description GRAIL Flow Overview
The second of NASA's twin GRAIL spacecraft that together with Ebb produced the highest-resolution gravitational map of the Moon, completing its mission in December 2012.
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GRAIL Flow ranks #52 of 101 in the Spacecraft ranking, behind Vostok 2, ahead of Sputnik 2.
Essential half of successful GRAIL pair, enabling highest-resolution lunar gravity mapping.
help GRAIL Flow FAQ
What did the GRAIL Flow spacecraft do on the Moon?
GRAIL Flow was the second of NASA's twin spacecraft that worked together to produce the highest-resolution gravitational map of the Moon. By flying in formation with Ebb, it transmitted radio signals to measure the distance between the two probes.
When did the GRAIL Flow mission officially conclude?
The GRAIL Flow mission successfully completed its primary mapping mission in December 2012. After gathering unprecedented data on the Moon's gravity, the probe was commanded to impact the lunar surface.
How did GRAIL Flow map the Moon's gravity?
As Flow orbited the Moon alongside Ebb, the distance between the two spacecraft would change slightly depending on the gravitational pull of the lunar surface below. By precisely measuring these changes, scientists could determine the Moon's internal mass and structure.
Who built the GRAIL Flow spacecraft for NASA?
The twin GRAIL spacecraft, including Flow, were built and operated for NASA by Lockheed Martin Space Systems. They were managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California.
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