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LunIR

retired
Science ExplorationcislunarCOSPAR 2022-156QLaunched 11/16/2022
Admin Edit
Mission & Launch
Launch Mission
Artemis I Mission
Launch Vehicle
SLS Block 1
Launch Date
11/16/2022
Last Contact
12/22/2022
Orbit & Mass
Orbit Class
cislunar
Altitude
188,960 km
Inclination
30.26 deg
Dry Mass
14 kg
Total Mass
14 kg
Payload Classification
Mission Type
Science Exploration
Payload Category
PLAN
Payload Class
B
Organizations
Operator
Lockheed Martin
Manufacturer
Lockheed Martin
Registry
COSPAR ID
2022-156Q
UN Registration
ST/SG/SER.E/1116
Track
Mentions
36
All verified mentions of this spacecraft in source documents.
0.0-5.0
Actions

Lunar Trailblazer adds to a list of recent NASA-led or NASA-aided small lunar spacecraft failures that includes LunaH-Map, Lunar Flashlight, Lunar IceCube, and LunIR.

GeneralValue 2.0Mar 10, 2025Moon Monday #216: Firefly Blue Ghost brings precision landing and lunar sci-tech bounties

Terran Orbital developed LunIR, an 11-kilogram moon-mapping satellite that launched in November.

Capability
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Plan
Value 4.0
Jan 13, 2023
Marc Bell: Big OC Plans for Small-Satellite Maker

LunIR was the second Terran Orbital-developed lunar satellite to launch in 2022.

GeneralRelationshipsValue 3.8Jan 13, 2023Marc Bell: Big OC Plans for Small-Satellite Maker

LunIR is a Lockheed Martin-funded technology demonstration CubeSat that will take infrared images of the Moon to test an ultra-compact infrared sensor.

CapabilityRelationshipsValue 4.0Dec 11, 2022UPDATE 6: NASA’s Artemis I mission draws to a successful close

Terran Orbital designed, built, and integrated LunIR under contract with Lockheed Martin in support of Artemis 1.

RelationshipsCapabilityPlanValue 4.6Nov 17, 2022LunIR launches and joins CAPSTONE as second lunar satellite this year

LunIR launched along with the Orion capsule atop NASA’s Space Launch System from the Kennedy Space Center.

PlanValue 4.0Nov 17, 2022LunIR launches and joins CAPSTONE as second lunar satellite this year

Terran Orbital Corporation successfully launched the LunIR lunar infrared imaging spacecraft.

CapabilityValue 4.0Nov 17, 2022LunIR launches and joins CAPSTONE as second lunar satellite this year

LunIR is the second Terran Orbital-developed lunar satellite to launch 2022, following CAPSTONE.

PlanValue 3.5Nov 17, 2022LunIR launches and joins CAPSTONE as second lunar satellite this year

Terran Orbital designed, built, and integrated LunIR under contract with Lockheed Martin in support of Artemis 1.

RelationshipsCapabilityValue 4.7Nov 16, 2022LunIR joins CAPSTONE as Second Terran Orbital-Developed Lunar Satellite to Launch this Year

Terran Orbital Corporation (NYSE: LLAP) launched the lunar infrared imaging spacecraft LunIR as a secondary payload on NASA’s Artemis 1 mission from Kennedy Space Center on 2022-11-16.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Nov 16, 2022LunIR joins CAPSTONE as Second Terran Orbital-Developed Lunar Satellite to Launch this Year

LunIR is a Terran Orbital-developed Artemis-supporting satellite planned to launch after CAPSTONE.

PlanCapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Nov 14, 2022Making History: Terran Orbital-Developed CAPSTONE Enters NRHO Around the Moon

Terran Orbital designed, built, and integrated the LunIR satellite under contract with Lockheed Martin.

RelationshipsCapabilityValue 4.0Aug 26, 2022Terran Orbital Concludes Final Launch Preparations For LunIR

LunIR is scheduled to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on 2022-08-29 at 8:33 a.m. E.T.

PlanValue 4.0Aug 26, 2022Terran Orbital Concludes Final Launch Preparations For LunIR

Kongsberg Satellite Services operates ground stations in Punta Arenas, Chile; Svalbard, Norway; and Troll Station, Antarctica that will support LunIR communications.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Aug 25, 2022Terran Orbital’s LunIR integrates into NASA’s Space Launch System

Terran Orbital designed, built, and integrated the LunIR spacecraft and will run its mission operations.

CapabilityGrowthRelationshipsValue 4.0Aug 25, 2022Terran Orbital’s LunIR integrates into NASA’s Space Launch System

Lockheed Martin created LunIR’s infrared sensor and cryocooler to operate in both lunar day and night, map the lunar surface, detect materials, and collect thermal signatures.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Aug 25, 2022Terran Orbital’s LunIR integrates into NASA’s Space Launch System

Lockheed Martin developed LunIR’s infrared sensor and cryocooler to operate both day and night for mapping the lunar surface, detecting materials, and collecting thermal signatures.

CapabilityValue 4.0Aug 24, 2022Terran Orbital Delivers LunIR Satellite to NASA For Artemis 1 Launch

Terran Orbital designed and built the LunIR spacecraft and is responsible for spacecraft integration and mission assurance.

CapabilityRelationshipsValue 4.0Aug 24, 2022Terran Orbital Delivers LunIR Satellite to NASA For Artemis 1 Launch

Terran Orbital Corporation delivered the LunIR spacecraft to Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

RelationshipsPlanCapabilityValue 4.0Aug 24, 2022Terran Orbital Delivers LunIR Satellite to NASA For Artemis 1 Launch

The 11 kg LunIR satellite will communicate with Earth via ground stations operated by Kongsberg Satellite Services in Punta Arenas, Chile; Svalbard, Norway; and Troll station, Antarctica.

CapabilityRelationshipsValue 4.0Aug 24, 2022Terran Orbital Delivers LunIR Satellite to NASA For Artemis 1 Launch