Andrew Yee[_1_]
March 12th 08, 05:11 AM
Robin Croft
Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. March 10, 2008
650-604-6787
RELEASE: 08-18AR
NASA AMES SCIENTIST SELECTED FOR RETURN TO MOON TEAM
MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. -- A scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center is
one of 24 researchers selected to join the Lunar Reconnaissance
Orbiter (LRO) mission to explore and measure geological features on
the moon's surface. Scheduled for launch later this year, the mission
represents NASA's first step toward returning humans to the moon.
Ross Beyer, a SETI Institute employee who works at Ames, will join
the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) team to help develop
high-resolution imaging and topography to explore the lunar terrain
for future landing sites. Beyer will help plan stereo observations
and build topographic models in order to study the geologic history
of the moon.
"I haven't seen the reviews of my proposal yet," Beyer said, "but I
assume that I was selected because I can provide a variety of mission
operations and science expertise to the team, helping out with both
the exploration and science portions of the mission."
The orbiter will conduct a one-year primary mission exploring the
moon, taking measurements to identify future robotic and human
landing sites. In addition, it will study lunar resources and how the
moon's environment will affect humans. The mission also will involve
a spacecraft called the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing
Satellite (LCROSS), which will impact the lunar south pole to search
for evidence of frozen polar water.
Instrument teams will define the science goals for the second year or
what is deemed the extended science phase of the mission during its
second year. In addition to achieving its exploration objectives,
the LRO spacecraft is expected to return high quality scientific
data, such as day-night temperature maps, a global mapping system,
high resolution color imaging and detailed global topography that
will greatly expand our understanding of the moon.
NASA received a total of 55 proposals in response to a NASA Research
Announcement released in 2007. A peer review panel and NASA
Planetary Science Division Research and Analysis Program scientists
evaluated the proposals. Selection criteria included intrinsic merit,
relevance, responsiveness to planetary science goals and objectives,
as well as cost.
Scientists will be fully or partially funded, depending on their
research work and scope of activities. NASA will provide funding to
U.S. scientists for up to three years depending on satisfactory
progress, continued relevance to the NASA objectives and availability
of funds.
The LRO spacecraft is being built and tested at NASA's Goddard Space
Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., and includes six instruments and a
technology demonstration.
LCROSS will take several months to reach the moon. That mission will
search for water astronauts could use at a future lunar outpost. The
sensing spacecraft will impact the moon near its south pole early in
2009. NASA's Ames Research Center manages the mission.
The orbiter and sensing satellite will launch together aboard an
Atlas V rocket in late 2008. The orbiter's trip to the moon will
take approximately four days. Once in its final orbit, a circular
polar orbit approximately 31 miles above the moon, spacecraft
instruments will map the moon's surface at high resolution, study its
radiation field and map its gravity field.
In a study published in 2007, the National Academy of Sciences
concluded that the science conducted on the moon is of high value.
NASA's Science Directorate will help coordinate and expand a number
of in-depth research efforts in lunar science and other fields that
can benefit from human and robotic missions to the moon. The lunar
orbiter's science mission phase is one of many of the science
directorate's activities that support moon exploration.
For a complete list of the selected scientists and their investigations,
visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/216482main_LRO_Participating_Scientists.pdf
For more information about the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, visit:
http://lro.gsfc.nasa.gov
Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. March 10, 2008
650-604-6787
RELEASE: 08-18AR
NASA AMES SCIENTIST SELECTED FOR RETURN TO MOON TEAM
MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. -- A scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center is
one of 24 researchers selected to join the Lunar Reconnaissance
Orbiter (LRO) mission to explore and measure geological features on
the moon's surface. Scheduled for launch later this year, the mission
represents NASA's first step toward returning humans to the moon.
Ross Beyer, a SETI Institute employee who works at Ames, will join
the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) team to help develop
high-resolution imaging and topography to explore the lunar terrain
for future landing sites. Beyer will help plan stereo observations
and build topographic models in order to study the geologic history
of the moon.
"I haven't seen the reviews of my proposal yet," Beyer said, "but I
assume that I was selected because I can provide a variety of mission
operations and science expertise to the team, helping out with both
the exploration and science portions of the mission."
The orbiter will conduct a one-year primary mission exploring the
moon, taking measurements to identify future robotic and human
landing sites. In addition, it will study lunar resources and how the
moon's environment will affect humans. The mission also will involve
a spacecraft called the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing
Satellite (LCROSS), which will impact the lunar south pole to search
for evidence of frozen polar water.
Instrument teams will define the science goals for the second year or
what is deemed the extended science phase of the mission during its
second year. In addition to achieving its exploration objectives,
the LRO spacecraft is expected to return high quality scientific
data, such as day-night temperature maps, a global mapping system,
high resolution color imaging and detailed global topography that
will greatly expand our understanding of the moon.
NASA received a total of 55 proposals in response to a NASA Research
Announcement released in 2007. A peer review panel and NASA
Planetary Science Division Research and Analysis Program scientists
evaluated the proposals. Selection criteria included intrinsic merit,
relevance, responsiveness to planetary science goals and objectives,
as well as cost.
Scientists will be fully or partially funded, depending on their
research work and scope of activities. NASA will provide funding to
U.S. scientists for up to three years depending on satisfactory
progress, continued relevance to the NASA objectives and availability
of funds.
The LRO spacecraft is being built and tested at NASA's Goddard Space
Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., and includes six instruments and a
technology demonstration.
LCROSS will take several months to reach the moon. That mission will
search for water astronauts could use at a future lunar outpost. The
sensing spacecraft will impact the moon near its south pole early in
2009. NASA's Ames Research Center manages the mission.
The orbiter and sensing satellite will launch together aboard an
Atlas V rocket in late 2008. The orbiter's trip to the moon will
take approximately four days. Once in its final orbit, a circular
polar orbit approximately 31 miles above the moon, spacecraft
instruments will map the moon's surface at high resolution, study its
radiation field and map its gravity field.
In a study published in 2007, the National Academy of Sciences
concluded that the science conducted on the moon is of high value.
NASA's Science Directorate will help coordinate and expand a number
of in-depth research efforts in lunar science and other fields that
can benefit from human and robotic missions to the moon. The lunar
orbiter's science mission phase is one of many of the science
directorate's activities that support moon exploration.
For a complete list of the selected scientists and their investigations,
visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/216482main_LRO_Participating_Scientists.pdf
For more information about the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, visit:
http://lro.gsfc.nasa.gov