1 00:00:01,300 --> 00:00:03,333 Since its launch in 2009, 2 00:00:03,333 --> 00:00:05,933 NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has been gathering 3 00:00:05,933 --> 00:00:08,633 incredible amounts of data about the Moon. 4 00:00:08,633 --> 00:00:11,833 This information has led to many scientific discoveries, 5 00:00:11,833 --> 00:00:13,566 shedding light on the Moon's history, 6 00:00:13,566 --> 00:00:17,800 composition, and potential for future exploration. 7 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:19,466 One of the most heavily used instruments 8 00:00:19,466 --> 00:00:22,600 on LRO is its high-resolution camera system, 9 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:27,366 which is able to capture incredibly detailed images of the lunar surface. 10 00:00:27,366 --> 00:00:29,000 By analyzing these images, 11 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:30,333 scientists have been able to gain 12 00:00:30,333 --> 00:00:35,333 new insights into the Moon's geology and its evolution. 13 00:00:35,700 --> 00:00:38,300 For example, LRO has provided new data 14 00:00:38,300 --> 00:00:39,900 on how the lunar surface changes 15 00:00:39,900 --> 00:00:43,166 as a result of the formation of impact craters. 16 00:00:43,166 --> 00:00:45,166 During its years orbiting the Moon, 17 00:00:45,166 --> 00:00:47,433 LRO's camera has captured the immediate results 18 00:00:47,433 --> 00:00:49,933 of meteorite impacts on the surface - 19 00:00:49,933 --> 00:00:54,533 such as scattered debris and ejecta patterns on the surface. 20 00:00:54,533 --> 00:00:56,733 And since the Moon lacks an atmosphere, 21 00:00:56,733 --> 00:00:59,533 these newly formed craters remain essentially untouched 22 00:00:59,533 --> 00:01:00,800 over many years, 23 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:03,366 allowing LRO to continuously measure 24 00:01:03,366 --> 00:01:05,700 and collect data on them. 25 00:01:05,700 --> 00:01:09,000 This means scientists can analyze a crater formed a year ago 26 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:10,433 and use it to learn about craters 27 00:01:10,433 --> 00:01:13,466 that formed millions or billions of years in the past, 28 00:01:13,466 --> 00:01:17,633 giving us clues about the Moon's geologic history. 29 00:01:17,633 --> 00:01:20,866 We can't replicate this type of study on Mars or on Earth 30 00:01:20,866 --> 00:01:22,966 since atmospheric conditions like wind 31 00:01:22,966 --> 00:01:25,866 are rapidly changing the surface. 32 00:01:25,866 --> 00:01:28,033 The Moon is therefore a unique environment 33 00:01:28,033 --> 00:01:30,300 for learning about our solar system. 34 00:01:31,733 --> 00:01:34,100 Another major focus of LRO’s mission 35 00:01:34,100 --> 00:01:36,400 has been the Moon’s South Pole. 36 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,100 This region is of particular interest to scientists 37 00:01:39,100 --> 00:01:41,166 because of the detection of water, 38 00:01:41,166 --> 00:01:44,366 which will be a vital resource for future missions to the Moon. 39 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:47,033 The data LRO has collected 40 00:01:47,033 --> 00:01:50,666 allows scientists to create detailed maps of the South Pole, 41 00:01:50,666 --> 00:01:52,733 leading to the discovery of large regions 42 00:01:52,733 --> 00:01:56,133 that appear to contain significant amounts of this water. 43 00:01:56,133 --> 00:01:57,666 These discoveries are important 44 00:01:57,666 --> 00:01:59,433 because they could help make future missions 45 00:01:59,433 --> 00:02:01,900 to the Moon more sustainable. 46 00:02:01,900 --> 00:02:04,666 Instead of having to bring all their own water with them, 47 00:02:04,666 --> 00:02:08,266 astronauts could potentially extract water from the lunar soil 48 00:02:08,266 --> 00:02:12,833 and use it for drinking, cooking, and even rocket fuel. 49 00:02:12,833 --> 00:02:14,933 The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft 50 00:02:14,933 --> 00:02:17,766 is also equipped with a suite of scientific instruments 51 00:02:17,766 --> 00:02:19,600 that aid in exploration, 52 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:22,666 including a laser altimeter called LOLA, 53 00:02:22,666 --> 00:02:24,966 that is able to measure the precise elevation 54 00:02:24,966 --> 00:02:28,100 of the lunar surface. 55 00:02:28,100 --> 00:02:30,966 Using Lola, scientists have been able to create the most 56 00:02:30,966 --> 00:02:33,733 accurate map of the Moon's topography to date, 57 00:02:33,733 --> 00:02:36,466 as well as improved lunar gravity models - 58 00:02:36,466 --> 00:02:39,333 both of which will help future exploration efforts. 59 00:02:40,233 --> 00:02:42,866 Finally, data from LRO has helped us better 60 00:02:42,866 --> 00:02:45,533 understand the composition of the lunar surface, 61 00:02:45,533 --> 00:02:48,433 shedding new light on the Moon's history. 62 00:02:48,433 --> 00:02:50,266 The data has shown that a wider range 63 00:02:50,266 --> 00:02:53,533 of compositions of volcanic rocks exist on the lunar surface 64 00:02:53,533 --> 00:02:55,133 than previously thought. 65 00:02:55,133 --> 00:02:56,766 We have found compositions of rocks 66 00:02:56,766 --> 00:02:59,433 that are not part of the Apollo sample collection, 67 00:02:59,433 --> 00:03:01,633 and evidence for volcanic activity 68 00:03:01,633 --> 00:03:04,966 that may have occurred only 50 million years ago. 69 00:03:04,966 --> 00:03:06,966 That's 950 million years 70 00:03:06,966 --> 00:03:09,966 after scientists had previously thought it ended. 71 00:03:09,966 --> 00:03:11,966 This information helps us piece together 72 00:03:11,966 --> 00:03:13,733 a geologic history of the Moon 73 00:03:13,733 --> 00:03:16,833 from just after its formation to the present day - 74 00:03:16,833 --> 00:03:18,900 information that will aid in understanding 75 00:03:18,900 --> 00:03:22,300 future samples collected by Artemis astronauts. 76 00:03:22,300 --> 00:03:24,033 Thanks to the incredible data gathered 77 00:03:24,033 --> 00:03:26,133 by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, 78 00:03:26,133 --> 00:03:28,133 NASA and the scientific community 79 00:03:28,133 --> 00:03:30,500 are making incredible strides in our understanding 80 00:03:30,500 --> 00:03:31,966 of the Moon. 81 00:03:31,966 --> 00:03:34,800 With every new discovery, we are one step closer 82 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:38,533 to unlocking the secrets of our closest celestial neighbor.