NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), launched in 2009, has recently captured an image of India’s Chandrayaan-3 lander on the Moon’s surface. LRO’s primary objective is to create a 3D map of the lunar surface from polar orbit. Equipped with seven science instruments, including a powerful telescope and laser altimeter, LRO has been instrumental in studying the Moon’s geology, mineralogy, and environment. It has also contributed to discoveries such as identifying the coldest place in the solar system and searching for signs of water ice in dark craters.
Facts/Terms for UPSC Prelims
- Chandrayaan-3 Lander: India’s lunar lander mission, part of the Chandrayaan program, aimed at exploring the Moon’s surface. This mission followed Chandrayaan-2.
- Lunar Polar Orbit: An orbit that takes a spacecraft close to the Moon’s poles, providing a unique vantage point for scientific observations and exploration.
- Telescope and Camera System: A part of LRO’s instrumentation used for capturing high-resolution images of the Moon’s surface, enabling detailed analysis.
- Laser Altimeter: An instrument on LRO that measures the distance between the spacecraft and the lunar surface by shooting lasers and recording the time it takes for the laser beams to bounce back, creating 3D maps.
- Dark Craters: Areas on the Moon’s surface that are in perpetual shadow and have been of interest for their potential to contain water ice, which could be a valuable resource for future lunar exploration.
