![]() Corner-cube reflectors are systems which, unlike regular mirrors, can reflect light back in the direction it came from. It’s a panel which is 50cm squared and which was equipped with 100 corner-cube reflectors. “We use five reflectors on the surface of the Moon, three of which were deployed by the Americans on Apollo missions, the first being Apollo 11. In this way they will obtain an echo, the sign that the laser has succeeded in striking one of the reflectors left on the lunar surface.ĬLEMENT COURDE – ALSO A RESEARCH ENGINEER APPARENTLY The observer on Earth must continually and manually correct the telescope’s aim. A round trip journey of roughly 800,000 km that takes 2.4 seconds to complete. Out of the thousands of photons bombarding the moon, few will return to Earth and be captured by the telescope. This laser, visible to the naked eye at night, produces ten pulses per second. After calibrating the various instruments that ensure the stability of this extremely powerful laser, the operating team will need to reorient it towards the Moon to begin collecting data. On this June evening, Moonrise is predicted at around 11PM. We have a lot of studies currently centered on the impact of the atmosphere on our lasers, in order to compensate for these perturbations.” This exactitude is a little less than we’d like due to misreadings caused by atmospheric interference. Thanks to the evolution of technology that followed, our measurements today are precise to within a few millimeters with an exactitude on the order of a centimeter. ![]() “50 years ago, measurements of this distance taken by laser were accurate to within about a meter. Over the years, this study has benefited greatly from technological advancements. Every day, scientists from the observatory calculate the trajectories needed to find the reflectors left on the surface by the various Apollo missions. With a 1,5 meter diameter mirror, this telescope is equipped with a laser which enables it to measure the distance between the Earth and the Moon with great precision. Among the instruments directed towards space, one telescope in particular is studying the lunar surface, and has been for nearly half a century. This plateau is the home of the Calern Observatory. Return to earth, more precisely to the South of France. 50 years later, it’s among the instruments that continue to supply the scientific community with data. ![]() In particular, they deployed a reflective panel no larger than a suitcase. Beyond the technical and political success represented by Apollo 11’s mission, it was an opportunity for the astronauts to gather samples and install devices for scientific measurements. The world discovered this monochrome landscape through the footsteps left by Armstrong and Aldrin. On July 21 st, 1969, 400,000km from earth, Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the lunar surface. 50 years ago, one voice reached across the depths of Space to leave its mark on history.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |