Editing Lunar Prospector (section)

== Mission profile ==
[[File:LPnosunm.jpeg|left|thumb|Artist's impression of [[NASA]]'s ''Lunar Prospector'' probe leaving Earth orbit after separating from the booster fourth stage.]]
[[File:Animation of Lunar Prospector trajectory.gif |thumb |right |Animation of Lunar Prospector{{'s}} trajectory from January 7, 1998 to January 19, 1998<br>{{legend2|magenta| Lunar Prospector}}{{·}}{{legend2| Lime |[[Moon]]}}]]
[[File:Animation of Lunar Prospector trajectory around Moon.gif |thumb |right |Animation of Lunar Prospector{{'s}} trajectory around [[Moon]] from January 11, 1998 to January 20, 1998<br>{{legend2|magenta| Lunar Prospector}}{{legend2|Goldenrod| [[Moon]]}}]]
Following launch on January 7, 1998 UT (January 6 EST) aboard a four-stage [[Athena II]] [[rocket]], ''Lunar Prospector'' had a 105-hour cruise to the Moon. During the cruise, the three instrument booms were deployed. The MAG and APS collected calibration data, while the GRS, NS, and ER outgassed for one day, after which they also collected calibration data in [[cislunar space]]. The craft was inserted into an 11.6-hour period capture orbit about the Moon at the end of the cruise phase. After 24 hours ''Lunar Prospector'' was inserted into a 3.5-hour period intermediate orbit, followed 24 hours later (on January 13, 1998) by transfer into a {{convert|92|x|153|km|abbr=on}} preliminary mapping orbit, and then on January 16 by insertion into the near-circular {{convert|100|km|abbr=on}} altitude nominal lunar polar mapping orbit with an inclination of 90 degrees and a period of 118 minutes. Lunar calibration data was collected during the 11.6- and 3.5-hour orbits. Lunar mapping data collection started shortly after the 118 minute orbit was achieved. The data collection was periodically interrupted during the mission as planned for orbital maintenance burns, which took place to recircularize the orbit whenever the [[periselene]] or [[aposelene]] was more than {{convert|20|km|abbr=on}} to {{convert|25|km|abbr=on}} from the 100&nbsp;km nominal orbit; this occurred about once per month. On December 19, 1998, a maneuver lowered the orbit to {{convert|40|km|abbr=on}} to perform higher resolution studies. The orbit was altered again on January 28 to a {{convert|15|x|45|km|abbr=on}} orbit, ending the one year primary mission and beginning the extended mission.

[[File:lunar prospector path.png|thumb|Path of ''Lunar Prospector'' space probe]]

The mission ended on July 31, 1999 at 9:52:02 UT (5:52:02 EDT) when ''Lunar Prospector'' was steered into a deliberate collision in a permanently shadowed area of the [[Shoemaker (lunar crater)|Shoemaker]] crater near the lunar south pole. It was hoped that the impact would liberate water vapor from the suspected ice deposits in the crater and that the plume would be detectable from Earth; however, no such plume was observed.

The ''Lunar Prospector'' mission was the third mission selected by NASA for full development and launch as part of NASA's Discovery Program. Total cost for the mission was $63 million including development ($34 million), launch vehicle (~$25 million) and operations (~$4 million).