Lunar ReconnaissanceOrbiter Camera (LROC)

Mark Robinson, PI

Arizona State University

School of Earth and Space Exploration

Resource MappingSurface Operations

Planning

Landing Site Selection

Small ImpactorHazard

Regolith Properties

2

LROC Measurement Objectives

1. Sub-meter resolution imaging to select landing sites2. Repeat imaging (100 m/pixel) of poles to identify

regions of permanent shadow and (nearly?) continuous illumination

3. Meter-scale mapping of polar regions with (nearly?) continuous illumination

4. Overlapping observations to enable derivation of meter-scale topography

5. Global multispectral imaging for mineralogy and resource identification

6. Global morphology base map with high quality control

7. Characterize regolith (lunar soil) properties8. Determine current impact hazard by re-imaging

Apollo era images to count new craters

NAC WAC

SCS

3

LROC Team

• Mark Robinson, Arizona State Univ.• Eric Eliason, University Arizona• Harald Hiesinger, Brown University• Brad Jolliff, Washington University• Mike Malin, MSSS• Alfred McEwen, University Arizona• Peter Thomas, Cornell University• Elizabeth Turtle, University Arizona• Scott Brylow, MSSS

>100 years NASA spaceexploration experience

LROC: high resolution BW, global color

4

LROC Instrument Overview

• Two Narrow Angle Cameras (NACs) for Landing Site Certification

• One Wide Angle Camera (WAC) to Monitor Polar Lighting and Map Resources

• Sequence and Compressor System (SCS) to manage camera commands & data

NAC

WAC

5

NAC StatusMarch 2007

• Secondary mirror assembly completed for SN1

• All structures delivered from Vanguard to LWO

• All mirrors surfaced• Third set of coated

mirrors back to LWO from Denton

• Will be reviewing ATP upon receipt from LWO

Metering structure in foreground with secondarymirror supports. Optical bench in backgroundwith hub bonded, secondary mirror housing visibleat right.

6

WAC Status

• First unit in completed assembly state (i.e., UV and vis lenses attached to prism housing) here seen on the test setup for Back Focus Distance

• ATP was reviewed with Dan & Don and the recently commented copy provided

• Expecting delivery from LWO in early March