# Lunar Prospector

> NASA mission designed for a low polar orbit investigation of the Moon

**Wikidata**: [Q590245](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q590245)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_Prospector)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/lunar-prospector

## Summary
Lunar Prospector was a NASA mission designed for a low polar orbit investigation of the Moon, operating as the third mission in NASA's Discovery Program. Launched on January 7, 1998, this spacecraft orbited the Moon for approximately 19 months, conducting scientific investigations before deliberately impacting the lunar surface on July 31, 1999.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** January 7, 1998, at 02:28:44 UTC
- **Launch Vehicle:** Athena II (LM-004) from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 46
- **Mass:** 296.4 kg (launch weight); 158.7 kg (dry weight)
- **Mission Designation:** Discovery 3 (third mission in NASA's Discovery Program)
- **Operator:** NASA Ames Research Center
- **Manufacturer:** Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space
- **Spacecraft Bus:** LM-100
- **Mission End:** July 31, 1999, at 09:52:02 UTC (controlled lunar impact)
- **Impact Location:** Shoemaker crater (coordinates: -87.7° lat, 42° lon)
- **Total Cost:** $62.8 million USD (including spacecraft, launch vehicle, and operations)

## FAQs

### Q: What was the purpose of the Lunar Prospector mission?
A: Lunar Prospector was designed to conduct a low polar orbit investigation of the Moon from lunar orbit. The mission aimed to gather scientific data about the Moon's composition, magnetic fields, and gravity fields while orbiting the lunar surface.

### Q: How long did Lunar Prospector operate?
A: Lunar Prospector launched on January 7, 1998, and operated until July 31, 1999, when it was deliberately crashed into the Moon's surface. The mission duration was approximately 19 months.

### Q: How did the Lunar Prospector mission end?
A: The mission concluded with a controlled lunar impact on July 31, 1999, at 09:52:02 UTC. The spacecraft was deliberately crashed into the Shoemaker crater near the lunar south pole at coordinates -87.7° latitude and 42° longitude.

### Q: What power systems did Lunar Prospector use?
A: Lunar Prospector was powered by solar cells generating 202 watts and nickel-cadmium batteries with 4.8 ampere-hours of capacity.

## Why It Matters
Lunar Prospector represents a significant achievement in NASA's Discovery Program, demonstrating the agency's ability to conduct meaningful lunar science through cost-effective, focused missions. As the third mission in the Discovery Program, it helped establish a model for relatively low-cost planetary exploration with a total cost of $62.8 million. The mission's deliberate impact into the Shoemaker crater was designed to generate data about potential water ice deposits in permanently shadowed lunar regions, contributing to our understanding of lunar resources. By conducting a comprehensive low polar orbit investigation, Lunar Prospector provided valuable scientific data about the Moon's surface composition, magnetic fields, and gravitational characteristics, advancing lunar science and supporting future exploration planning.

## Notable For
- Third mission in NASA's Discovery Program of low-cost, focused scientific investigations
- Low polar orbit investigation providing comprehensive lunar surface coverage
- Deliberate end-of-mission impact targeting the Shoemaker crater near the lunar south pole
- Cost-efficient design with total mission cost of $62.8 million
- Use of the LM-100 spacecraft bus manufactured by Lockheed Martin

## Body

### Mission Overview
Lunar Prospector was an American lunar orbiter and artificial satellite operated by NASA's Ames Research Center. The spacecraft was manufactured by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space using the LM-100 spacecraft bus design. It held the official designation Discovery 3 as the third mission in NASA's Discovery Program.

### Technical Specifications
The spacecraft had a launch mass of 296.4 kilograms and a dry mass of 158.7 kilograms. Power was supplied by solar cells generating 202 watts, supplemented by nickel-cadmium batteries providing 4.8 ampere-hours of capacity. The spacecraft's thermal and propellant mass difference accounted for the variance between launch and dry weights.

### Launch Details
Lunar Prospector launched on January 7, 1998, at 02:28:44 UTC from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 46. The launch vehicle was an Athena II rocket with the serial designation LM-004. A Star 37 space tug was utilized as part of the mission profile to achieve lunar orbit insertion.

### Mission Operations
The spacecraft operated as a lunar orbiter, conducting investigations from a low polar orbit around the Moon. The mission was managed by NASA's Ames Research Center and remained operational for approximately 19 months.

### Mission Conclusion and Impact
Lunar Prospector's mission ended on July 31, 1999, when the spacecraft was deliberately crashed into the lunar surface. The impact occurred at 09:52:02 UTC at the Shoemaker crater, with coordinates at -87.7 degrees latitude and 42 degrees longitude. This controlled impact was a planned end-of-mission event.

### Identifiers and Classifications
- COSPAR ID: 1998-001A
- NSSDCA ID: 1998-001A
- NAIF ID: -25
- Satellite Catalog Number (SCN): 25131
- Official website: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/lunar-prospector/

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/lunar_prospector.htm)
2. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1998-001A)
3. [Source](https://curator.jsc.nasa.gov/lunar/lnews/lnfeb98/prospector.htm)
4. [Source](http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/project/faq.html#7)
5. Jonathan's Space Report
6. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunarprosp.html)
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. [Source](https://science.nasa.gov/mission/lunar-prospector/)
9. [Source](https://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/pub/naif/toolkit_docs/C/req/naif_ids.html)