Lunar Precursor Robotic Program

The Lunar Precursor Robotic Program (LPRP) is a program of robotic spacecraft missions which NASA will use to prepare for future human spaceflight missions to the Moon. [cite web | url = http://moon.msfc.nasa.gov/ | title = Lunar Precursor Robotic Program | publisher = NASA | accessdate = 2008-02-26 ] Two LPRP missions, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS), are scheduled to launch early in 2009. [ [http://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/schedule.html NASA Launch Schedule] , retrieved August 8, 2008]

Program history

Initially, the LPRP program was a part of the Science Mission Directorate of NASA (SMD) and was called the Robotic Lunar Exploration Program (RLEP). Management of the RLEP program was assigned to Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in February, 2004. At that time, the Program's goal was to "...initiate a series of robotic missions to the Moon to prepare for and support future human exploration activities." [cite web | url = http://lunar.gsfc.nasa.gov/library/vondrak0904.pdf | title = Robotic Lunar Exploration Program 2008 Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) | first = Richard last = Vondrak | publisher=NASA |date = 2004 09] In 2005, responsibility for RLEP was moved to NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) and management assigned to the Ames Research Center (ARC). In 2006, the program was renamed to the Lunar Precursor Robotic Program and management responsibility re-assigned to the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC).

LRO

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is the first mission of the LPRP program. Management of LRO was assigned to Goddard Space Flight Center in 2004. LRO will launch on an Atlas V 401 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Stationcite web | url = http://lunar.gsfc.nasa.gov/launch.html | title = Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Launch | publisher=lunar.gsfc.nasa.gov | accessdate = 2008-03-22] in early 2009. It will orbit the Moon for one year, gathering high resolution images of the lunar surface that will allow the creation of detailed maps. LRO's goals include finding safe landing sites for human visits to the Moon, identifying lunar resources, and studying the lunar radiation environment.

LCROSS

The Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission is co-manifested with LRO. It was selected as a secondary payload in 2006, and management of the program was assigned to Ames Research Center (ARC). The mission will explore a permanently shadowed region of a lunar pole by crash-landing the 2,000 kg spent Centaur rocket upper stage of the Atlas 5 launch vehicle into a dark crater. The composition of the ejecta plume will be observed by an accompanying "shepherding spacecraft" which will itself crash-land 10 minutes later, creating a second plume.

Future projects

As LRO and LCROSS send back high-resolution data, the Lunar Mapping and Modeling project will use those data to develop detailed topographic maps of the lunar surface. In addition, solar radiation levels will be mapped and modeled. These integrated data will be used to make decisions about, for example, lunar outpost designs.

ee also

* Exploration of the Moon
* List of future lunar missions
* Lunar ice
* Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

References

External links

* [http://lro.larc.nasa.gov/ Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Acquisition Program]