WEBVTT FILE 1 00:00:01.300 --> 00:00:03.333 Since its launch in 2009, 2 00:00:03.333 --> 00:00:05.933 NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has been gathering 3 00:00:05.933 --> 00:00:08.633 incredible amounts of data about the Moon. 4 00:00:08.633 --> 00:00:11.833 This information has led to many scientific discoveries, 5 00:00:11.833 --> 00:00:13.566 shedding light on the Moon's history, 6 00:00:13.566 --> 00:00:17.800 composition, and potential for future exploration. 7 00:00:17.800 --> 00:00:19.466 One of the most heavily used instruments 8 00:00:19.466 --> 00:00:22.600 on LRO is its high-resolution camera system, 9 00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:27.366 which is able to capture incredibly detailed images of the lunar surface. 10 00:00:27.366 --> 00:00:29.000 By analyzing these images, 11 00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:30.333 scientists have been able to gain 12 00:00:30.333 --> 00:00:35.333 new insights into the Moon's geology and its evolution. 13 00:00:35.700 --> 00:00:38.300 For example, LRO has provided new data 14 00:00:38.300 --> 00:00:39.900 on how the lunar surface changes 15 00:00:39.900 --> 00:00:43.166 as a result of the formation of impact craters. 16 00:00:43.166 --> 00:00:45.166 During its years orbiting the Moon, 17 00:00:45.166 --> 00:00:47.433 LRO's camera has captured the immediate results 18 00:00:47.433 --> 00:00:49.933 of meteorite impacts on the surface - 19 00:00:49.933 --> 00:00:54.533 such as scattered debris and ejecta patterns on the surface. 20 00:00:54.533 --> 00:00:56.733 And since the Moon lacks an atmosphere, 21 00:00:56.733 --> 00:00:59.533 these newly formed craters remain essentially untouched 22 00:00:59.533 --> 00:01:00.800 over many years, 23 00:01:00.800 --> 00:01:03.366 allowing LRO to continuously measure 24 00:01:03.366 --> 00:01:05.700 and collect data on them. 25 00:01:05.700 --> 00:01:09.000 This means scientists can analyze a crater formed a year ago 26 00:01:09.000 --> 00:01:10.433 and use it to learn about craters 27 00:01:10.433 --> 00:01:13.466 that formed millions or billions of years in the past, 28 00:01:13.466 --> 00:01:17.633 giving us clues about the Moon's geologic history. 29 00:01:17.633 --> 00:01:20.866 We can't replicate this type of study on Mars or on Earth 30 00:01:20.866 --> 00:01:22.966 since atmospheric conditions like wind 31 00:01:22.966 --> 00:01:25.866 are rapidly changing the surface. 32 00:01:25.866 --> 00:01:28.033 The Moon is therefore a unique environment 33 00:01:28.033 --> 00:01:30.300 for learning about our solar system. 34 00:01:31.733 --> 00:01:34.100 Another major focus of LRO’s mission 35 00:01:34.100 --> 00:01:36.400 has been the Moon’s South Pole. 36 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:39.100 This region is of particular interest to scientists 37 00:01:39.100 --> 00:01:41.166 because of the detection of water, 38 00:01:41.166 --> 00:01:44.366 which will be a vital resource for future missions to the Moon. 39 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:47.033 The data LRO has collected 40 00:01:47.033 --> 00:01:50.666 allows scientists to create detailed maps of the South Pole, 41 00:01:50.666 --> 00:01:52.733 leading to the discovery of large regions 42 00:01:52.733 --> 00:01:56.133 that appear to contain significant amounts of this water. 43 00:01:56.133 --> 00:01:57.666 These discoveries are important 44 00:01:57.666 --> 00:01:59.433 because they could help make future missions 45 00:01:59.433 --> 00:02:01.900 to the Moon more sustainable. 46 00:02:01.900 --> 00:02:04.666 Instead of having to bring all their own water with them, 47 00:02:04.666 --> 00:02:08.266 astronauts could potentially extract water from the lunar soil 48 00:02:08.266 --> 00:02:12.833 and use it for drinking, cooking, and even rocket fuel. 49 00:02:12.833 --> 00:02:14.933 The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft 50 00:02:14.933 --> 00:02:17.766 is also equipped with a suite of scientific instruments 51 00:02:17.766 --> 00:02:19.600 that aid in exploration, 52 00:02:19.600 --> 00:02:22.666 including a laser altimeter called LOLA, 53 00:02:22.666 --> 00:02:24.966 that is able to measure the precise elevation 54 00:02:24.966 --> 00:02:28.100 of the lunar surface. 55 00:02:28.100 --> 00:02:30.966 Using Lola, scientists have been able to create the most 56 00:02:30.966 --> 00:02:33.733 accurate map of the Moon's topography to date, 57 00:02:33.733 --> 00:02:36.466 as well as improved lunar gravity models - 58 00:02:36.466 --> 00:02:39.333 both of which will help future exploration efforts. 59 00:02:40.233 --> 00:02:42.866 Finally, data from LRO has helped us better 60 00:02:42.866 --> 00:02:45.533 understand the composition of the lunar surface, 61 00:02:45.533 --> 00:02:48.433 shedding new light on the Moon's history. 62 00:02:48.433 --> 00:02:50.266 The data has shown that a wider range 63 00:02:50.266 --> 00:02:53.533 of compositions of volcanic rocks exist on the lunar surface 64 00:02:53.533 --> 00:02:55.133 than previously thought. 65 00:02:55.133 --> 00:02:56.766 We have found compositions of rocks 66 00:02:56.766 --> 00:02:59.433 that are not part of the Apollo sample collection, 67 00:02:59.433 --> 00:03:01.633 and evidence for volcanic activity 68 00:03:01.633 --> 00:03:04.966 that may have occurred only 50 million years ago. 69 00:03:04.966 --> 00:03:06.966 That's 950 million years 70 00:03:06.966 --> 00:03:09.966 after scientists had previously thought it ended. 71 00:03:09.966 --> 00:03:11.966 This information helps us piece together 72 00:03:11.966 --> 00:03:13.733 a geologic history of the Moon 73 00:03:13.733 --> 00:03:16.833 from just after its formation to the present day - 74 00:03:16.833 --> 00:03:18.900 information that will aid in understanding 75 00:03:18.900 --> 00:03:22.300 future samples collected by Artemis astronauts. 76 00:03:22.300 --> 00:03:24.033 Thanks to the incredible data gathered 77 00:03:24.033 --> 00:03:26.133 by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, 78 00:03:26.133 --> 00:03:28.133 NASA and the scientific community 79 00:03:28.133 --> 00:03:30.500 are making incredible strides in our understanding 80 00:03:30.500 --> 00:03:31.966 of the Moon. 81 00:03:31.966 --> 00:03:34.800 With every new discovery, we are one step closer 82 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:38.533 to unlocking the secrets of our closest celestial neighbor.