CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is a NASA robotic spacecraft currently orbiting the Moon in an eccentric polar mapping orbit. Data collected by LRO have been described as essential for planning NASA’s future human and robotic missions to the Moon.

Detailed explanation-2: -What is the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter? NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) was the first U.S. mission to the Moon in over 10 years. LRO’s primary goal was to make a 3D map of the Moon’s surface from lunar polar orbit. LRO continues to orbit the Moon.

Detailed explanation-3: -The LRO orbit is nominally 50 km circular and polar, with a period of   113 minutes. The orbital velocity is 1.6 km/s. LRO stays on near side of moon   1 hour out of every two. Twice a year, the moon will pass through the Earth’s shadow (lunar eclipse).

Detailed explanation-4: -With the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), NASA has returned to the moon, enabling new discoveries and bringing the moon back into the public eye. LRO is a robotic mission that set out to map the moon’s surface and, after a year of exploration, was extended with a unique set of science objectives.