The LRO spacecraft is encased in the white conical faring seen here being hoisted to the top of its Atlas V rocket (28 May 2009). The faring is 4.2 meters (14 ft) in diameter and 12.2 m (40 ft) tall. LRO is sharing the faring with its sister spacecraft, LCROSS. Both are now undergoing testing in preparation for launch on 17 June. Next stop the Moon! (Image Courtesy Arlin Bartels)
Published by Mark Robinson on 28 May 2009