In 2009, NASA launched the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). Its ongoing mission is to map the lunar surface in detail, identifying potential landing sites, resources and features of interest such as lava tubes.
The mission is a continuing success, another demonstration of NASA's skill. About 98.2% of the Moon's surface has been mapped, excluding deeply shaded areas in the polar regions.
But recently, the LRO team's skill was demonstrated for another reason: It captured images of another satellite speeding above the lunar surface.
The Republic of Korea, or what most of us call South Korea, launched its project Danori Lunar orbiter in August 2022. It is the country's first lunar orbiter, and its mission is to develop and test technologies – including Satellite Internet – And make a topographical map of the moon’s surface.
The map will help choose future landing sites and identify resources such as uranium, helium-3, silicon, aluminum and water ice. Danori carries an array of instruments, including a spectrometer, magnetometer, and various cameras. It is worth noting that it has a camera that allows it to photograph shaded polar regions beyond the capabilities of LRO.
NASA contributed to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute's (KARI) Danori mission. NASA built a Shadowcam instrument that images the shadowed areas at the lunar poles.
As a tribute to fellow spacefarers, the LRO captured images of Danori as it passed beneath the LRO.
On March 5 and 6, the two orbiters accelerated to a combined speed of 11,500 km/h (7,200 mph). There were three orbits that put LRO in a position to take images of the fast-moving Danori. During each orbit, the vertical separation between the two was different.
The LRO was 5 km (3 miles) above Danori in the first image. LRO had to change his angle. To catch Danori, he had to aim 43 degrees down from his usual angle.
In the second orbit, only 4 km (2.5 mi) separated the two orbiters.
In the third and final orbit, the distance between the two vehicles was greater: 8 kilometers (5 miles). This time, the LRO was oriented at a 60 degree angle.
It's hard to see Danori in the final photo.
This isn't the first time a pair of orbiters has played the photography game. Back in April 2023, it was Danori's turn to take a photo of the LRO. At that time, the Korean spacecraft passed about 18 kilometers (11 miles) above the LRO and took images of it. ShadowCam a tool.
This isn't the first time lunar orbiters have taken photos of each other. In 2014, LRO captured NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) before sending it to impact the lunar surface. I read about it here.
This article was originally published by The universe today. Read the Original article.
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