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Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

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The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission will conduct investigations that will prepare for and support future human exploration of the Moon.

Assembly Progress
LRO spacecraft photo
June 12 . The High-Gain Antenna System is on the Orbiter! The HGAS provides communication coverage with the Earth in both the S-band and Ka-band radio frequencies. Also, the HGAS points a laser ranging telescope that we use to measure the distance between the earth and the Orbiter to a precision of 10 cm. The HGAS team has put in long hours integrating and testing this subsystem in preparation for its final installation on the Orbiter today. + More

  + Assembly Progress


Feature Stories
Feature: Click to view storyOne Million Names to the Moon
June 20 .   A million names will be blasted into space and "to the moon" on LRO. That's how many people have submitted their names to this project.

Feature: Click to view storyA Lunar Resting Place
May 16 .   When Joe Vitale passed away from brain cancer on February 2, 2007, his family and friends knew that he would not soon be forgotten. His Goddard family is remembering Joe by leaving a mark on his final project at NASA, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. They have engraved one of its reaction wheels in his honor.

Feature: Click to view storyLRO Begins Integration of Science Instruments
April 16 .   Several instruments that will help NASA characterize the moon's surface have been installed on LRO. The powerful equipment will bring the moon into sharper focus and reveal new insights about the Moon.

+ LRO Newsroom

Send your Name to the Moon
Join NASA's Return to the Moon!
Names will be collected and placed onboard the LRO spacecraft for its historic mission bringing NASA back to the moon. You will receive a certificate showcasing your support of the mission.   > Go to the Moon!

Mission Overview
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is the first mission in NASA's Vision for Space Exploration, a plan to return to the moon and then to travel to Mars and beyond. LRO will launch no earlier than November 24, 2008, with the objectives to finding safe landing sites, locate potential resources, characterize the radiation environment, and demonstrate new technology.   > More

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Multimedia
LRO Instrument Integration
LRO Instrument Integration
April 22, 2008
Constructing the LRO spacecraft.
I&T Activities
Building the LRO Spacecraft
February 28, 2008
I&T Activities
(This file requires Windows Media Player)
Catherine Peddie Return with LRO
December 2007.
The Deputy Project Manager talks about the LRO mission.
+ More Videos
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contact Jennifer Brill

For questions about the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Project,
contact Keith Opperhauser

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Curator: Jennifer Brill
NASA Official: Keith Opperhauser