Lunar Prospector

NASA mission designed for a low polar orbit investigation of the Moon. Lunar Prospector was launched on January 7, 1998 aboard a Athena-2 from Cape Canaveral & Kennedy. Latest status in GCAT: left Earth orbit for deep space (Jan 7, 1998).

COSPAR 1998-001ANORAD 25131United States

Identity

Name in GCAT: Lunar Prospector
Payload designation: LP
International designator: 1998-001A
NORAD catalog number: 25131
GCAT identifier: S25131
UN registration: ST/SG/SER.E/341

Mission

Mission type: Deep space
Use: Civil government
Program: Discovery
Owner: ARC
Country: United States
Builder: Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space, Sunnyvale
Platform (bus): LM100

Launch

Date: January 7, 1998 · 02:28 UTC
Launch record: 1998-001Success
Rocket: Athena-2
Spaceport: Cape Canaveral & Kennedy · pad SLC46

Orbit and fate

Orbit class (GCAT): CLO
Perigee: 197 km
Apogee: 353,645 km
Inclination: 29.20°
Status: Left Earth orbit for deep space
Status date: January 7, 1998
Last known active: Jul 31, 1999
End of operations: Jul 31, 1999

Size

Mass: 296 kg
Dry mass: 158 kg
Length: 1.2 m
Diameter: 1.40 m
Span: 4.0 m

Deep space

Deep-space catalog entry: D00748
Final central body: Luna
Phase start: January 10, 1998
Phase outcome: Reentered attached to another object · July 31, 1999
Destination: Luna

Flight phases

From	Central body	Ended	Outcome	Next
Jan 7, 1998	Earth	Jan 10, 1998	Escaped to another body, attached	Luna

Landings and impacts

World	Type	Result	Touchdown	Site	Coordinates
Luna	Orbiter	Targeted impact	Jul 31, 1999	—	-87.70, 42.10
Luna	Secondary component	Targeted impact	Jul 31, 1999	—	-87.70, 42.10

Source: GCAT payload, deep-space and lander catalogs, Jonathan C. McDowell (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata Q590245 (CC0).