Updated LRO and LCROSS Launch Information

Because of the rescheduled launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour, the launch of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) will be delayed to Thursday at the earliest. The launch of Endeavour was delayed on Saturday due to a hydrogen leak and is rescheduled for Wednesday at 5:15 am EDT. If Endeavour launches on Wednesday, the two orbiters will launched either on Thursday or Friday. If the Shuttle launch is scrubbed again, the orbiters will launch on Thursday.

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

LRO. via Wikipedia

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is a robotic spacecraft that will be placed in an orbit around the Moon.
Mission Objectives:

• Selenodetic global topography
• Characterization of deep space radiation in lunar orbit.
• study of the lunar polar regions, including water and ice deposits.
• High-res mapping to help with the selection of future landing sites.
• Provide first pictures of leftover Apollo equipment.

About LCROSS

LCROSS. via Wikipedia

The Lunar Crater Observation and sensing satellite will be piggy-backing on the launch of LRO. The LCROSS was designed to watch as the launch vehicle’s upper stage strikes  a permanently shadowed region of the moon’s south pole. After the impact, LCROSS will analyze the plume which will help confirm preliminary findings of water and ice. After this, LCROSS will, then, fly through the plume and crash into a different part of the crater. The amount of time inbetween the two impacts will be approxamately four minutes.