Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) OverviewThe Instrument Suite and Mission Status
Gordon Chin – LRO Project ScientistNASA Goddard Space Flight Center
9th ILEWG International Conference onExploration and Utilization of the Moon
Sorrento, ItalyOctober 22-26, 2007
9th ILEWG International Conference onExploration and Utilization of the Moon
Sorrento, ItalyOctober 22-26, 2007
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission Objectives
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission Objectives
Safe Landing Sites• High resolution
imagery • Global geodetic grid • Topography• Rock abundances
Safe Landing Sites• High resolution
imagery • Global geodetic grid • Topography• Rock abundances
Locate Potential Resources• Hydrogen/water at the
lunar poles• Continuous solar energy• Mineralogy
Space Environment• Energetic
particles• Neutrons
11/29/2007
NASA’s Vision For Space Exploration LRO’s Role
NASA’s Vision For Space Exploration LRO’s Role
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is NASA’s first step in returning humans to the Moon.
The LRO mission will enable future exploration and also return lunar data that will significantly advance lunar and planetary science.
LRO focuses on identifying safe landing sites, locates lunar resources, and studies how the lunar radiation environment will affect humans.
LRO will create the comprehensive atlas of the Moon’s features and resources necessary to design and build the lunar outpost.
The LRO payload, comprised of six instruments and one technology demonstration, will provide unique and the most comprehensive data set ever returned from the Moon.
11/29/2007
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission Objectives
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission Objectives
Safe Landing SitesHigh resolution imagery
Global geodetic grid Topography
Rock abundances
Safe Landing SitesHigh resolution imagery
Global geodetic grid Topography
Rock abundances
Locate Potential ResourcesHydrogen/water at the lunar poles
Continuous solar energyMineralogy
Space EnvironmentEnergetic particles
Neutrons
11/29/2007
Luna
Surveyor
Apollo
“Top 10” Lunar Exploration Sites+
LRO Enables Global Lunar Surface AccessLRO Enables Global Lunar Surface Access
Near Side Far Side
+
+
++
+
+
1112 14
15 17
16
5631
7
24
21
20
17
16
13
9
3Aristarchus Plateau
OceanusProcellarum
Mare TranquillitatisRima Bode
Orientale BasinFloor
+Mare Smythii
+Central Farside
Highlands
South Pole-Aitken BasinFloor
South Pole+
North Pole+
Apollo 15-17 Panoramic Camera(unregistered)
Current Apollo heritage image set onlyCovers 4 of 10 ESAS sites.
LRO Global Topography, Imagery and Resource Maps
LRO 1m Landing Site Images
LRO extends coverage to entire Moon Most other high priority sites identified lie outside Apollo heritage area
11/29/2007
LRO Project Implementing Organizations
LRO Project Implementing Organizations
NASA HQ ESMDProgram Level Management
Level 1 Requirements
GSFC LRO ProjectMission ManagementMission Operations
Spacecraft BusGround Data System
KSCLaunch Services
(Lockheed Martin)
Boston University/MITCRaTER
Arizona State University/MSSSLROC
GSFCLOLA
Southwest Research InstituteLAMP
UCLA/JPLDiviner
Federal Space Agency of Russia/Russian Institute for Space
ResearchLEND
Naval Air Warfare Command/SOMDMini-RF
MSFCLPRP Program Office
Instrument Navigation/Landing Site Safety Locate Resources Life in Space
Environment
CRaTERCosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation
• High Energy Radiation
• Radiation effects on human tissue
DLREDiviner Lunar RadiometerExperiment
• Rock abundance• Temperature• Mineralogy
LAMPLyman Alpha Mapping Project
• Surface Ice• Image Dark Craters
LENDLunar Exploration Neutron Detector
• Subsurface Hydrogen Enhancement
• Localization of Enhancement
• Neutron Radiation Environment
LOLALunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter
• Slopes• Topography/Rock
Abundance• Geodesy
• Simulation of Lighting Conditions
• Crater Topography• Surface Ice Reflectivity
LROCLunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera
• Rock hazards• Small craters
• Polar Illumination Movies
• Mineralogy
Mini-RFTechnology Demonstration
8
Russia Contributes to LRO with LENDRussia Contributes to LRO with LEND
Signing of LEND Interim Agreement during SPACE WEEK in Moscow - Oct 2007
Mitrofanov & Chin meet the Russian press
Griffin (NASA) Perminov (Roskosmos)
11/29/2007
LRO has international partnersLRO has international partners
• IKI provides LEND instrument to LRO– Russian student exchange with University of Maryland for LEND
data analysis
• KAGUYA data exchange & coordination with LRO– V-SAT farside gravity measurements– Laser altimetry data for high latitudes– HDTV images for education and public outreach– KAGUYA launch blog for the Planetary Society
• SMART-1– LCROSS impact site characterization– Education and public outreach cooperation
• Chandrayaan-1 has an instrument similar to LRO’s Mini-RF with unique opportunity for coordinated observations
• IKI provides LEND instrument to LRO– Russian student exchange with University of Maryland for LEND
data analysis
• KAGUYA data exchange & coordination with LRO– V-SAT farside gravity measurements– Laser altimetry data for high latitudes– HDTV images for education and public outreach– KAGUYA launch blog for the Planetary Society
• SMART-1– LCROSS impact site characterization– Education and public outreach cooperation
• Chandrayaan-1 has an instrument similar to LRO’s Mini-RF with unique opportunity for coordinated observations
11/29/2007
LRO SpacecraftLRO Spacecraft
Solar Array (Deployed)
Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND)
Mini-RF Technology Demo
Instrument Module(LOLA, LROC, LAMP)
High Gain Antenna System
Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation
(CRaTER)
Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment (DLRE)
Spacecraft Bus
ACS Thruster Module (1 of 4)
11/29/2007
Half of LRO Mass is PropellantLRO’s Data Volume is EnormousHalf of LRO Mass is Propellant
LRO’s Data Volume is Enormous
LRO Orbiter Characteristics
Mass (CBE) 1823 kgDry: 924 kg, Fuel: 898 kg (1263 m/sec)
Orbit Average Bus Power 681 W
Data Volume,Max Downlink rate
459 Gigabits/day, 100 Megabits/sec
Pointing Accuracy, Knowledge
60, 30 arc-sec
Solar Array (Deployed)
11/29/2007
LRO Mission OverviewLRO Mission Overview
Launch in late 2008 on a Atlas V.
Co-manifested with LCROSS lunar impactor mission.
Direct insertion trajectory to the Moon
Propulsion system used to insert into and maintain 50 km mean altitude circular polar orbit around the Moon.
Orbiter is a 3-axis stabilized, nadir pointed spacecraft.
Data products delivered to Planetary Data Systems (PDS) within 6 months of primary mission completion.
Baseline 1 year mission with extended mission options.
Launch in late 2008 on a Atlas V.
Co-manifested with LCROSS lunar impactor mission.
Direct insertion trajectory to the Moon
Propulsion system used to insert into and maintain 50 km mean altitude circular polar orbit around the Moon.
Orbiter is a 3-axis stabilized, nadir pointed spacecraft.
Data products delivered to Planetary Data Systems (PDS) within 6 months of primary mission completion.
Baseline 1 year mission with extended mission options.
LRO
LCROSS
4.00 m
11/29/2007
LRO Mission OverviewLRO Mission Overview
Minimum EnergyLunar Transfer ~ 4 Days
Lunar Orbit InsertionSequence, 4-6 Days
Commissioning Phase,30 x 216 km AltitudeQuasi-Frozen Orbit,
Up to 60 Days
Polar Mapping Phase,50 km Altitude Circular Orbit,
At least 1 Year
Current Launch Schedule: October 28, 2008
Nominal End of Mission: February 2010
LRO Speed and Distance Relative to Earth
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
10/29/12 0:00 10/30/12 0:00 10/31/12 0:00 11/1/12 0:00 11/2/12 0:00 11/3/12 0:00 11/4/12 0:00
Date
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
300000
Dis
tanc
e (k
m)
LRO Trans-Lunar Trajectory (Looking down on N Pole)
Earth
Moon
LRO Trajectory
LRO Trans-Lunar Trajectory (Looking down on N Pole)
Earth
Moon
LRO Trajectory
LRO Speed and Distance Relative to Earth
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
10/29/12 0:00 10/30/12 0:00 10/31/12 0:00 11/1/12 0:00 11/2/12 0:00 11/3/12 0:00 11/4/12 0:00
Date
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
300000
Dis
tanc
e (k
m)
LRO is in an intense phase of developmentLRO is in an intense phase of development
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Program Control
LRO Mission Milestones
LRO S/C Des/Fab/Build
CRaTER
DLRE
LAMP
LEND
LROC
LOLA
Mini-RF
GS/MO DevelopmentImplemention & Test
Integration and Test
Ship/Launch Site Ops
Flight Operations
9/27SRR 11/6CDR PER 10/28 AOSelect 4/27
IAR IPDR PDR
NAR IBR
6/17
FORR
10/24
LRRFLT Batteryto I&T
PDR (9/28) CDR (6/26) PER (10/5-TBD)
(Del) to GSFC(12/17)
PDR (9/14) CDR (5/18) PER (7/31)
(Del) to GSFC(12/3)
PER (9/12) CDR (4/13) PER (6/6-completed)
(Del) to GSFC(12/17)
PDR (9/21) CDR (6/12) PER (8/28-TBD)
(Del) to GSFC(12/24)
PDR (9/8) CDR (5/31)
DPDR (10/5) CDR (7/13) PER (8/23-TBD)
(Del) to GSFC(12/28)
PDR (5/11) CDR (2/20) PER (TBD)
(Del) to GSFC(11/19)
Network Decision Regt's Peer Review
Mission ConOps (Final)
Mission Ops TestingRehearsals/Excercises (complete)
I&T Start
LRO Ready for Ship to KSC
Nominal Mission (end)
CY
Testing
Test/Align/Fuel/Install
Phase B
ITP
GS Release #1
S-Band AwardS.Array
WS1 TestReadiness
GS Release #2GS Release #3(GS Freeze)
(start) Integ.
Extended Mission
ITP Readyfor Integ.
IM Readyfor Integ.
PM Ready for Integ.
Orbiter Integ.(complete)
Orbiter Testing(complete)
Envir. Testing
LAUNCH
5/176 complete(MRF 2/20)
PSR LAUNCH
Solar ModBattery Award
Phase B Phase C Phase D
GNC HWAwarded
ICDR
10/6 2/7 6/28
Commissioning Complete
8/144/3
PSE KaPM
9/14MOR
WAC/SCS & NAC#1 (1/7)
NAC#2(2/4)
(LROC PER 10/31-TBD)
19
LRO Flight Components LRO Flight Components
ETU Avionics Module Radiator Received
Avionics Module Harness Assembly
LRO Solar Array Panel
LRO Flight TWT LRO HGA Main Reflector
Ka-Band Horn &
Polarizer
S-Band Omni Antennas
11/29/2007
LRO Spacecraft Hardware Elements to be integratedLRO Spacecraft Hardware Elements to be integrated
Flight Propulsion Module Assembly
Flight Instrument Module prepared for testing
11/29/2007
LRO Cable Mockup and Spacecraft BusLRO Cable Mockup and Spacecraft Bus
Solar Array Substrate Pre-Solar cells
ETU Reaction Wheel Set Up for Testing
Gimbal Control Electronics EM#1
C&HD (Spacecraft Computer) ETU #1
Spacecraft Flight Power Electronics in Assembly
LRO Spacecraft Mock-upLRO Battery Module
Star Tracker in Testing
Flight Propulsion Module Assembly Flight S/C Bus
Flight Avionics Panel prior to T-VAC
Flight Instrument Module prepared
for testing
11/29/2007
LRO Instrument Development StatusLRO Instrument Development Status
LOLA Engineering Model Receiver TelescopeCRaTER Engineering Model
LOLA Optical Transceiver
Assembly HousingLAMP Flight Unit
23
LRO Instrument Development StatusLRO Instrument Development Status
LROC Flight Module Narrow Angle Camera Tube
LROC Flight Module Primary Mirror in Polishing Machine
Mini-RF Flight Antenna
24
Sample of September LRO AccomplishmentsSample of September LRO Accomplishments
Diviner Flight Baffles Installed on OBA Signing of LEND Interim Agreement Flight PSE Cards in Test
Mini-RF Flight Antenna LAMP MLI Blanket Installation
11/29/2007
LRO Ground System Development StatusLRO Ground System Development Status
S Band Tracking & TelemetryStations
Ka-S Band AntennaAt White Sands Mission Operations Center
at NASA GSFC
SOUTH POINT, HAWAII
DONGARA, AUSTRALIA
WEILHEIM,GERMANY
11/29/2007
LRO Ground Segment OverviewLRO Ground Segment Overview
• Mission Operations Center & Flight Dynamics Facility at GSFC
• Primary Ground Station at White Sands (Ka & S-Band)
• Global S-Band TT&C provided by NASA GN & SN.
• Science Operations Centers (SOC) at PI institutions
• S-band tracking augmented by laser ranging system to improve accuracy.
11/29/2007
Expected LRO Data VolumesExpected LRO Data Volumes
11/29/2007
LRO Project Science Working Group Meeting (PSWG) convened representatives of many nations
LRO Project Science Working Group Meeting (PSWG) convened representatives of many nations
East West Center, University of Hawaii28-30 November 2006
Prof. Kato, KAGUYA Chief Scientist
Bernard Foing ESA/ILEWG Bernard Foing ESA/ILEWG Prof. Mitrofanov, LRO LEND PI
11/29/2007
The format of the PSWG meeting has both plenary and breakout sessions and is designed to:The format of the PSWG meeting has both plenary and breakout sessions and is designed to:
• Capture the collective wisdom from all participants– Greater emphasis on discussion rather than
presentations– Facilitator solicits discussions from diverse points of
view– Reporter captures discussion while enabling the
facilitator – Presentations bring breakout results to plenary for
consensus and further comments
• Formulate strategies for implementation – In a nutshell - Opportunities, Obstacles, and Options
• Capture the collective wisdom from all participants– Greater emphasis on discussion rather than
presentations– Facilitator solicits discussions from diverse points of
view– Reporter captures discussion while enabling the
facilitator – Presentations bring breakout results to plenary for
consensus and further comments
• Formulate strategies for implementation – In a nutshell - Opportunities, Obstacles, and Options
11/29/2007
Five breakout sessions on topics for potential international collaboration & cooperation among all lunar missionsFive breakout sessions on topics for potential international collaboration & cooperation among all lunar missions
1. Employing a standard lunar coordinate systemMaria Zuber, Facilitator Brent Archinal & Lisa Gaddis, Recorders
2. Establishing a standard set of calibration targets for instrument calibration and comparison
Carle Pieters, Facilitator David Smith, Recorder
3. Formulating opportunities for scientific collaborations among missionsAlan Stern, Facilitator John Keller, Recorder
4. Facilitating international access of data from all missions in a standard format
Susan Slavney, FacilitatorEd Guiness, Recorder
5. Coordinating a program of international education and public outreach (EPO) based on lunar exploration
Cherilynn Morrow, Facilitator Stephanie Stockman, Recorder
1. Employing a standard lunar coordinate systemMaria Zuber, Facilitator Brent Archinal & Lisa Gaddis, Recorders
2. Establishing a standard set of calibration targets for instrument calibration and comparison
Carle Pieters, Facilitator David Smith, Recorder
3. Formulating opportunities for scientific collaborations among missionsAlan Stern, Facilitator John Keller, Recorder
4. Facilitating international access of data from all missions in a standard format
Susan Slavney, FacilitatorEd Guiness, Recorder
5. Coordinating a program of international education and public outreach (EPO) based on lunar exploration
Cherilynn Morrow, Facilitator Stephanie Stockman, Recorder
The LRO Education and Public Outreach Plan
Stephanie Stockman
SSAI-NASA GSFC
JAXA & LRO supported a blog of the KAGUYA Launch for The Planetary Society
Can we do more of this among the international missions for a broader world-wide audience?
KAGUYA Launched 14 Sept 2007Tanegashima, Japan
http://www.planetary.org/explore/topics/kaguya/launch_blog.html
A PROPOSED STRATEGY FOR INTERNATIONAL LRO EPO COORDINATION
derived from the results of the International EPO Breakout Group (C. Morrow, facilitator) at the November 2006 LRO Project Science Working Group Meeting in Honolulu, HI
LRO EPO
INTERNATIONALPROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES &
WORKING GROUPS
GLOBALIZINGEPO PROGRAMS
INTERNATIONALYEARS & DECADES
INTERNATIONALLUNAR MISSIONS
• Intl Planetarium Society• Planetary Society• Intl Lunar Exploration WG• LRO Project Science WG• AGU/EGU• Etc..
• GLOBE• Networks of remote telescopes
• Lunar Student Imaging• JPL’s Visualization Alliance (Sci Centers & Planetariums)
• SMART-1’s Images & Adopt-a-Crater • SELENE’s High-Definition TV images• M3 EPO for Chandrayaan• European Student Moon Orbiter• etc.
• UN Basic Space Science in Developing Countries• International Lunar Decade• International Heliophysical Year & International Polar Year• International Year of Planet Earth• International Year of Astronomy
11/29/2007
SummarySummary
• Important initial steps taken
• Important to keep the momentum of the LRO PSWG going
• Keep on talking to as many international missions and organizations as possible
• Meeting report published in Chin, Keller and Morrow, “Lunar Planetary Information Bulletin, May 2007, Issue 110,”downloadable www.lpi.usra.edu./lpib
• Important initial steps taken
• Important to keep the momentum of the LRO PSWG going
• Keep on talking to as many international missions and organizations as possible
• Meeting report published in Chin, Keller and Morrow, “Lunar Planetary Information Bulletin, May 2007, Issue 110,”downloadable www.lpi.usra.edu./lpib