LRO-LCROSS Blog Update http://www.nasa.gov/lro en-us <![CDATA[Launch Blog Wrapping Up After Successful Launch]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:38:04 GMT <![CDATA[Launch Team Excited by Liftoff]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:28:44 GMT <![CDATA[LRO on its own]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:17:13 GMT <![CDATA[Centaur Shuts Down]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:14:18 GMT <![CDATA[Centaur Ignites Engine Second Time]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:09:14 GMT <![CDATA[Centaur Engine Shuts Down as Planned]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:46:24 GMT <![CDATA[Centaur Firing]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:46:04 GMT <![CDATA[First Stage Booster Separation]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:38:19 GMT <![CDATA[Payload Fairing Separates]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:38:07 GMT <![CDATA[Atlas Flies Strong]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:34:17 GMT <![CDATA[LIFTOFF!]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:32:33 GMT <![CDATA[Atlas, Centaur on Internal Power]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:30:16 GMT <![CDATA[Countdown Resumes]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:28:14 GMT <![CDATA[Launch Teams "Go" for Liftoff]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:26:31 GMT <![CDATA[Launch Polls on Deck]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:18:56 GMT <![CDATA[Range is "Go"]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:17:43 GMT <![CDATA[Spacecraft are on Internal Power]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:15:30 GMT <![CDATA[Clearing Weather Forecast]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:11:43 GMT <![CDATA[Launch Team Draws Up Weather Strategy]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:08:36 GMT <![CDATA[Launch Time Resets for 5:32 p.m.]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:59:11 GMT <![CDATA[Countdown in Planned Hold]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:52:01 GMT <![CDATA[Launch Team Considering Options]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:41:05 GMT <![CDATA[The Prospect of Lunar Ice]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:34:39 GMT <![CDATA[Atlas and Centaur Fueled]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:17:55 GMT <![CDATA[Launch Weather Conditions "No-Go" Now]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:09:31 GMT <![CDATA[Centaur Liquid Hydrogen Tanking Begins]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:00:33 GMT <![CDATA[Weather Concern Continues]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:45:13 GMT <![CDATA[Centaur Oxygen Tank Filled]]>
Even after the tanks are filled, the propellants will continue to be slowly pumped in to replace the propellant that evaporates during the count, a process known as "topping off." Like the space shuttle, the Atlas launch pad is equipped with lines that funnel evaporating propellants away from the rocket until liftoff.]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:39:07 GMT <![CDATA[Storm Expected in Area]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:30:28 GMT <![CDATA[Atlas Liquid Oxygen Tanking Begins]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:30:22 GMT <![CDATA[LCROSS, Centaur Will Join List of Lunar Impactors]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:19:29 GMT <![CDATA[Liquid Oxygen Flowing into Centaur]]>
The launch team is not working any technical issues now and the weather forecast remains 60 percent favorable for liftoff.]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:12:14 GMT <![CDATA[Centaur Transfer Line Chilldown Under Way]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:59:37 GMT <![CDATA[Countdown Resumes]]>
The launch team is taking steps to prepare the Centaur liquid oxygen storage tank, Atlas liquid oxygen vault and mobile launcher platform supporting the Atlas for the extremely cold propellants that will begin flowing shortly.]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:52:08 GMT <![CDATA[Launch Officials Give "Go" for Cryogenic Tanking]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:49:08 GMT <![CDATA[From the Mission Director's Center]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:39:57 GMT <![CDATA[Atlas V Propulsion]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:23:28 GMT <![CDATA[Two Missions on One Rocket]]>
Each spacecraft will evaluate the lunar surface in unique ways. The LRO will go into orbit just 31 miles above the lunar surface. Using seven instruments, it will take high-resolution photos of the moon along with detailed readings of temperatures, radiation and other factors NASA needs to know when deciding where to send astronauts on future missions.

The LCROSS mission will search for water by guiding the empty Centaur upper stage into a permanently shadowed crater near the moon's south pole. The LCROSS will fly through the plume so its instruments can analyze the dust and elements before it collides with the moon itself.]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:12:16 GMT <![CDATA[Atlas V, Two Lunar Spacecraft Poised for Launch]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:03:24 GMT <![CDATA[Join Us For Launch Coverage at 2 p.m.]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:22:52 GMT <![CDATA[Follow the Launch Blog]]> Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:47:51 GMT