Lunar Surface Instrument and Technology Payloads Next Generation Lunar Retroreflector

Development of science requirements (hardware), and work with Lunar observatories to produce laser pulses and collect their returns, as well as analyze the returned signals from lunar retro-reflectors placed on the Lunar surface and/or lunar landing craft. Some of the efforts require the development of specialized software programs as well as the development of processes for foreign observatories to facilitate data collection methodologies concerning the returning laser pulses.

The principal investigator (PI), and team, have experience with lunar retro-reflectors from the Apollo missions. The team members worked on the design, deployment, data collection, and analysis of the current lunar reflectors on the Lunar surface. The current version of the lunar reflectors is their design and they manufactured the flight hardware. Additionally, the PI and team have a standing relationship with the foreign lunar observatories that will be sending laser pulses and collecting the return laser pulse. The PI and team also have developed specific software programs/algorithms for analyzing the returning pulse.