Two waves to better understand the moon

Two waves have been sent into orbit by NASA over the weekend. They will allow us to better understand the moon.

Launched on the 10th of September 2011 from the Cape Canaveral military base in Florida, NASA’s Grail-A and Grail-B sound frequency waves recently arrived at their destination.

After three and a half months, they have finally entered the orbit round the moon, our planets natural satellite, at 10pm GMT time on the 31st of December 2011 and 10:43 pm GMT on the 1st of January respectively.

Situated at 200 kilometres and circulating the moon at an altitude of 55 kilometres, while performing an almost polar elliptic orbit, the Grail waves (Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory) will officially enter service in March 2012.

Conceived by Lockheed Martin and each weighing 200 kilograms, they will work together to measure the moons gravity to the micrometre so as to establish a precise mapping of the moons gravity, which will allow scientists to better understand the moons composition and its symmetry.

They will be powered by a Lithium battery which recharges thanks to two solar panels.