The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE): Initial Science Results

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The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE): Initial Science Results

Elphic, R. C. / Hine, B. / Delory, G. T. / Salute, J. S. / Noble, S. / Colaprete, A. / Horanyi, M. / Mahaffy, P.

On September 6, 2013, a nearperfect launch of the first Minotaur V rocket successfully carried NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) into a higheccentricity geocentric orbit. The launch, from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, was visible from much of the eastern seaboard. Over the next 30 days, LADEE performed three phasing orbits, with near-perfect maneuvers that placed apogee at ever higher altitudes in preparation for rendezvous with the Moon. LADEE arrived at the Moon on October 6, 2013, during the government shutdown. LADEE's science objectives are twofold: (1) Determine the composition of the lunar atmosphere, investigate processes controlling its distribution and variability, including sources, sinks, and surface interactions; (2) Characterize the lunar exospheric dust environment, measure its spatial and temporal variability, and effects on the lunar atmosphere, if any.

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Title :

The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE): Initial Science Results

Contributors:

Elphic, R. C. (author) / Hine, B. (author) / Delory, G. T. (author) / Salute, J. S. (author) / Noble, S. (author) / Colaprete, A. (author) / Horanyi, M. (author) / Mahaffy, P. (author)

Conference:

Lunar and Planetary Science Conference ; 2014 ; The Woodlands, TX, United States

Publication date :

2014-03-17

Type of media :

Miscellaneous

Type of material :

No indication

Language :

English

Keywords :

Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration , LADEE , lunar exospheric dust environment , composition of the lunar atmosphere