NASA has recently implemented a pioneering technology known as Laser Retroreflective Arrays (LRAs) to significantly enhance the accuracy of identifying the locations of lunar landers. These LRAs will be affixed to the majority of landers from United States companies as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Service (CLPS) initiative. Weighing only 0.7 ounces (20 grams) and measuring 2 inches (5 centimeters) in diameter, LRAs are cost-effective, compact, and light, enabling future lunar orbiters or landers to pinpoint their whereabouts on the Moon.
LRAs comprise a small aluminum hemisphere inset with eight 0.5-inch-diameter (1.27-centimeter) corner cube retroreflectors crafted from fused silica glass and are set to be included in most upcoming CLPS deliveries headed to the lunar surface.
A key feature of LRAs is their ability to reflect laser light shone on them from a wide range of angles. According to Dr. Daniel Cremons, deputy principal investigator for the LRA project at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, this functionality is akin to the reflective strips found on road signs, which aid in nighttime driving. Unlike a mirror that requires the light to be directed straight back, LRAs can reflect light from various angles and redirect it back to the source. This facilitates a simple, yet effective way to gauge the distance between spacecraft.
Dr. Xiaoli Sun, principal investigator for the LRA project at NASA Goddard, also emphasizes the versatility of LRAs, citing that they can be used to accurately range to landers from orbit and determine their position on the lunar surface, similar to the global positioning system (GPS) on Earth.
In addition to locating landers, LRAs can also be utilized for docking spacecraft such as cargo spacecraft used for the International Space Station. Furthermore, their capability to guide precision docking can be instrumental in docking at nighttime without the need for sunlight to illuminate the LRAs. This feature holds immense potential for guiding spacecraft to landing pads even in pitch-dark locations near the lunar South Pole, which are crucial areas for crewed missions due to potential resources like water ice.
The small, durable design of LRAs renders them versatile enough to accompany scientific missions as a low-risk addition, whilst being able to endure the harsh lunar environment and remain operational for decades. Subsequently, NASA aims to leverage LRAs to enhance the accuracy of gauging the location of key landers and other points of interest on the lunar surface, thereby facilitating greater scientific exploration.
Currently, NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is the sole NASA spacecraft orbiting the Moon with laser-ranging capability. The LRO has already succeeded in ranging to the LRA on the Indian Space Research Organization’s Vikram lander, and will continue to range to LRAs on future landers.
Under the Artemis program, CLPS deliveries will conduct science experiments, demonstrate technologies, and prepare for human missions to explore and harness the Moon. Through Artemis missions, NASA aims to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, expand lunar surface exploration using innovative technologies, establish a long-term presence on the Moon, and ultimately prepare for the next horizon – sending astronauts to Mars.
In conclusion, the introduction of LRAs as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Service initiative marks a significant advancement in enhancing the precision and reliability of lunar missions. As LRAs continue to be integrated into upcoming lunar landers, they will serve as valuable tools in advancing scientific exploration and preparing for unprecedented accomplishments in space exploration.
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