NASA’s On-duty Moon Surveying Spacecraft: How Long Will it Go?

Around and around it goes. The veteran NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) continues to circuit the Moon since June 2009.

Over the decades, this spacecraft has spit out images and data proven to be transformational in our ability to eye and better value Earth’s celestial neighbor.

While the aging craft remains on assignment – now helping plot out where NASA Artemis astronauts will boot their way across select lunar south pole regions – how long will this venerable orbiter last?

Uh-oh factor

There’s a new call for how to sustain vigilance of the moon, chart forthcoming landing sites of robotic craft and expeditionary crews, the position of wheeled rovers, even spot and help interpret the “uh-oh factor” behind failed landing attempts.

NASA’s venerable Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), on-duty since swinging into orbit around the Moon on June 23, 2009.
Image credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Informally tagged as Malapert massif, this feature is thought to be a remnant of the moon’s south pole – Aitken basin rim, which formed more than 4 billion years ago. This peak (lower left) was picked as one of the Artemis III candidate landing regions for an expeditionary crew.
Image credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Arizona State University

And given the constant volley of moon-bound vehicles being lobbed by multiple nations and private firms, Earth’s celestial companion is going to be one busy place.