Summary of scientific results
Apollo 11 lunar mission results, discussing surface, seismology, laser ranging retroreflector, solar wind and rock samples
Calio, A. J.↗
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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
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Laser satellite ranging
Laser range finding to satellite equipped with retroreflectors, noting accuracy dependence on signal strength
Lehr, C. G.↗
Parametric analysis of satellite laser ranging performance
Mathematical-physical parametric model of satellite geodetic laser range accuracy, false alarm and count probabilities, correlating with retroreflector signal strength
Dudley, D. D.↗
The Apollo 11 laser ranging retro-reflector array
Mechanical design and mounting technique of Apollo 11 fused silica laser ranging retroreflector array at Tranquility Base
Mccullough, J. E.↗
Interferometer servo system Patent
Servo system for retroreflector of Michelson interferometer
Schindler, R. A.↗
Apollo lunar surface experiments package. Apollo 14 Laser ranging Retro-Reflector experiment /LRRR/ Final report
Design, development, fabrication, and test of laser ranging retroreflector experiment equipment for Apollo 14 flight
Source record↗
Apollo Laser Ranging Retro-reflector Experiment /SO78/ Final Report
Research and development of Apollo laser ranging retroreflectors
Alley, C. O.↗
Design certification review report for the Apollo 15 laser ranging retro-reflector experiment
Design certification of Apollo 15 laser ranging retroreflector experiment
Source record↗
Preliminary results of laser ranging to a reflector on the lunar surface
Laser ranging to retroreflector array placed on lunar surface during Apollo 11 mission
Alley, C. O.↗
Jones's matrix representation of optical instruments. II - Fourier interferometers /spectrometers and spectropolarimeters/.
Our method of matrix synthesis of optical components and instruments is applied to the derivation of Jones's matrices appropriate for Fourier interferometers (spectrometers and spectropolarimeters). These matrices are obtained for both the source beam and the detector beam. In the course of synthesis, Jones's matrices of the various reflectors (plane mirrors; retroreflectors: roofed mirror, trihedral and prism cube corner, cat's eye) used by these interferometers are also obtained.
Fymat, A. L.↗
Transportable lunar-ranging system.
Description of a transportable transmitting unit for measuring distances to retroreflectors on the moon. The unit can be installed at any astronomical observatory where a large telescope is available to detect the received signal. The transmitter consists of a high radiance, frequency-doubled neodymium-glass laser and a coude optical system of moderate size. The measurements may eventually be used to study variations in the length of the earth's day, changes in the geographic location of the pole, and the drifting of the continents.
Lehr, C. G.↗
Single photon detection and timing in the Lunar Laser Ranging Experiment.
The goals of the Lunar Laser Ranging Experiment lead to the need for the measurement of a 2.5 sec time interval to an accuracy of a nanosecond or better. The systems analysis which included practical retroreflector arrays, available laser systems, and large telescopes led to the necessity of single photon detection. Operation under all background illumination conditions required auxiliary range gates and extremely narrow spectral and spatial filters in addition to the effective gate provided by the time resolution. Nanosecond timing precision at relatively high detection efficiency was obtained using the RCA C31000F photomultiplier and Ortec 270 constant fraction of pulse-height timing discriminator. The timing accuracy over the 2.5 sec interval was obtained using a digital interval with analog vernier ends. Both precision and accuracy are currently checked internally using a triggerable, nanosecond light pulser. Future measurements using sub-nanosecond laser pulses will be limited by the time resolution of single photon detectors.
Poultney, S. K.↗
GEOS-1 laser pulse return shape analysis
An attempt has been made to predict the shape of the laser return pulse from the corner cube retroreflectors on the GEOS-1 spacecraft. The study is geometrical only, and neglects factors such as optical interference, atmospheric perturbations, etc. A function giving the intensity of the return signal at any given time has been derived. In addition, figures are given which show the predicted return pulse shape as a function of time, the angle between the beam and the spin axis, and an in-plane angle (designating the orientation of the intersection of the planar waves with the plane of the corner cubes).
Felsentreger, T. L.↗
Laser transit-time measurements between earth and moon with a transportable system
A high radiance, pulsed laser system with a transportable transmitting unit was used to measure the transit times of 25 ns, 10 joule, and 530 nm pulses from earth to the Apollo 15 retroreflector on the moon and back.
Lehr, C. G.↗
Multiple pass reimaging optical system
An optical imaging system for enabling nonabsorbed light imaged onto a photodetective surface to be collected and reimaged one or more times onto that surface in register with the original image. The system includes an objective lens, one or more imaging lenses, one or more retroreflectors and perhaps a prism for providing optical matching of the imaging lens focal planes to the photo detective surface.
Gunter, W. D., Jr.↗
COSPAR, IAU, LSI Colloquium on Lunar Dynamics and Observational Coordinate Systems: Revised abstracts
The proceedings of a colloquium on lunar dynamics and observational coordinate systems are presented. Discussions were held on the establishment of a fundamental reference system and on the lunar ephemerides. Abstracts of the subjects discussed at the meeting are submitted. Some of the topics discussed are: (1) coordinates of the Apollo retroreflectors, (2) determination of lunar baselines, (3) numerical series for the variations of lunar coordinates, (4) fundamental craters for establishing a lunar coordinate system, and (5) composite lunar gravity fields.
Moutsoulas, M.↗
Three-D multilateration: A precision geodetic measurement system
A technique of satellite geodesy for determining the relative three dimensional coordinates of ground stations within one centimeter over baselines of 20 to 10,000 kilometers is discussed. The system is referred to as 3-D Multilateration and has applications in earthquake hazard assessment, precision surveying, plate tectonics, and orbital mechanics. The accuracy is obtained by using pulsed lasers to obtain simultaneous slant ranges between several ground stations and a moving retroreflector with known trajectory for aiming the lasers.
Escobal, P. R.↗
A novel laser ranging system for measurement of ground-to-satellite distances
A technique was developed for improving the precision of laser ranging measurements of ground-to-satellite distances. The method employs a mode-locked laser transmitter and utilizes an image converter tube equipped with deflection plates in measuring the time of flight of the laser pulse to a distant retroreflector and back. Samples of the outgoing and returning light pulses are focussed on the photocathode of the image converter tube, whose deflection plates are driven by a high-voltage 120 MHz sine wave derived from a very stable oscillator. From the relative positions of the images produced at the output phosphor by the two light pulses, it is possible to make a precise determination of the fractional amount by which the time of flight exceeds some large integral multiple of the period of the deflection sinusoid.
Golden, K. E.↗