The Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS), managed by NASA's Ames Research Center in California, launched with LRO on June 18, 2009. LCROSS will search for water ice in a permanently shadowed crater near one of the moon's poles. Visit the Web site below for more information about LCROSS and the crater impact.
LRO has made detailed observations to support the LCROSS selection of a lunar south pole crater for its October 9 impact.
The laser ranging effort to track the LRO spacecraft produces distance measurements accurate to within about four inches over nearly 250,000 miles.
NASA showcased new images from LRO's seven instruments and provided updates about the topography of the moon's south pole during a news conference on Sept. 17, 2009.
NASA has selected 24 scientists to initiate new investigations and assist with planned measurements to be conducted by the agency's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
LRO and SDO will be the first missions to use a new antenna network at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico.