LRO SRR
LRO Mission Overview
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
03 - 1
2008 Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO)
First Step in the Robotic Lunar Exploration Program
Robotic Lunar Exploration Program
LRO Objectives
• Characterization of the lunar radiation
environment, biological impacts, and potential
mitigation. Key aspects of this objective include
determining the global radiation environment,
investigating the capabilities of potential shielding
materials, and validating deep space radiation
prototype hardware and software.
• Develop a high resolution global, three
dimensional geodetic grid of the Moon and provide
the topography necessary for selecting future
landing sites.
• Assess in detail the resources and environments
of the Moon’s polar regions.
• High spatial resolution assessment of the Moon’s
surface addressing elemental composition,
mineralogy, and Regolith characteristics
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
03 - 2
LRO Mission Overview
Science and Exploration Objectives
ICE (Resources)
Human adaptation
Biological adaptation to
lunar environment
(radiation, gravitation, dust...)
Topography & Environments
Environs
Polar
Regions
GEOLOGY
Prepare for Human
Exploration
Understand the current state and
evolution of the volatiles (ice)
and other resources in context
Develop an understanding of the
Moon in support of human
exploration (hazards, topography,
navigation, environs)
When • Where • Form • Amount
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
03 - 3
LRO Project Start-UP
Instrument
Selection
Instrument
A/B Contract
Awards
Project
Funded
Level 1
Requirements
Baselined
Mission SRR
Requirements Definition & Preliminary Design
1/05
2/05
3/05
Instrument
K.O. Mtg.
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
4/05
5/05
6/05
7/05
8/05
9/05
Instrument
Accommodation
Rvw.
03 - 4
LRO Mission Overview
Flight Plan – Direct using 3-Stage ELV
•
•
•
•
Launch on a Delta II rocket into a
direct insertion trajectory to the
moon.
On-board propulsion system
used to capture at the moon,
insert into and maintain 50 km
altitude circular polar
reconnaissance orbit.
1 year mission
Orbiter is a 3-axis stabilized,
nadir pointed spacecraft
designed to operate continuously
during the primary mission.
Moon at encounter
Cis-lunar transfer
5.1978 day transfer
Launch C3 –2.07 km2/s2
Sun direction
Lunar Orbit
Cis-Lunar Transfer
1-day
Insertion and Circularization
Impulsive Vs (m/s)
1 – 344.24
2 – 113.06
3 – 383.91
4 – 11.45
5 – 12.18
100 and 50km
mission orbits
Earth
6-hour orbit
Nominal Cis-lunar Trajectory
12-hour orbit
Solar Rotating Coordinates
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
03 - 5
LRO Mission Overview
Orbiter
INSTRUMENT
MODULE
Preliminary LRO Characteristics
CRaTER
Mass
1480 kg
LOLA
Power ( bus orbit ave.)
823 W
AVIONICS
MODULE
Measurement Data
Volume
575 Gb/day
LROC
LRO Instruments
LAMP
PROPULSION
MODULE
SOLAR
ARRAY
•
Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) Measurement
Investigation – LOLA will determine the global topography
of the lunar surface at high resolution, measure landing site
slopes and search for polar ices in shadowed regions.
•
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) – LROC
will acquire targeted images of the lunar surface capable of
resolving small-scale features that could be landing site
hazards, as well as wide-angle images at multiple
wavelengths of the lunar poles to document changing
illumination conditions and potential resources.
•
Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND) – LEND will
map the flux of neutrons from the lunar surface to search for
evidence of water ice and provide measurements of the
space radiation environment which can be useful for future
human exploration.
•
Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment – Diviner will map
the temperature of the entire lunar surface at 300 meter
horizontal scales to identify cold-traps and potential ice
deposits.
•
Lyman-Alpha Mapping Project (LAMP) – LAMP will
observe the entire lunar surface in the far ultraviolet. LAMP
will search for surface ices and frosts in the polar regions
and provide images of permanently shadowed regions
illuminated only by starlight.
•
Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation
(CRaTER) – CRaTER will investigate the effect of galactic
cosmic rays on tissue-equivalent plastics as a constraint on
models of biological response to background space
radiation.
Mini-RF
INSTRUMENT
MODULE
AVIONICS
MODULE
HGA
LAMP
PROPULSION
MODULE
LEND
Diviner
SOLAR
ARRAY
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
03 - 6
LRO Mission Phases Overview
No
1
Phase
Pre-Launch/ Launch
Readiness
2
Launch & Lunar
Transfer
3
Sub-Phases
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Space Segment Readiness
Ground Segment Readiness
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Launch and Ascent
Separation and De-spin
Deployment and Sun Acq.
Lunar Cruise
Lunar Orbit Insertion
Includes all activities & operations from launch countdown sequence to Lunar Orbit
Insertion (LOI). LOI includes all maneuvers necessary to obtain the temporary
parking orbit for Orbiter activation and commissioning. During the cruise phase,
initial spacecraft checkout will be performed to support activities for mid course
correction (MCC) and LOI.


Spacecraft Commissioning
Integrated Instrument
Commissioning
Configure and checkout the spacecraft subsystems and ground systems prior to
instrument turn-on. Instrument integrated activation will be developed to complete
instruments turn-on and commissioning. Instrument commissioning includes any
calibration activities needed in the temporary orbit.
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Measurements (Routine Ops)
Station-keeping
Momentum Management
Instrument Calibrations
Lunar Eclipse
Yaw Maneuver
Safe Mode
Orbiter Commissioning
4
Routine Operations
Includes instrument I&T, spacecraft/orbiter I&T, space/ground segment testing as
well as operations preparation and ground readiness testing leading up to launch.
One year of nominal science collection in the 50 (+/- 20) km orbit.
Extended Mission
Operations
After 1-year of science observations, orbiter will be boosted into a higher orbit to
reduce maintenance requirements. Potential purpose for extended mission operations
may be to perform relay comm. operations. Alternatively additional measurement
operations may be performed for a shorter period in a continued low orbit.
End-of-Mission Disposal
Includes planning and execution of end-of-life operations. LRO will impact lunar
surface.
5
6
Description
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
03 - 7
LRO Mission Schedule
LRO Mission Schedule
Ver. 0.9
7/31/05
Task
2004
CY
Q2
Q3
2005
Q4
Q1
Q2
AO Release
Q3
2006
Q4
IPDR
LRO Mission Milestones
Q1
PDR
Q2
ICDR
Q3
2007
Q4
Q1
CDR
Q2
Q3
M RD
SRR
Q1
Q2
2009
Q3
Q4
FOR/ORR
M OR
Conf.
Review
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Launch
IPSR
IBR
AO Sel.
2008
Q4
PSR
PER
M RR
LRR
Mission Feasibility Definition
Payload Proposal
Development
Instr. PDR's
9/6-9/30
Payload Preliminary Design
System Definition
S/C &GDS/OPS Preliminary
Design
Payload Design (Final)
(1M Float)
Spacecraft Design (Final)
Network Acquisition
GDS/OPS Definition/ Design
Payload Fab/Assy/Test
(7 Instruments)
Payload com plete (Final Delivery to I&T)
(LAMP/LOLA/LROC/Diviner/CraTer/LEND/M ini-RF)
S/C Fab/Assy/Bus Test
S/C com plete (Final delivery to I&T)
GND Net Test Ready
GDS/OPS Development
Implemention & Test
s/c
subsy s
s/c
Pay load
subsy s
Integration and Test
(1M Float)
Ship to KSC
s/c bus
Launch Site Operations
GDS s/c
(1M Float)
subsy s
(1M Float)
Launch
Mission Operations
Phase A/B
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Phase C/D
Phase E
03 - 8
LRO SRR
LRO Science Overview
Dr. Gordon Chin
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
03 - 9
LRO Science Overview
• LRO follows in the footsteps of the Lunar Orbiter missions
which proceeded Apollo.
• LRO will launch by 2008 to provide critically needed data to
enable and to plan future Exploration objectives
• LRO provides major exploration and scientific benefits by
2009
– Apollo provided first order information from a small
region of the Moon; much more of the Moon needs to
be explored
– LRO objectives addresses future landing sites, polar
resources, safety, and lunar science goals
– LRO address both science and exploration objectives
• LRO instrument suite complements international lunar
missions
– Six instruments competitively selected
– Comparison to international missions demonstrate
LRO uniqueness and value
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
03 - 10
Competitively Selected LRO Instruments
Provide Broad Benefits
INSTRUMENT
CRaTER
(BU+MIT)
Measurement
Exploration
Benefit
Science
Benefit
Tissue equivalent
response to radiation
Safe, lighter weight
space vehicles that
protect humans
Radiation conditions
that influence life
beyond Earth
300m scale maps of
Temperature, surface
ice, rocks
Determines conditions
for systems operability
and water-ice location
Maps of frosts in
permanently shadowed
areas, etc.
Locate potential waterice (as frosts) on the
surface
Hydrogen content in and
neutron radiation maps
from upper 1m of Moon at
5km scales, Rad > 10 MeV
Locate potential waterice in lunar soil and
enhanced crew safety
~50m scale polar
topography at < 1m
vertical, roughness
Safe landing site
selection, and
enhanced surface
navigation (3D)
Geological evolution
of the solar system by
geodetic topography
1000’s of 50cm/pixel
images (125km2), and
entire Moon at 100m in
UV, Visible
Safe landing sites
through hazard
identification; some
resource identification
Resource evaluation,
impact flux and
crustal evolution
Cosmic Ray Telescope
for the Effects of Radiation
Diviner
(UCLA)
LAMP
(SWRI)
Lyman-Alpha Mapping Project
LEND
(Russia)
Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector
LOLA
(GSFC)
Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter
LROC
(NWU+MSSS)
Lunar Recon Orbiter Camera
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Improved
understanding of
volatiles in the solar
system - source,
history, migration and
deposition
03 - 11
National Academy of Sciences NRC Decadal (2002) lists
priorities for the MOON (all mission classes thru 2013)
NRC Priority Investigation
NRC approach
LRO measurements
Geodetic Topography
(crustal evolution)
Altimetry from
orbit (with
precision orbits)
Global geodetic
topography at ~100m
scales (< 1 m rms)
Local Geologic Studies
In 3D (geol. Evolution)
Imaging,
topography (at m
scales)
Sub-meter scale
imaging with derived
local topography
Polar Volatile
Inventory
Spectroscopy
and mapping
from orbit
Neutron and IR
spectroscopy in 3D
context + UV (frosts)
Geophysical Network
(interior evolution)
In situ landed
stations with
seismometers
Crustal structure to
optimize siting and
landing safety
Global Mineralogical
Mapping (crustal evolution)
Orbital
hyperspectral
mapping
100m scale
multispectral and 5km
scale H mapping
Targeted Studies to
Calibrate Impact Flux
(chronology)
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Imaging and in
situ
geochronology
Sub-meter imaging of
Apollo sites for flux
validation and siting
03 - 12
Comparison to International Systems
Demonstrate Uniqueness and Value
Reqt’s for LRO
2008 NASA LRO
SELENE
SMART-1
Chandrayaan
(from NASA ORDT, and
ESMD RLEP Reqt’s 9/04;
NRC Decadal, 2002)
[50km orbit, 1 yr+]
Competed Payload
(JAXA orbiter ~ 2007)
[100km orbit, 1 yr]
(ESA lunar 2005 orbiter)
[250km periapsis]
(ISRO 2007-2008 launch)
[100+ km orbit]
Radiation Environment
Global assessment
including neutrons, GCR
Highly limited overlap in
some narrow energy
ranges
Limited to some energy
ranges
TBD
(imaging NS, Rad Sensor)
Biological Adaptation
Biological responses to
radiation (Rad Sensor)
Not addressed
Not addressed
Not addressed
Shielding materials
(test-beds)
Shielding expt’s with TEP
(Rad Sensor)
Not addressed
Not addressed
Not addressed
Geodetic topography
(global)
10’s m x,y, with < 1m
vertical precision, attn to
poles (Lidar)
1.6 km x, y at > 20 m
vertical precision (RMS)
[not meet LRO goals]
Not addressed
Not addressed
H mapping to assess ice
Landform scale at 100 ppm
(~5 km scale at poles)
(imaging NS)
160km scale via GRS
(does not meet LRO
goals)
Limited to 100’s of km
scale (H) [does not meet
LRO goals]
Some potential, but depends
on contributed sensors
T mapping cold traps (polar)
Landform scale at 3-5K
(40-300K): ~300m scale
Not addressed
Not addressed
TBD
Not addressed in this
mission (cf. GRS)
Not addressed
TBD (contributed S-band SAR
Not addressed: best
imaging is ~10m/pixel
stereo, MS imaging (10+
VISNIR bands)
Not addressed (best
imaging is 10-100 m/pixel)
Not addressed, but imaging
(MS) will be included (10’s
m/pixel)
(IR mapper)
Putative ice deposits at poles
~25-400m scales in shadows
(Imager, Lidar, NS, IR, UV)
Sub-meter imaging for
landing site assessment
Targeted, meter-scale
feature detection, hazards
(Imager, Lidar)
and Mineral mapping from US?)
Polar illumination
High time-rate polar
imaging (Imagers)
Partially addressed, but
frequency TBD?
Limited
TBD
OTHER
Far UV imaging for frosts
and lunar atmosphere
(farside gravity from lidar)
Particles and Fields,
Farside gravity, elemental
chemistry
Particles and Fields, etc.
Likely (contributed
mineralogy mapping?)
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
03 - 13