Skip Navigation

Resources

Lunar Orbiter Diagram

Line drawing showing parts of spacecraft.
Source: NASA/Langley Research Center
Published: November 25, 2018

A diagram of Lunar Orbiter spacecraft.

Five Lunar Orbiter missions were launched in 1966 through 1967 with the purpose of mapping the lunar surface before the Apollo landings.

ENLARGE

Related

A whimsical mission poster inspired by classic 1960s pop culture art.
More
Comic book style poster of Cassini racing past Saturn.
Cassini Retro Poster: Whoosh!
This still is from a short computer-animated film that highlights Cassini's accomplishments and Saturn and reveals the science-packed final orbits between April and September 2017.
More
Ring dive 2
Ring Dive 2
This graphic shows the closest approaches, or periapses, of Cassini's final two orbital phases.The Ring-Grazing orbits are shown in gray; Grand Finale orbits are shown in blue. The orange line show...
More
Illustration showing orbit closeness to Saturn.
Close Orbits: Cassini Grand Finale (Artist's Concept)
The interaction of the solar wind with the Martian moon Phobos creates a complex electrical environment that could impact future exploration.
More
Animation showing moon interacting with solar wind.
Electric Charging on Martian Moon Phobos
In this computer-generated artist's concept, the Cassini spacecraft is shown breaking apart after entering Saturn's atmosphere.
More
Illustration of spacecraft breaking apart above Saturn.
Breakup (Illustration)
This illustration shows NASA’s Cassini spacecraft about to make one of its dives between Saturn and its innermost rings as part of the mission's Grand Finale. 
More
Illustration of Cassini diving between the rings of Saturn.
Cassini Grand Finale Dive (Illustration)
This still is from a short computer-animated film that highlights Cassini's accomplishments and Saturn and reveals the science-packed final orbits between April and September 2017.
More
Ring dive 1
Ring Dive 1
This illustration taken from the Cassini Grand Finale movie shows Cassini's fly-through of the Enceladus plume in October 2015.
More
Illustration showing tiny spacecraft in Enceladus plume.
Cassini at Enceladus (Illustration)
This still is from a short computer-animated film that highlights Cassini's accomplishments and Saturn and reveals the science-packed final orbits between April and September 2017.
More
Huygens landing
Huygens Landing
This illustration shows the position of NASA's Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 probes, outside of the heliosphere, a protective bubble created by the Sun that extends well past the orbit of Pluto. Voyager ...
More
diagram of bubble-shaped areas around sun with two spacecraft just outside them
Two Interstellar Travelers
In the still from the short film Cassini's Grand Finale, the spacecraft is shown diving between Saturn and the planet's innermost ring.
More
Color illustration of Cassini diving between Saturn and its innermost ring.
Ring Crossing (Illustration)
Artist's concept of the NEAR spacecraft at asteroid Eros.
More
Spacecraft with asteroid in background.
NEAR Spacecraft at Asteroid Eros (Artist's Concept)
This artist’s concept shows an over-the-shoulder view of Cassini making one of its Grand Finale dives over Saturn.
More
Illustration of spacecraft over Saturn.
Cassini Grand Finale Concept 3
This artist’s concept shows an over-the-shoulder view of Cassini making one of its Grand Finale dives over Saturn.
More
Illustration of spacecraft over Saturn.
Cassini Grand Finale Concept 2
This is an artist concept of the ring of debris that may orbit Saturn's second-largest moon, Rhea.
More
Saturn's moon Rhea
Artist Concept of Rhea Rings
A whimsical mission poster inspired by a 1970s advertising campaign.
More
Mock advertisement describing the Cassini mission's accomplishments.
Cassini Retro Poster: The Classic
This still is from a short computer-animated film that highlights Cassini's accomplishments and Saturn and reveals the science-packed final orbits between April and September 2017.
More
Iapetus and Saturn
Iapetus and Saturn
This still is from a short computer-animated film that highlights Cassini's accomplishments and Saturn and reveals the science-packed final orbits between April and September 2017. Download the vi...
More
Ring Gap
Ring Gap
Artist's concept of Mars Global Surveyor over Mars.
More
Spacecraft over Mars.
Mars Global Surveyor (Artist's Concept)
Cassini gazes across the icy rings of Saturn toward the icy moon Tethys, whose night side is illuminated by Saturnshine, or sunlight reflected by the planet.
More
Tethys and Saturn's rings
Saturn-lit Tethys
Artist rendering of NASA's Dawn spacecraft approaching Mars.
More
Artist Rendering of NASA's Dawn Spacecraft Approaching Mars
Artist Rendering of NASA's Dawn Spacecraft Approaching Mars
This graphic illustrates Cassini's trajectory, or flight path, during the final two phases of its mission. The 20 Ring-Grazing Orbits are shown in gray; the 22 Grand Finale Orbits are shown in blue...
More
This graphic illustrates Cassini's trajectory, or flight path, during the final two phases of its mission.
Final Orbits and Titan: Cassini Grand Finale (Artist's Concept)
Artist's concept of Lunar Prospector at the Moon.
More
Spacecraft above the Moon.
Lunar Prospector (Artist's Concept)
​On the final orbit, Cassini will plunge into Saturn fighting to keep its antenna pointed at Earth as it transmits its farewell. In the skies of Saturn, the journey ends, as Cassini becomes part of...
More
Short animation depicting Cassini's entry in the atmosphere.
Cassini's Final Plunge
Holiday greetings from the Cassini mission to Saturn.
More
Whimsical view of Cassini spacecraft made of snowflakes in orbit at Saturn.
Happy Holidays 2017

You Might Also Like