Lunar Prospector Status Report #46

August 28, 1998 - 1:00 p.m. EST (10:00 a.m. PST)

The Lunar Prospector spacecraft continues to perform very well.

There was no commanding activity in the last week.

Plans are underway to review the power balance during the upcoming penumbral eclipse. On September 6 at ~11:00 GMT, the Earth will block up to 83% of the light from the Sun. As the spacecraft will be in 45 minute long eclipses each orbit (as the spacecraft orbit crosses the dark side of the moon), power sharing may be required to ensure the battery is not depleted.

Current spacecraft state (0000 GMT 8/28/98):

Orbit: 2778
Downlink: 3600 bps
Spin Rate: 12.00 rpm

Spin Axis Attitude (ecliptic):
Latitude: 88.8 deg
Longitude: 152 deg

Trajectory:
Periapsis Alt: 78.2 km
Apoapsis Alt: 118.8 km

Inclination: 90.6 deg
Period: 118 min
Occultations: 46 minutes
Eclipses: 43 minutes