Planets and Moons ID: 3612

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Orbit Insertion

Visualizations by Greg Shirah Released on May 8, 2009

This visualization shows an example of how the orbit insertion for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) might look. LRO launches from Cape Canaveral, then flies around the Earth and on to the moon. Time speeds up during the journey to the moon, then slows again as LRO approaches the moon. LRO begins orbiting the moon and, through a series of several "burns", moves in closer to its desired orbit. LRO's initial orbit plane around the moon is parallel to the direction of the moon's travel.

This visualization was created before launch using simulated ephemeris data. The ephemeris data driving this visualization was based on a simulated nighttime launch on 11/24/2008; but, the actual launch may happen during the daytime.

A stereoscopic version of this visualization can be found HERE. For more information on the coodinate systems in the animation see HERE.

For More Information

http://www.nasa.gov/lro

Visualization Credits

Greg Shirah (NASA/GSFC): Lead Animator
Ernie Wright (UMBC): Animator
Alex Kekesi (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Animator
Horace Mitchell (NASA/GSFC): Animator
Andrew Freeberg (NASA/GSFC): Producer
John Keller (NASA/GSFC): Scientist

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio Simulated ephemeris data from Mark Beckman

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3612

Mission:
LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter)

Data Used:

LRO-Simulated Ephemeris

Ephemeris - 11/24/2008 - 12/02/2008

view all stories where this data set is used

CPC (Climate Prediction Center) Cloud Composite

Data Compilation - Climate Prediction Center (CPC) - 11/11/2008

Global cloud cover from multiple satellites

view all stories where this data set is used

Note: While we identify the data sets used in these visualizations, we do not store any further details nor the data sets themselves on our site.

This item is part of these series:
The Moon
LRO - Animations
LRO Pre-launch

Goddard TV Tape:
G2009-030 -- LRO Pre-Launch Resource Tape

Keywords:
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> Lunar
SVS >> Moon
SVS >> Orbit
SVS >> Hyperwall
SVS >> Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
SVS >> For Educators
SVS >> Satellite Orbit
NASA Science >> Planets and Moons