeouts for flight were completed June 10.

    In preparation for launch, the Atlas V launch vehicle with LRO/LCROSS atop is scheduled to be rolled out to the pad June 16 at 10 a.m. EDT.

    The countdown on launch day will start at 8:41 a.m. for a liftoff targeted for 3:51 p.m.

    Watch the LRO/LCROSS prelaunch news conference set for today at 1 p.m. EDT broadcast on NASA TV.

  • LRO/LCROSS Launch Moves Forward
    The launch and mission teams for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Spacecraft missions met on Wednesday in Florida for the Flight Readiness Review, or FRR.

    The teams announced that there are no major issues or concerns to hamper launch at this time.

    Final spacecraft closeouts are underway at the launch pad and countdown dress rehearsal activities are planned for all day Thursday.

    A Launch Readiness Review, or LRR, is scheduled for Monday at 9 a.m. EDT. A prelaunch news conference will be held after the LRR and is planned for 1 p.m. EDT. The briefing will be broadcast live from the news center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on NASA TV.

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