Fri, Oct 24, 2008
LRO Undergoes Environmental Testing At Goddard SFC
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, has begun
environmental testing in a thermal vacuum that simulates the harsh
rigors of space.
The spacecraft, built at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in
Greenbelt, MD, has been lifted into a four-story thermal vacuum
chamber there for a test that will last approximately five weeks.
Once sealed in the chamber, the satellite will undergo a series of
tests that simulate the space environment it will encounter when it
orbits the moon.
During the tests, NASA engineers will operate the spacecraft to
ensure it is performing as planned. The project also will conduct
mission simulations to further train and develop the team that will
operate the spacecraft.
"This is an exciting time for our project," said Cathy Peddie,
LRO deputy project manager at Goddard. "Thermal vacuum testing is
one of our major milestones. Not only are we checking out LRO in a
test facility that most closely matches its final destination, but
we are getting more 'hands-on' time operating LRO as we will see it
next year at the moon."
The orbiter will carry seven instruments to provide scientists
with detailed maps of the lunar surface and enhance our
understanding of the moon's topography, lighting conditions,
mineralogical composition and natural resources. Information
gleaned from LRO will be used to select safe landing sites,
determine locations for future lunar outposts and help to mitigate
radiation dangers to astronauts.
The orbiter will be shipped to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in
Florida early next year to be prepared for its April 24 launch
aboard an Atlas V rocket. Accompanying the spacecraft will be the
Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, a mission that will
impact the moon's surface in its search for water ice.
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