Did a spacecraft, launched in the mid-1990s, fundamentally reshape our understanding of the Moon, revealing secrets previously hidden from human eyes? The Clementine mission, a joint endeavor between the United States' Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) and NASA, not only achieved this but also offered an unprecedented global perspective of Earth's celestial neighbor, ushering in a new era of lunar exploration.
Following the completion of its initial phase, the Clementine spacecraft, a technological marvel, set its trajectory towards Geographos, a remarkably elongated, stony asteroid, stretching approximately 1.6 miles (2.5 km) in length. The mission's ambitions extended far beyond a single target. Launched on January 25, 1994, at 16:34, Clementine embarked on a journey to the Moon that would last until the spacecraft left lunar orbit on May 3rd. During this period, it sent back a trove of data that would redefine lunar cartography and geological comprehension. The image of the full moon at the top of the page, a testament to the mission's capabilities, was taken on orbit 100 on March 15, 1994, at 00:01:26 UT from a distance of 2200 km, courtesy of the star tracker camera. Clementine's ambitions even extended to a heliocentric orbit, a testament to its design and capabilities. Although a malfunction prevented Clementine from completing the second phase of its mission, the data already captured provided invaluable insight for years to come.
Clementine's return of data included mosaics of the near side of the moon captured by the star trackers, images of the moon's center and its color ratio, and sample images from the ultraviolet/visible (UV/Vis) imager. The spacecraft was even able to briefly reestablish contact with earth on May 10th, 1995, and on May 20th. Named after the National Geographic Society, the Clementine mission proved to be an unparalleled success. Clementine was the first U.S. spacecraft launched to the Moon in over two decades, since Explorer 49 in June 1973. The mission was a collaborative project between the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization and NASA, underscoring the cooperation between the government and science-based organizations to push the boundary of space exploration.
During its time in lunar orbit and in flight, the Clementine spacecraft captured images of both Earth and the Moon. This collection of UV/Vis camera images showed Earth as seen from the Moon, as well as three individual images of Earth. The image on the left showed Earth as viewed across the lunar north pole, and the large crater in the foreground is the Plaskett. Clementine also captured an east limb view of Earth's moon in full resolution. The data acquired by the mission offered global topographic and gravitational field models, revealing a new picture of the shape and internal structure of the Moon. The central peak complex shows a blue coloration, indicating that different rocks occur here than elsewhere in the crater. The color images provided by the Clementine spacecraft would allow the mapping of rock types over the entire moon.
The Clementine mission gave scientists their first global look at the moon. This atlas is based on the data collected by the Clementine mission. Scientists were able to explore the mysterious features of the lunar surface thanks to Clementine. Clementine also saw views of earth, the moon, the solar corona, and venus from different angles and instruments. Clementine, officially called the Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), was a joint project between the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization and NASA. The spacecraft also gave a detailed view of the lunar South Polar region in a mosaic of images and revealed the existence of permanently shadowed areas where water ice could exist. Clementine was the first US mission back to the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Mission Name | Clementine (Deep Space Program Science Experiment - DSPSE) |
| Launch Date | January 25, 1994 |
| Launch Time | 16:34 UTC |
| Primary Objective | To test advanced sensors and spacecraft technologies in a space environment and gather data on the Moon. |
| Joint Partners | Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO, formerly Strategic Defense Initiative Organization - SDIO) and NASA |
| Lunar Orbit Duration | Nominal mission until May 3rd, 1994 |
| Instruments | UV/Vis Camera, Near Infrared Camera, Star Tracker Camera, High-Resolution Camera, and LWIR Camera |
| Key Discoveries | Global lunar mapping, evidence of water ice at the lunar poles, detailed surface topography. |
| Data Products | 1.6 million images, global maps of the Moon's surface and topography. |
| Autonomous Navigation | Demonstration of autonomous navigation, including orbit determination, was a major goal. |
| Reference | NASA - Clementine Mission |
The spacecraft's ability to map the entire lunar surface at a level of detail never before achieved opened up new avenues for scientific investigation. It returned 1.6 million images, revealing water ice at the poles and global maps of the moon's surface and topography. The images taken on March 15, 1994, captured views of the Earth, the Moon, and even Venus. Furthermore, it provided unprecedented insight into the Moon's internal structure. Analysis of the central peak complex revealed unique rock types, underscoring the diversity of lunar geology.
The data acquired offered global topographic and gravitational field models, revealing the shape and internal structure of the Moon. The spacecraft was commanded from the ground using a 1 kb/s uplink from the NASA Deep Space Network and DOD stations. The spacecraft returned images of the planet earth and the moon. The image on the left showed the earth as seen across the lunar north pole, and the large crater in the foreground is plaskett. During its flight and lunar orbit, the Clementine spacecraft returned images of the planet earth and the moon. This mission provided views of the Earth, moon, solar corona, and Venus from different angles and instruments.
The Clementine mission, launched on January 25, 1994, was a significant event. Clementine was the first U.S. mission back to the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. It returned 1.6 million images, revealing water ice at the poles and global maps of the moon's surface and topography. The mission's name, derived from the National Geographic Society, reflects the collaboration and the importance of the work done by Clementine. The missions accomplishments continue to influence modern space exploration, and its legacy is visible in future missions.
The whole of the moon full resolution: and color ratio image of Tycho: are some of the highlights of Clementine's visual findings. Clementine also captured the earth and the moon from different angles and distances. Clementine provided views of earth's storms, clouds and continents, and the lunar north pole. The mission allowed scientists to map rock types over the entire moon. Results from Clementine data included advanced processing, mosaicing, and archiving techniques. Clementine also captured the moon eclipsing the sun, with the planet venus shining. The Clementine Atlas of the Moon, created by Ben Bussey and Paul D. Spudis, is based on data collected during the mission and mapped both the near and far sides of the moon.
The missions focus on testing new technologies, its mapping of the lunar surface, and its discovery of water ice at the poles have all contributed to the wealth of information available today. The mission data has helped shape global topographic and gravitational field models of the moon. Results from Clementine data, including data processing and archiving techniques, have aided in the mission's long-term success. Clementine's images of the Earth and Moon, viewed from different angles and distances, remain important for studying the celestial bodies and the history of space exploration. Clementine was a joint NASA and DOD mission that launched in 1994 to test new technologies and study the moon. Its legacy continues in the fields of space science and technology.
