Douglas Isbell
Headquarters, Washington, DC                 October 22, 1997
(Phone: 202/358-1753)

Elizabeth Carter
Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
(Phone:  650/604-2742)

RELEASE: 97-242

LAUNCH OF LUNAR PROSPECTOR RESCHEDULED FOR EARLY JANUARY

     The launch of the Lunar Prospector mission to explore the 
Moon has been rescheduled for Jan. 5, 1998, NASA officials 
announced today. 

     The schedule adjustment is necessary to allow adequate time 
to complete the rigorous testing, review and preparation of the 
new Lockheed Martin Athena II launch vehicle (formerly known as 
the LMLV-2).  The previous launch date was Nov. 23, 1997.

     A free-flier, Lunar Prospector will orbit above the Moon's 
surface at an altitude of approximately 63 miles during a one-year 
mission.  Its five science instruments will provide detailed data 
on the composition and structure of the entire lunar landscape, of 
which more than 75 percent remains virtually unexplored.  A key 
mission objective is to provide direct evidence of the presence or 
absence of ice in the shaded lunar polar regions.

     Lunar Prospector is the third flight in NASA's Discovery 
Program series of "faster, better, cheaper" space science 
missions.  The entire mission, including the spacecraft, launch 
vehicle, science instruments, and data operations and delivery, 
will be conducted at a total cost to NASA of $62.8 million.

     The Lunar Prospector mission is being managed by NASA's Ames 
Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, via a prime contract with 
Lockheed Martin Corp., Sunnyvale, CA.  The Athena II launch 
vehicle is being provided by Lockheed Martin Astronautics, Denver, 
CO, as part of the prime contract.

     The launch is scheduled to take place at 8:32 p.m., EST on 
Jan. 5, 1998, from the new Spaceport Florida Authority Launch 
Complex 46 in Cape Canaveral, FL.  A second, back-up launch window 
is available approximately 24 hours later on Jan. 6.