One Lucky LADEE Is On Its Way To The Moon

Digital space artist Dana Berry is back with NASA to demonstrate how the LADEE spacecraft travels through space.

LADEE is a robotic mission that will circle the moon

Via NASA Ames/Dana Berry

"LADEE" stands for NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer.

This spacecraft is the size of a small car and will be gathering data about the moon on it's 160 day trip

Via NASA Ames/Dana Berry

Data will be collected from the lunar atmosphere, conditions near the surface and environmental influences on lunar dust.

Multiple phases make up the LADEE mission, allowing it to collect and analyze data about the moon

Via NASA Ames/Dana Berry

There are eight phases of this mission

Via NASA Ames/Dana Berry

The LADEE mission consists of the following phases: Launch, Ascent, Activation and Checkout, Phasing Orbits, Lunar Orbit Insertion, Commissioning, Science, and Decommissioning.

The final decommissioning phase of the mission will end in a monstrous impact

Via NASA Ames/Dana Berry

Collecting data up until the very moment of contact with the moon.

A visualization of the final collision course for the LADEE

Check out 7 Awe Inspiring Looks At Our Solar System.

Learn more about Dana Berry whose artwork was recently featured on the cover of National Geographic.

Learn more about Autodesk Maya, the software used by this digital artist.