Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO)

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About Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO):

It is a NASA spacecraft that was launched on June 18, 2009.
Primary Objective: To make a 3D map of the Moon’s surface from lunar polar orbit.
It has also been used to study the Moon’s geology, mineralogy, and environment.
It orbits the Moon in an eccentric polar mapping orbit.
LRO is equipped with 7 science instruments, the most well-known of which is a 195-millimeter (7.7-inch) telescope and camera system that can see details up to 2.5 meters across.
LRO is equipped with a laser altimeter that produces 3D maps by shooting lasers at the surface and measuring reflection times.
The spacecraft also carries two instruments suited to peering into dark craters to search for signs of water ice, and a temperature instrument that led to the discovery of the coldest place in the solar system.

Q1) What is an Altimeter?

An altimeter is a device used to measure altitude, which is the height or elevation above a specific reference point, usually the Earth’s surface or sea level. Altimeters are commonly used in aviation, mountaineering, and various other applications where knowing one’s vertical position is essential.

Source: India’s Chandrayaan-3 moon lander spotted from lunar orbit (photo)