POT
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) probe was successfully placed in lunar orbit yesterday, after four and a half days of travel. "Correct insertion into lunar orbit was a crucial maneuver," explained Cathy Peddie of the Goddard Space Flight Center.
With a set of seven instruments, the LRO will make it possible to identify safe landing sites for future lunar explorers, and will try to confirm the presence of water and mineral elements that would allow the presence of man on the Moon for a long time. To achieve this goal, the spacecraft will revolve around our satellite for a year in an orbit located approximately 50 kilometers above its surface. Instruments on board will make it possible to obtain a high-resolution three-dimensional map of the lunar topography . In addition, the probe will try to find out what the effects of lunar radiation are on humans.
As reported by NASA, if all goes according to plan, the LRO will provide more information about the Moon than any other mission sent to the satellite .
