Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

active Mission

About

Mission Details

Goals

Science and Data

Gallery

Images From LRO
An illustration of a spacecraft above the Moon with Earth in the background.

LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter) was the first U.S. mission to the Moon in over 10 years. LRO created a 3D map of the Moon, as part of a program to identify future landing sites and resources – including deposits of water ice shadowed in polar craters. LRO continues to orbit the Moon.

Type

Orbiter

Launch

June 18, 2009

Target

Earth's Moon

Objective

Exploration and Science

LRO Stories

Explore the LRO Newsroom
Article
5 min read

NASA’s LRO: Lunar Ice Deposits are Widespread

Illustration of permanently shadowed regions near the lunar south pole.
Article
3 min read

NASA Develops Process to Create Very Accurate Eclipse Maps

Conceptual image of how the Moon casts a shadow on Earth during a total eclipse.
2 min read

Celebrate International Observe the Moon Night at NASA Goddard

News Release
In the foreground is a textured expanse of grey, with the center bleached out by light. The background is black. A yellow box sits slightly right of center, tipped slightly to the left.
4 min read

NASA, JAXA Bounce Laser Beam Between Moon’s Surface and Lunar Orbit

Article5 months ago
Two rows of five squares, each showing a round depression in the center of a gray background. The depressions vary in sizes, and the backgrounds vary in shades of gray.
3 min read

New Evidence Adds to Findings Hinting at Network of Caves on Moon

Article5 months ago
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