After 40 years' reflection, laser moon mirror project is axed

[IndianaGreen]

After 40 years' reflection, laser moon mirror project is axed

US research that began with the first Apollo landing - and helped to prove that the moon is moving away from Earth - is to be axed

Robin McKie, science editor
The Observer, Sunday 21 June 2009

An experiment, begun when Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin left a mirror on the lunar surface 40 years ago to allow Earth-based astronomers to fire lasers at it, has been ended by American science chiefs.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) last week wrote to scientists working at the McDonald Laser ranging station at Fort Davis in Texas to tell them the annual $125,000 funding for their research project was going be terminated following a review of its scientific merits.

The decision means that four decades of continuous lunar laser research at the McDonald Observatory, run by the University of Texas at Austin, will be halted by the end of this year. Among the project's unlikely achievements has been the discovery that the moon is moving away from Earth at a rate of two-and-a-half inches a year.

The mirror's existence, and the fact that astronomers can bounce lasers off it and detect the returning beam, has also provided Nasa and other scientists with compelling evidence to refute the claims of moon-landing deniers who claim the Apollo lunar mission were hoaxes filmed in an Earth-based studio.

"It is a bitter-sweet feeling to know this is going to come to end at McDonald," said Peter Shelus, head of the laser ranging project. "We have done a great deal of important work using the moon mirrors but it is clearly time for it to end. However, we are hopeful that this work will be continued at other astronomy centres."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/jun/21/mcdonald-observatory-space-laser-funding

[caraher]

1. Probably the right decision

The reflectors aren't going anywhere so if anyone comes up with a need to re-measure or resume the project it's pretty easy to do. I think we've learned at 99% of what we will ever learn from the experiment by now anyway.

[qazplm]

2. great!

NOW how do we prove to moon hoaxers that we really landed on the moon?!!

vbg

[eppur_se_muova]

3. Anyone with a laser can point it at the moon, and observe the reflection in a telescope.

The reflector is a special type known as a 'corner retroreflector', which directs the beam back along the same path (or parallel to it).

Of course, you need a bright enough laser, and big enough telescope, but it will work from any location that can see the landing site.

[Esra Star]

4. which is anywhere on Earth when the moon is visible.

For the purposes of the experiment, it is probably more accurate the closer to the equator it is.

[shireen]

5. wow! that brings back memories.

I used to work with Pete Shelus, almost 25 years ago, he's a terrific guy. He and the team have done some amazing work. Their laser ranging equipment, 25 years ago, was very impressive. One time, their most experienced laser ranging "shooter", who was firing from the 107" telescope, let me look thru the eyepiece at the exact spot where the mirror was located. There was a faint targeting light (not the actual laser!) that showed the exact point where the laser was pointing. The laser beam was about 1 mile in diameter when it reached the moon, and only a few returning photos would detected. It's pretty impressive that they were able to point at such a high accuracy. The laser ranging work was eventually moved to smaller telescopes. But i'll never forget that amazing moment when I "saw" the laser being fired at the mirror on the moon.