Laser Ranging Retro-Reflector, Apollo

Corner-cube mirrors connected to base of a Laser Ranging Retroreflector.

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Object Details

Manufacturer

Bendix Aerospace Systems

Summary

The Laser Ranging Retroreflector is a device that reflects light so that the paths of the reflected rays are parallel to those of the incident rays. Instruments placed on the lunar surface were used in experiments to reflect laser light back to Earth. The reflected light was used to provide precise measurements of the distance between the earth and the moon.

The Bendix Corporation donated this traning unit to the Museum in 1972.

Credit Line

Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Inventory Number

A19730063000

Restrictions & Rights

CC0

Type

EQUIPMENT-Lunar

Materials

Glass

Aluminum Alloy

Copper Alloy

Synthetic Fiber Fabric (Beta Cloth)

Plastic

Ink

Paint

Velcro

Phenolic Resin

Ferrous Alloy

Adhesive Tape

Dimensions

3-D (Overall): 82.5 × 68.6 × 43.2cm (2 ft. 8 1/2 in. × 2 ft. 3 in. × 1 ft. 5 in.)

Country of Origin

United States of America

See more items in

National Air and Space Museum Collection

Location

National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC

Exhibition

Destination Moon

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

Metadata Usage

CC0

Link to Original Record

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv959e6424d-b205-4f34-8530-c7d9bc32df8a

Record ID

nasm_A19730063000