NASA lunar probes slated for New Year's arrival

NASA lunar probes slated for New Year's arrival

In this Aug. 25, 2011 photo made available by NASA, technicians add a payload fairing to the Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) booster at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

In this undated image provided by NASA on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011, shows two sides of the moon. Twin NASA probes traveling for the past 3 1/2 months are scheduled to arrive at the moon during the New Year's weekend to study lunar gravity.

 This frame grab image from NASA-TV shows the twin GRAIL satellites atop a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket as they clear the gantry after launch Saturday Sept. 10, 2011 from the launch pad at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station after being scrubbed in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday. NASA is sending the probes on a long, roundabout trip to the moon. The spacecraft will orbit the moon, chasing one another in circles so researchers can measure the gap and the gravity below. It will be the first lunar mission devoted to studying the insides of the moon. By measuring the entire gravity field of the moon, scientists hope to learn what the moon is made of all the way to its core.

 This undated artist rendering provided by NASA on Dec. 21,2011 shows the twin Grail spacecraft mapping the lunar gravity field. The two probes are scheduled to enter orbit around the moon over New Year's weekend.

 A Delta II rocket, the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission, sits on the launch pad at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station after being scrubbed in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. NASA will make another attempt to launch on Friday.

 This image provided by NASA shows NASA's GRAIL twin spacecraft await launch atop a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Thursday Evening Sept. 8, 2011

 Spectators wait on the pier at Jetty Park, in Cape Canaveral, Fla., moments before a Delta II rocket, the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission, was scrubbed because of weather, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. NASA will make another attempt to launch on Friday.

Images: AP

This framegrab image from NASA-TV shows the twin GRAIL satellites atop a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket as they launch Saturday Sept. 10, 2011 from the launch pad at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station after being scrubbed in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday.