Source: NASA
Artist's impression of LRO.
Image credit: NASA.
NASA has declared full mission success for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). LRO changed our view of the entire moon and brought it into sharper focus with unprecedented detail.
NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) operated the LRO spacecraft and its instruments during the one-year mission phase. Now that the final data from the instruments have been added to the agency's Planetary Data System, the mission has completed the full success requirements. The data system, which is publicly available, archives data from past and present planetary missions as well as astronomical observations and laboratory data.
The rich new portrait rendered by LRO's seven instruments is the result of more than 192 terabytes of data, images and maps, the equivalent of nearly 41,000 typical DVDs.(read more)
Source: ESA.
Reentry of a previous ATV. Image credit: ESA.
The Johannes Kepler ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) has undocked from the International Space. The Johannes Kepler ATV was responsible for the International Space Station's biggest increase in altitude to date, significantly improving the 417-tonne Station's orbital mileage through the next decade of scientific research.
During three intensive reboost manoeuvres, ATV Johannes Kepler raised the ISS altitude from around 345 km to about 380 km, where it will use far less fuel to maintain its orbit and cutting the amount of fuel that must be sent up in the coming years by almost half.
The ATV will now reenter Earth’s atmosphere on today ending its mission in fiery destruction.
