Lunar Travel Guide, or "We 've Got To Get Out Of Here"

Artist's concept of LRO in orbit around the moon. Credit: NASA

21st century lunar orbiter a precursor to human missions
BY JUSTIN RAY

When the next generation of lunar astronauts step foot on the Moon in the years ahead, the definitive travel guide compiled by an instrument-laden spacecraft launching this week will detail the best and worst places to go and the risks the crews could face.

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is NASA's trailblazer to create detailed maps of the terrain, plot out potential landing sites, identify natural resources that could be exploited and characterize the radiation conditions that astronauts can expect.

Balance of article: Spaceflight Now