Next-Generation Geodesy at the Lunar South Pole: An Opportunity Enabled by the Artemis III Crew ...

Lunar retro-reflector arrays (LRAs) consisting of corner-cube reflectors (CCRs) placed on the nearside of the Moon during the Apollo era have demonstrated their longevity, cost-effectiveness, ease of deployment, and most importantly their interdisciplinary scientific impact through the ongoing lunar...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Viswanathan, Vishnu, Mazarico, Erwan, Merkowitz, Stephen, Sun, Xiaoli, Eubanks, Thomas Marshall, Smith, David Edmund
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: Maryland Shared Open Access Repository 2020
Subjects:
South Pole
South pole
Online Access:https://dx.doi.org/10.13016/m2axjs-ziqg
http://mdsoar.org/handle/11603/19762
Description
Summary:Lunar retro-reflector arrays (LRAs) consisting of corner-cube reflectors (CCRs) placed on the nearside of the Moon during the Apollo era have demonstrated their longevity, cost-effectiveness, ease of deployment, and most importantly their interdisciplinary scientific impact through the ongoing lunar laser ranging (LLR) experiment. The human exploration of the lunar south polar region provides a unique opportunity to build on this legacy and contribute to the scientific return of the Artemis, for many decades to come. Here we outline the extended science objectives realizable with the deployment of geodetic tracking devices by the Artemis III crew. ...

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