Composition of the Moon as Determined from Orbit by Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy

A spacecraft placed in a planetary orbit of suitably high inclination will pass over all or most of the planet's surface in a matter of several weeks to months. The quite prodigious scientific potential of planetary orbiters lies in coupling this comprehensive coverage with observing systems capable of gathering data on properties that include elemental and mineralogic composition, exogenic and endogenic surface alterations, thermal balance, gravity, topography, stratigraphy, albedo and magnetism.