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Aerospace Education Mentor |
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The Current Lunar Exploration Program
Image from NASA's LRO website
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
(LRO)- The LRO was built at the Goddard Space Center and was launched
on June 18th, 2009.
It carries six instruments
and one technology demonstration intended to conduct investigations specifically
targeted at preparing for future human exploration.
It is currently completing
photographic and mapping missions of the lunar surface from an altitude
of approximately 30 miles, searching for water ice deposits, and investigating
space (solar) radiation. Check on the latest LRO information at NASA's
Lunar Reconnaisance Orbiter website.
Aeres
5 (on left) and Aeres 1 launch vehicles
Orion approaching the space station |
Earth departure module wiith Altair lunar lander and Orion docked |
Orion approaching lunar orbit |
Altair lunar lander and Orion docked |
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Edward White, 'Gus' Grissom, Roger Chaffee |
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Landed July 20, 1969 Sea of Tranquility Returned to Earth July 24, 1968 |
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Landed November 19, 1969 Ocean of Storms Returned to Earth November 24, 1969 |
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Landed February 5, 1971 Fra Mauro Returned to Earth February 9, 1971 |
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Landed July 30, 1971 Hadley Rille Returned to Earth August 7, 1971 |
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Landed April 20, 1972 Descartes Returned to Earth April 27, 1972 |
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Landed December 11, 1972 Taurus-Littrow Returned to Earth December 19, 1972 |