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GRAIL Flow

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description GRAIL Flow Overview

GRAIL Flow is the second of NASA's twin Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory spacecraft, launched alongside its counterpart, GRAIL Ebb, in 2011. The mission's primary objective was to map the Moon's gravitational field with unprecedented detail to understand its internal structure and thermal evolution. The twin probes operated in tandem, measuring the changing distances between them to detect subtle gravitational variations caused by mass concentrations beneath the lunar surface. The mission concluded successfully when both spacecraft were intentionally impacted into a lunar mountain in December 2012.

help GRAIL Flow FAQ

What did the GRAIL Flow spacecraft do on the Moon?

GRAIL Flow was the second of NASA's twin spacecraft that worked together to produce the highest-resolution gravitational map of the Moon. By flying in formation with Ebb, it transmitted radio signals to measure the distance between the two probes.

When did the GRAIL Flow mission officially conclude?

The GRAIL Flow mission successfully completed its primary mapping mission in December 2012. After gathering unprecedented data on the Moon's gravity, the probe was commanded to impact the lunar surface.

How did GRAIL Flow map the Moon's gravity?

As Flow orbited the Moon alongside Ebb, the distance between the two spacecraft would change slightly depending on the gravitational pull of the lunar surface below. By precisely measuring these changes, scientists could determine the Moon's internal mass and structure.

Who built the GRAIL Flow spacecraft for NASA?

The twin GRAIL spacecraft, including Flow, were built and operated for NASA by Lockheed Martin Space Systems. They were managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California.

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