--LROLRO--Returning to the MoonReturning to the Moon

Fun Facts!Fun Facts!Distance to the Moon: 3.6 x 10Distance to the Moon: 3.6 x 1055 kmkm

Radius of the Moon: 1,738 kmRadius of the Moon: 1,738 km–– The Earth is only 3.7 times bigger than the The Earth is only 3.7 times bigger than the

Moon!Moon!

Mass of the Moon: 7.36 x 10Mass of the Moon: 7.36 x 102222 kgkg

Temperatures on the Moon: Temperatures on the Moon: –– Day: 134 Day: 134 ooCC (407K)(407K)

–– Night: Night: --153 153 ooCC (120K)(120K)

Length of a lunar Length of a lunar ““dayday””: ~708 hours: ~708 hours

Just a few moreJust a few more……

Age of the oldest moon rock: 4.5 Billion Age of the oldest moon rock: 4.5 Billion yearsyears

The moon is not round! It is an egg!The moon is not round! It is an egg!

On the moon 1 On the moon 1 ““dayday”” and 1 and 1 ““yearyear”” are the are the same lengthsame length

July 20, 1969: Neil Armstrong is the first July 20, 1969: Neil Armstrong is the first man on the moonman on the moon

Some HistorySome History1610 1610 –– Galileo first observes Galileo first observes the Moon through a telescopethe Moon through a telescope1959 1959 -- Luna 2, a soviet craft, Luna 2, a soviet craft, reaches the Moonreaches the Moon’’s surfaces surface1964 1964 –– Ranger 7 gives us the Ranger 7 gives us the first closefirst close--up TV pictures of up TV pictures of the Moonthe Moon’’s surfaces surface1966 1966 –– Luna 9 makes the first Luna 9 makes the first soft landing; Surveyor probe soft landing; Surveyor probe mission beginsmission begins1967 1967 –– Photographic map of Photographic map of the Moon completethe Moon complete1968 1968 –– Apollo 8 circles the Apollo 8 circles the Moon 10 timesMoon 10 times

History Marches OnHistory Marches On

1969 1969 –– Apollo 11 lands on Apollo 11 lands on the Moon!the Moon!1972 1972 –– Apollo 17 is the last Apollo 17 is the last manned landing of the manned landing of the Apollo programApollo program1976 1976 –– Luna 24 returns the Luna 24 returns the last sample from the Moonlast sample from the Moon1990 1990 –– Galileo images the Galileo images the far side of the Moonfar side of the Moon1994 1994 –– Clementine makes Clementine makes additional maps of the Moonadditional maps of the Moon2005 2005 –– LRO planning LRO planning beginsbegins

LRO LRO –– The GoalThe Goal

Creating a Creating a comprehensive comprehensive lunar atlaslunar atlas–– LRO is the first step in LRO is the first step in

returning to the Moonreturning to the Moon

–– Multiple instruments will Multiple instruments will map the Moon with a map the Moon with a wide variety of methodswide variety of methods

–– From these maps, future From these maps, future missions can be missions can be plannedplanned

The SpacecraftThe Spacecraft

The InstrumentsThe InstrumentsCosmic Ray Telescope (Cosmic Ray Telescope (CRaTERCRaTER))

Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment (DLRE)(DLRE)

Lyman Alpha Mapping Project (LAMP)Lyman Alpha Mapping Project (LAMP)

Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND)Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND)

Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA)Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA)

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC)(LROC)

Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS)Satellite (LCROSS)

LOLALOLA

Lunar Orbiter Laser AltimeterLunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter

Determines altitudes and slopes of lunar Determines altitudes and slopes of lunar surfacesurface

Will be used to make 3Will be used to make 3--D maps of the lunar D maps of the lunar surfacesurface

LCROSSLCROSS

Lunar Crater Lunar Crater Observation and Observation and Sensing SatelliteSensing Satellite

Late addition to the Late addition to the LRO teamLRO team

Will crash an SUVWill crash an SUV--sized probe into the sized probe into the surfacesurface

LCROSS will test the LCROSS will test the debris for water icedebris for water ice

Why Return?Why Return?Technologies and scientific techniques Technologies and scientific techniques can be tested, reducing risk for can be tested, reducing risk for exploration further into the solar systemexploration further into the solar system

Exploration of the Moon has been Exploration of the Moon has been neglectedneglected–– 1976 was the last time samples were returned 1976 was the last time samples were returned

from the Moonfrom the Moon

–– After Apollo, US interest in lunar exploration After Apollo, US interest in lunar exploration wanedwaned

–– There are many lunar processes we do not There are many lunar processes we do not understand. understand.

–– Understanding the Moon will help us Understanding the Moon will help us understand the solar systemunderstand the solar system

Any Questions?Any Questions?