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| Science & Technology |
| NASA Probe Shoots Indian Moon Lander With Laser |
| 2024-01-22 |
| [Yahoo] NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has successfully bounced a laser off of India's Vikram lander, which successfully touched down on the Moon's surface in August. The LRO's laser altimeter aimed its sights at Vikram in December, shooting it with a series of laser pulses. Vikram's 2-inch-wide retroreflector, which comes courtesy of NASA, bounced these signals right back, with scientists confirming the first-of-its-kind "ping" moments later. The feat could revolutionize the way we locate objects and determine their exact locations on the Moon's surface from vast distances using a surprisingly low-tech solution. "We’ve showed that we can locate our retroreflector on the surface from the Moon’s orbit," said Xiaoli Sun, team lead at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, in a statement. "The next step is to improve the technique so that it can become routine for missions that want to use these retroreflectors in the future." CAT'S EYE The tiny retroreflector is outfitted with "eight quartz-corner-cube prisms set into a dome-shaped aluminum frame," per NASA, giving it a highly unusual look. It doesn't need any power and is surprisingly durable, meaning it could "last for decades." In short, it's vaguely reminiscent of the cat's eye reflector that keeps you visible to cars when you're on your bike in the dark. These tiny devices could give future space explorers a way to find their way in the dark and assist them during landings. Unfortunately, gathering more data may prove difficult as the LRO's altimeter is the only laser in the Moon's orbit right now. And it's been operating for 13 years past its intended lifecycle. The latest feat involving Vikram also didn't work on the first try. It took the team at NASA eight tries in total to make contact. And that's not surprising since it needs to be accurate within just one hundredth of a degree of the retroreflector. However, NASA will soon have plenty more opportunities to work on the tech as several landers with NASA retroreflectors are already scheduled to attempt to land on the Moon — including Japan's SLIM lander, which has now touched down on the surface. |
| Posted by:Skidmark |
| #9 Well, the moon is gradually receding from the earth due to angular momentum. Wait! What if that is the cause of Global Warmening? We need to bring the Moon closer to Earth to try and stop the warming. Come on, man! Don't you want to save the planet? |
| Posted by: SteveS 2024-01-22 19:44 |
| #8 Well, the moon is gradually receding from the earth due to angular momentum. No word yet on what sort of global tax may need to be instituted to stop it. |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2024-01-22 18:22 |
| #7 ^ that's how we tell if the moon is falling out of orbit. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2024-01-22 17:53 |
| #6 On The Big Bang Theory the gang bounced laser impulses off a reflector placed by one of the Apollo landings. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2024-01-22 17:18 |
| #5 Why, when I read that headline, did I immediately hear the Imperial March from Star Wars? |
| Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 2024-01-22 12:59 |
| #4 But it was the first time NASA had "partners of color" on the project. |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2024-01-22 08:39 |
| #3 "first-of-it's-kind" Bull. NASA put laser retroreflectors on the moon in 5 of the Apollo missions. |
| Posted by: ed in texas 2024-01-22 08:27 |
| #2 When the Chinese do that.....you all get upset. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2024-01-22 06:43 |
| #1 That seems rude:p |
| Posted by: Silentbrick 2024-01-22 00:01 |