June 18, 2009

The Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) began its journey to the Moon today with a 5:32 p.m. EDT launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida. CSA Engineering's EELV Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) Ring is the LCROSS core structure and served simultaneously in the launch stack as structural support for Lunar Reconnaissance Observer (LRO). ESPA enabled the innovative LCROSS mission when the LRO launch was moved from a Delta II to the Atlas V. Originally developed to allow launch of multiple small satellites with a large primary payload, ESPA can also function as a satellite or orbiting maneuvering vehicle structure. LRO will orbit the Moon, mapping the surface with unprecedented detail. The LCROSS mission will climax with a lunar impact scheduled for October 9.