List_of_retroreflectors_on_the_Moon

List of retroreflectors on the Moon

List of retroreflectors on the Moon

Mirrors for measuring Earth–Moon distance

Retroreflectors are devices which reflect light back to its source. Six were left at six sites on the Moon by three crews of the Apollo program, two remote landers of the Lunokhod program, and one by the Chandrayaan program.[1] Lunar reflectors have enabled precise measurement of the Earth–Moon distance since 1969 using lunar laser ranging.[2]

The locations of lunar retroreflectors left by Apollo (A) and Luna (L) missions.

Several unsuccessful attempts to land retroreflectors on the lunar surface have been made, and several future attempts are planned.

Successfully placed reflectors

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Attempted and planned reflectors

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See also

References

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    Lunar Retroreflectors
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    Slava G. Turyshev: From Quantum to Cosmos: Fundamental Physics Research in Space (2009), p. 300
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    Archinal, Brent (13 April 2010). "The Apollo 15 Lunar Laser Ranging Retroreflector – A Fundamental Point on the Moon!". Arizona State University. Archived from the original on 13 January 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
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    "Chandrayaan-3". ISRO. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
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    Dhillon, Amrit (23 August 2023). "India lands spacecraft near south pole of moon in historic first". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
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    "NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
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    "Russia's Luna-25 spacecraft crashes into the moon, ending its bid to reach the lunar south pole". Associated Press. 20 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
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    "Intuitive Machines-1 Orbital Debris Assessment Report (ODAR) Revision 1.1" (PDF). Intuitive Machines. FCC. 22 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
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