NASA’s LRO releases final set of data from mission’s exploration phase
March 16th, 2011 - 5:28 pm ICT by ANIWashington, Mar 16 (ANI): NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has released the final set of data from the mission’s exploration phase along with the first measurements from its new life as a science satellite.
With this fifth release of data, striking new images and maps have been added to the already comprehensive collection of raw lunar data and high-level products, including mosaic images, that LRO has made possible.
“The release of such a comprehensive and rich collection of data, maps and images reinforces the tremendous success we have had with LRO in the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate and with lunar science,” saidMichael Wargo, chief lunar scientist of the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
Among the latest products is a global map with a resolution of 100 meters per pixel from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC). To enhance the topography of the Moon, this map was made from images collected when the Sun angle was low on the horizon.
“Because the Moon is so close and because we have a dedicated ground station, we are able to bring back as much data from LRO as from all the other planetary missions combined,” said LRO Project Scientist Richard Vondrak.
LRO’s Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment is providing new data relating to the Moon’s surface. These include maps of visual and infrared brightness, temperature, rock abundance, nighttime soil temperature and surface mineralogy. The data are in the form of more than 1700 digital maps at a range of resolutions that can be overlaid easily on other lunar data sets.
The Lyman-Alpha Mapping Project, which collects information to helpidentify surface water-ice deposits, especially in permanently-shadowed regions of the Moon, also has new data. This release includes new maps of far-ultraviolet (FUV) brightness, albedo and water-ice data as well as instrument exposure, illumination and other conditions.
As a complement to the high-resolution digital elevation maps, representing 3.4 billion measurements already released by the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter team, the group is delivering new maps of slope, roughness and illumination conditions. New maps from the Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector, and the latest data from the Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation and the Miniature Radio Frequency instruments, also are featured. (ANI)
- NASA'S LRO completes exploration mission phase - Sep 16, 2010
- Researchers create most comprehensive moon map - Dec 20, 2010
- NASA's LRO creates Moon's most precise landscape yet - Dec 18, 2010
- NASA spacecraft to take images of Apollo landing sites - Aug 12, 2011
- Twin NASA probes reach lunar orbit - Jan 02, 2012
- NASA's new lunar mission to hunt for water on Moon - Jun 19, 2009
- NASA's lunar reconnaissance orbiter begins detailed mapping of moon's south pole - Sep 18, 2009
- Moon map reveals titanium treasure trove - Oct 16, 2011
- NASA spacecraft gets its first look at Apollo moon landing sites - Jul 18, 2009
- Log onto www.moonzoo.org for a virtual walk on the moon - May 12, 2010
- Moon's surface more complex than previously thought - Sep 17, 2010
- Lost Soviet rover on moon traced - Mar 17, 2010
- NASA spacecraft sends first lunar images to Earth - Jul 03, 2009
- Moon may be shrinking - Aug 20, 2010
- Moon's craters can help improve Solar System surface-dating methods - Jul 28, 2010
Tags: brightness temperature, digital maps, exploration phase, exploration systems mission directorate, infrared brightness, lro, lunar data, lunar science, lyman alpha, mapping project, mosaic images, nasa headquarters, new maps, planetary missions, project scientist, science satellite, scientist richard, soil temperature, sun angle, surface mineralogy