Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is a robotic mission launched by NASA to map the Moon’s surface. It was launched along with Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) aboard an Atlas V rocket on June 18, 2009.
The main objective of the mission was to make a 3D map of the Moon’s surface from lunar polar orbit. It was launched as part of the now-cancelled Lunar Precursor Robotic Program that aimed to identify landing sites and potential resources for future lunar missions. Some of the contributions by the robotic mission are information on day-night temperature maps, data required for global geodetic grid and detailed study of Moon’s polar regions, where there is a possible presence of water.