Spacecraft / lro

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

2009-present
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (artist concept). NASA.

The Moon-mapping orbiter that has been photographing the lunar surface since 18 June 2009 - still operational.

Specs

1,916 kg; ~50 km orbit; mapped >99% of the lunar surface; found water ice in permanently shadowed craters.

Why it matters

It has photographed the Apollo landing sites in detail - the landers, the rovers, even the astronauts' footprints. Independent, ongoing confirmation of where the hardware really is.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia - Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter [1]