Object Details
Manufacturer
Bendix Aerospace Systems
Summary
This Laser Ranging Reflector was a qualification unit similar to the one placed on the lunar surface during the Apollo 15 mission. Smaller units were deployed by the Apollo 11 and Apollo 14 astronauts. The reflectors were designed to reflect incident light precisely back to its source regardless of the incident angle. Accurately timed pulses of laser light from various Earth stations were bounced off of the three separate arrays and the reflections were carefully recorded. The data from the three reflectors allowed scientists to improve knowledge of the complexities of the lunar motion and rotation.
This unit was stored by Bendix Aerospace until NASA transferred the object to the Smithsonian in 1982.
Credit Line
Transferred from the NASA - Johnson Space Center
Inventory Number
A19820510000
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
EQUIPMENT-Lunar
Materials
Corner cubes: fused silica; panel: aluminum
Dimensions
Overall: 11 13/16 in. × 2 ft. 1 1/2 in. × 2 ft. 3 3/8 in., 79.8lb. (30 × 64.8 × 69.5cm, 36.2kg)
3-D (Aluminum Pallet Storage): 121.9 × 121.9 × 58.4cm, 116.6kg (4 ft. × 4 ft. × 1 ft. 11 in., 257lb.)
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nasm_A19820510000