Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter:
Goals: NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) was sent to the Moon to make high-resolution maps of the composition of the lunar surface and seek out potential sources of water-ice that may exist in the bottom of dark polar craters. The spacecraft is seeking potential landing sites and resources for future human exploration of the Moon. LRO was launched with the
LCROSS lunar impact mission.
Accomplishments: One of the mission's first surprising discoveries was the super-cold temperatures in the permanently shadowed craters of the Moon's south polar region. The temperatures -- -238°C (-397°F) -- are among the coldest surface temperatures measured in the solar system, colder even than Pluto.
Read More About Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
Visit the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Website
The mission is a key step in NASA's plan to send astronauts back to the Moon.
