LADEE, in 250 km orbit, begins commissioning phase

LADEE, last of the Constellation precursor missions, officially entered a highly eccentric orbit around the Moon on October 6, after a month gradually increasing its orbital apogee around Earth to meet up with the Moon's gravimetric Sphere of Influence. Following critical maneuvers October 9 and 12, LADEE is now inserted into a low circular lunar orbit below 250 km to begin the Commissioning phase of its mission, still shy of a much lower Nominal mission orbital altitude below 50 km. [NASA/ARC].

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