Welcome to Explore! To the Moon and Beyond with NASA's LRO Mission
Today's children are the next generation of lunar explorers! NASA plans to have humans on the Moon possibly by about 2020, and current and upcoming robotic missions will help us get there! The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, is in orbit around our Moon right now, collecting detailed information about the lunar environment. Its sister mission, the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, will impact the Moon in the fall of 2009, providing scientists and engineers with information about resources — possibly water ice — in deep, dark, craters at the lunar south pole. All of this information will help humans learn to live and work safely on another planetary body, and will prepare us for future missions to Mars — and beyond!
Children are introduced to our Moon and the LRO through First Step: Return to the Moon!, the Moon Tune, and Moon Pie. Ultimately, they Build an LRO model, learning how spacecraft are our robotic eyes, noses, and fingers on other planetary bodies. Children explore the lunar environment through Impacts, Ice in the Shadows, and The Scoop on Moon Dirt. They apply and extend their understanding in Mission Moon!, where they work in teams to prioritize environmental and scientific criteria to recommend a lunar landing site. Finally, imaginations soar to the Moon as they design and Build a Lunar Colony!. The activities are suitable for children ages 8–13 unless otherwise noted in the "activities" section. Discover links to additional games, activities, and information in the "further resources" section.
September 28, 2009
