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Microwave and optical lunar transpondersThe scientific areas which used data from the Lunar Laser Ranging Experiment, collected from measurements to the Apollo 11, 14, and 15 and Lunakhod 2, include lunar science (i.e., studies of variations in the lunar angular orientation from that for uniform rotation, lunar tidal displacements, and the lunar mass distribution), geodynamics, astrometry, and gravitational physics. This paper argues that the placement of microwave and optical transponders on the moon would improve the accuracy of laser range measurements by nearly two orders of magnitude and would simplify the measurements. The K-band microwave transponders would be operated at the lunar base and at two remote sites on the moon surface, yielding much improved lunar libration and tidal displacement measurements. A two-wavelength laser transponder also would be operated at the lunar base, allowing accurate tropospheric propagation corrections to be made. This would introduce major improvements in measurements of the lunar orbit and of the earth's rotation, and in tests of general relativity.
Document ID
19910072004
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Bender, P. L.
(Joint Inst. for Lab. Astrophysics Boulder, CO, United States)
Faller, J. E.
(Joint Inst. for Lab. Astrophysics Boulder, CO, United States)
Hall, J. L.
(Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics Boulder, CO, United States)
Degnan, J. J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Dickey, J. O.
(Joint Inst. for Lab. Astrophysics Boulder, CO, United States)
Newhall, X. X.
(Joint Inst. for Lab. Astrophysics Boulder, CO, United States)
Williams, J. G.
(JPL Pasadena, CA, United States)
King, R. W.
(MIT Cambridge, MA, United States)
Macknik, L. O.
(Joint Inst. for Lab. Astrophysics Boulder, CO, United States)
O'Gara, D.
(Lure Observatory Kula, HI, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1990
Subject Category
Astronomy
Meeting Information
Meeting: Astrophysics from the Moon
Location: Annapolis, MD
Country: United States
Start Date: February 5, 1990
End Date: February 7, 1990
Sponsors: NASA
Accession Number
91A56627
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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