LCROSS

Launch data: Designation  35316 / 09031B Launch date  18 Jun 2009 - 21:32 UT Launch site  CC, SLC-41 Launch vehicle  Atlas-V/401 (AV-020) Mission  Lunar impact Selenocentric orbit Perihelion / Aphelion   A.U. Eccentricity   Inclination   deg Period   min

Spacecraft data: Prime contractor  Northrop Gruman Operator  NASA Ames Research Center Platform   Mass at launch  891 kg Dry Mass  585 kg Basic shape  six-sided drum Dimensions (m)  2.6 m dia & 2 m tall Solar array   Stabilization   DC power   Design lifetime

Mission details:

• Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) is independent of LRO: it was launched for NASA Ames Research Center and manufactured by Northrop Grumman.
• After launch the Atlas-5 second stage/EDUS with the two payloads entered the approximate orbit of 180 x 208 km: no orbital data were issued from USSSN. On June 18 at 22:15 the Centaur manoeuvred to a 28.2 deg, 194-353,700 km orbit, in which LRO separated at 22:18 UT. There was a subsequent Centaur burn to depletion which adjusted the EDUS/LCROSS orbit to 28 deg, 133-348,640 km.
• Spacecraft has remained attached to the Atlas-5 second stage which is referred to at the Earth Departure Upper Stage (EDUS). The combined LCROSS/EDUS flew past the Moon at a distance of 3270 km on June 23, 2009 at 10:30 UT and now is in an orbit that will take it out to 582000 km from the Earth.
• LCROSS/AV-020 entered the lunar gravitational sphere of influence at 1800 UTC on Oct 8, from a 365700 x 644500 km x 48.6 deg Earth orbit. The LCROSS probe separated from Centaur AV-020 at 0150 UTC on Oct 9, 2009 and carried out its braking burn at 0230 UTC. The probes approached the lunar surface on a hyperbola with a periapsis of -1727 km. Impact in Cabeus crater occurred at 1131 UTC (Centaur) and 1135 UTC (LCROSS).
• Unexpectedly, no bright visible plume was seen either from LCROSS or Earth, but LRO and LCROSS detected signatures from the event.