Exploring the Moon NASA's Lunar Orbiter 2 Mission
0The Lunar Orbiter program was a series of five robotic spacecraft missions launched by the United States from 1966 to 1967. The primary objective of the program was to photograph the Moon's surface in unprecedented detail in order to help select landing sites for the Apollo program, which aimed to land astronauts on the Moon.
Each Lunar Orbiter spacecraft was equipped with a high-resolution camera system that used both film and television technology to capture images of the Moon. The spacecraft also carried instruments to measure the Moon's gravitational field and radiation environment.
The first three Lunar Orbiter missions were successful, with each spacecraft mapping about 99% of the Moon's surface at a resolution of about 60 meters. The final two missions had technical difficulties, but still managed to return valuable data.
The Lunar Orbiter program played a critical role in preparing for the Apollo program, as it provided detailed maps of potential landing sites and helped identify areas that were safe for landing. The program also contributed to our understanding of the Moon's geology and history, and its data is still used by lunar scientists today.