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M3 AND INDIA'S FIRST MISSION TO THE MOON
The Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) is one of two instruments that NASA is contributing to India's first mission to the Moon, Chandrayaan-1 (meaning "Lunar Craft" in ancient Sanskrit), which launched on October 22, 2008. M3 is a state-of-the-art imaging spectrometer that will provide the first map of the entire lunar surface at high spatial and spectral resolution, revealing the minerals of which it is made.
Scientists will use this information to answer questions about the Moon's origin and development and the evolution of terrestrial planets in the early solar system. Future astronauts will use it to locate resources, possibly including water, that can support exploration of the Moon and beyond.
NEWS AND UPDATES
The left figure is a color composite of processed data that accentuates compositional differences in the moon's Orientale region. The image on the right contains significant thermal emission in the signal and is particularly sensitive to small variations in local morphology. Image credit: NASA/JPL/Brown
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First Peek at M3 Data!
JPL's Moon Mineralogy Mapper M3 Instrument is listed as one of NASA's Top Science, Exploration and Discovery Stories of 2008
The Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft successfully lifted off the pad in India at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota on schedule, October 22, 2008 at 00:52:02 UTC.
M3 Education and Public Outreach Website is now online: http://m3.cofc.edu/
for further details visit - ISRO