This map shows the gravity field of the moon from the Lunar Prospector mission. The viewing perspective, known as a Mercator projection, shows the far side of the moon in the center and the nearside (as viewed from Earth) at either side.
This graphic highlights locations on the moon NASA considers 'lunar heritage sites' and the path NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory spacecraft will take on their final flight.
These maps of the near and far side of the moon show the gravity gradients as measured by NASA's GRAIL mission, highlighting a population of linear gravity anomalies.
These maps of the moon show the 'Bouguer' gravity anomalies as measured by NASA's GRAIL mission. Red areas have stronger gravity, while blue areas have weaker gravity.
Spacecraft technicians monitor the movement of a section of the clamshell-shaped Delta payload fairing as it encloses NASA's twin Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory spacecraft at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Aug. 23, 2011.
This image of the lunar surface was taken by NASA's MoonKAM system onboard the Ebb spacecraft and shows Crater Poinsot located on the northern part of the moon's far side.
This image depicting the porosity of the lunar highland crust was derived using bulk density data from NASA's GRAIL mission and independent grain density measurements from NASA's Apollo moon mission samples as well as orbital remote-sensing data.
These maps of the near and far side of the moon show gravity gradients as measured by NASA's GRAIL mission. Red and blue areas indicate stronger gradients due to underlying mass anomalies.
This image of the far side of the lunar surface, with Earth in the background, is of crater De Forest and was taken by NASA's MoonKAM system onboard the Ebb spacecraft.
This is a polar stereographic map of gravity of the north polar region of the moon from the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission. The map displays the region from latitude 60 north to the pole.
NASA's GRAIL Spacecraft in Science Collection Phase
An artist's depiction of the twin spacecraft that comprise NASA's GRAIL mission. During the GRAIL mission's science phase, spacecraft (Ebb and Flow) transmit radio signals precisely defining the distance between them as they orbit the moon in formation.
NASA's twin Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft are lowered onto the second stage of their Delta II launch vehicle. At top is the spacecraft adapter ring which holds the two lunar probes in their side-by-side launch configuration.
An artist's depiction of the twin spacecraft (Ebb and Flow) that comprise NASA's GRAIL mission. As 'Ebb and Flow' fly over areas of greater and lesser gravity surface features can influence the distance between the two spacecraft.
This map shows the gravity field of the moon as measured by NASA's GRAIL mission. The viewing perspective, known as a Mercator projection, shows the far side of the moon in the center and the nearside (as viewed from Earth) at either side.
In this photo, taken April 29, 2011, technicians install lifting brackets prior to hoisting the 200-kilogram (440-pound) GRAIL-A spacecraft out of vacuum chamber after testing.
GRAIL's Twin Spacecraft -- Crust to Core (Artist's Concept)
The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission utilizes the technique of twin spacecraft flying in formation with a known altitude above the lunar surface and known separation distance to investigate the gravity field of the moon.
GRAIL's Twin Spacecraft fly in Tandem Around the Moon (Artist's Concept)
The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission utilizes the technique of twin spacecraft flying in formation with a known altitude above the lunar surface and known separation distance to investigate the gravity field of the moon.
New NASA Mission to Reveal Moon's Internal Structure and Evolution (Artist's Concept)
The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory, or GRAIL, mission will fly twin spacecraft in tandem orbits around the moon to measure its gravity field in unprecedented detail. GRAIL is a part of NASA's Discovery Program.