Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) preparations. All seven of the main instruments are seen here: LAMP (Lyman-Alpha Mapping Project),LEND (Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector),LROC (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera),LOLA (Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter),CRATER (Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation),Mini-RF (Miniature Radio Frequency) and Diviner (the Lunar Radiometer Experiment). The LRO will stay in lunar orbit for at least one Earth year,mapping the surface,surveying resources and identifying possible landing sites for manned missions. The LRO was launched on 18th June 2009 and entered lunar orbit on 23rd June 2009. Photographed in a clean room at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center,Maryland,USA |