The successful transmission and reflection of a laser beam between a lunar surface device controlled by the Indian Space Research Organization’s Vikram lander and a formation of spacecraft operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an impressive accomplishment for future space missions. The successful completion of this experiment brings the possibility of accurate target localization on the lunar surface one step closer to reality.
On December 12, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) directed its laser altimeter instrument onto a small NASA retroreflector on the Vikram lander. The Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA) was able to effectively reflect the beams from the Laser Retroreflector Orbiter (LRO), which was situated around 100 kilometers away in the Manzinus crater near the moon’s South Pole, according to a NASA announcement made on Thursday.
The Vikram lander’s retroreflector is an aluminum dome that contains eight quartz-corner-cube prisms, which efficiently return light to its source regardless of the direction from which it is originating.
How may it help in locating a certain location?
Scientists may monitor satellites in Earth’s orbit by using a technique that involves pulsing laser light into space and then calculating the time it takes for the light to return.
The use of retroreflectors, however, allows one to invert the process and use it to precisely localize a spacecraft in motion by transmitting laser pulses from the moving spacecraft to a stationary one. An investigation by NASA found that this technique may have several applications on the moon.
Retroreflectors have several applications.
Retroreflectors are versatile tools used for exploration and research that have been placed on the moon since the Apollo era, according to NASA.
- The moon is moving away from Earth at a rate of 3.8 centimeters per year, according to data collected from light reflected back to Earth by lunar retroreflectors.
- Several Lunar Retroreflective Arrays (LRAs) have been placed on the moon over the years. However, the one on Chandrayaan-3 is unique in that it is both a smaller version of the original and located near the south pole. Modern, smaller retroreflectors outperform their larger predecessors in terms of utility.
- These little retroreflectors serve as accuracy markers for supply delivery spacecraft that land autonomously on the International Space Station.
It’s possible that they’ll be of assistance to the Artemis crew on a future lunar landing. It may be possible to use the positions of existing spacecraft indicated by retroreflectors placed on the lunar surface to encourage manned and unmanned spacecraft to build permanent bases in close vicinity to known exploration sites.
Only the LRA in Chandrayaan 3
Currently, Chandrayaan-3’s LRA is the only one that can be accessed near the south pole. Its ongoing operation as a long-term geodetic station and location marker on the lunar surface will be advantageous for present and future lunar missions, according to ISRO. Numerous NASA retroreflectors will be carried by both public and private lunar landers, according to the space agency.
The SLIM lander, scheduled to touch down on Friday, is going to be outfitted with one of them by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Midway through February, a private company called Intuitive Machines plans to send a spaceship to the moon, and on board will be yet another retroreflector.
