13 Years and More at the Moon

NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio
Published: September 7, 2023
In June 2022, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) celebrated its 13th anniversary orbiting the Moon. This mission has given scientists the largest volume of data ever collected by a planetary science mission at NASA. Considering that success and the continuing functionality of the spacecraft and its instruments, NASA awarded the mission an extended mission phase to continue operations. This is LRO’s 5th extended science mission, during which there are four major areas of focus: 1) The study of volatiles; 2) Studying the Moon’s interior, volcanic features, and the tectonics of the surface; 3) Studying the Moon’s regolith and impact craters; and 4) Support for future missions. This video goes into detail about these focus areas and shows how LRO continues to be one of NASA’s most valuable tools for advancing lunar science.