JAXA Bounce Laser Beam Between Moon’s Surface and Lunar Orbit

NASA’s has twice transmitted a laser pulse to a cookie

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This was an important accomplishment for NASA because the device is not in an optimal position.

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To boost the chances of reaching their target, the LRO team worked with JAXA to determine the exact location and orientation of SLIM

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NASA engineers predicted when LRO’s orbit trajectory would bring it to coordinates

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LRO’s altimeter wasn’t built for this type of application

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So the chances of pinpointing a tiny retroreflector on the Moon’s surface are already low

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The first time a laser beam was transmitted from LRO to a NASA retroreflector and back was on Dec

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NASA’s retroreflector has eight quartz corner-cube prisms set into a dome-shaped aluminum frame that is 2 inches wide

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The retroreflectors could guide Artemis astronauts to the surface in the dark

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