Goddard scientist Dr. Paul Lowman speaks to a crowd at Goddard's Visitor Center as Mark Beckman, the flight dynamics lead for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, looks on. Lowman began working for NASA in 1959 as a geologist and helped develop the geological experiments Apollo astronauts performed during their moonwalks. (Read more about Dr. Lowman here.) Lowman and Beckman were part of a panel of scientists and engineers who spoke with guests about LRO and lunar science at an event on Aug. 1, 2009, to commemorate LRO's arrival at the moon in June. Guests could gaze at stars and the moon through telescopes, talk with the LRO team and see new images from the satellite, among other activities. Visitors also ventured to the center's laser ranging facility, where engineers track the LRO satellite. A number of hands-on activities for young children and their families provided knowledge and understanding of the phases of the moon, crater creation and the scale of the Earth/moon system. The LRO mission, built and managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, launched on June 18, 2009. LRO will spend at least one year in low polar orbit around the moon, collecting detailed information about the lunar surface. Among other aims, LRO's objectives are to scout for safe future landing sites and locate potential resources. Credit: NASA/Debbie McCallum
