The LRO, which is being built at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, is scheduled to launch in 2008.

The LRO is a robotic probe that will map and photograph the lunar surface, investigate the moon's radiation level and search for surface ice deposits.

It is the first mission developed under the Robotic Lunar Exploration Program (RLEP), which will include a series of robotic lunar missions that are planned to follow this initial launch in 2008. While this first yearlong mission is to be purely orbital, follow-on RLEP efforts may include surface components in order to pave the way for human exploration missions to the moon.

The RLEP is designed to provide the first phase of support to the nation's "New Vision for Space Exploration," which sets the long range, eventual goal of human missions to Mars and beyond.

"We are proud to be part of the team that will help make history by taking steps towards the next major era in space exploration," said Tom Ingersoll, USN CEO.

"USN adds value to this effort through our strong emphasis and commitment to reliability, quality and risk reduction."

USN, which provides time-shared access to its telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C) communications services, will provide approximately 10 hours per day of service to NASA's LRO mission while it is in lunar orbit.

Joe Rothenberg, USN President and Customer Services Officer said, "By using USN services, the LRO program is able to leverage commercial assets to reduce overall program costs." He added,

"As future exploration mission requirements evolve, we are looking forward to providing additional commercially based communications services to the NASA/HTSI team."

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