Low Lunar Orbit is a parking orbit around the Moon, typically at an altitude of about 100 kilometers. Spacecraft use LLO to conduct high-resolution surface mapping or as a staging point for lunar descent and ascent. Maintaining this orbit requires periodic station-keeping burns because the Moon's uneven gravity field will eventually destabilize the trajectory and cause the spacecraft to crash.
Heard on the job
The command module will remain in LLO while the lander descends to the surface.
Also heard as
- low lunar orbit