Exploring the Moon

Robert S. Smith
Aerospace Education Mentor

Last Updated-June 8th, 2010 Contact Bo Smith

Exploring the Moon
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
The Constellation and Apollo Programs

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.

President Obama has halted the Constellation Program. It is unclear if any aditional missions will be flown to the Moon. Obama's concept is that we have "done the Moon" , although there is a lot of valuable lunar science that remains to be completed. It is likely that many aspects of the Constellation program will be continued but the emphasis will be to focus on targets more distant than the Moon such as asteroids, Mars, and the moons of Mars.

The Constellation Program
The concept and timeline for the Constellation Program intended to develop a new launch system and crew vehicle for earth orbit, moon exploration, and future manned missions to Mars!

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

Altair lunar lander on Moon surface

The Apollo Program

" The Apollo program was designed to land humans on the Moon and bring them back safely to Earth. Six of the missions (Apollo 11, 12,14, 15, 16, and 17) achieved this goal. Apollos 7 and 10 were Earth orbitng missions to test the Command and Lunar modules. Apollos 8 and 10 tested various components while orbiting the Moon and returned photography of the lunar surface. Apollo 13 did not land on the Moon due to a malfunction, but also returned photographs.
Apollos 18, 19, and 20 were cancelled. "
(from http://nssdc.gfsc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apollo.html)

Apollo 1 Tragedy
January 27, 1967

Edward White, 'Gus' Grissom, Roger Chaffee

The Apollo 1 crew were killed in a fire in the Command Module during a preflight test of the Command Module.

Apollo Missions That Landed on the Moon
Click 'here' for a website that shows the Apollo landing sites on the lunar surface.

	Launched July 16, 1969 Landed July 20, 1969 Sea of Tranquility Returned to Earth July 24, 1968
	Launched November 14, 1969 Landed November 19, 1969 Ocean of Storms Returned to Earth November 24, 1969
	Launched January 31, 1971 Landed February 5, 1971 Fra Mauro Returned to Earth February 9, 1971
	Launched July 26, 1971 Landed July 30, 1971 Hadley Rille Returned to Earth August 7, 1971
	Launched April 16, 1972 Landed April 20, 1972 Descartes Returned to Earth April 27, 1972
	Launched December 07, 1972 Landed December 11, 1972 Taurus-Littrow Returned to Earth December 19, 1972