Laser Ranging Retro-Reflector, Apollo

National Air and Space Museum

Object Details

Manufacturer
Bendix Aerospace Systems
Summary
The Laser Ranging Retroreflector is a device that reflects light so that the paths of the reflected rays are parallel to those of the incident rays. Instruments placed on the lunar surface were used in experiments to reflect laser light back to Earth. The reflected light was used to provide precise measurements of the distance between the earth and the moon.
The Bendix Corporation donated this traning unit to the Museum in 1972.
Credit Line
Transferred by the NASA.
Inventory Number
A19730063000
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
EQUIPMENT-Lunar
Materials
Glass
Aluminum Alloy
Copper Alloy
Synthetic Fiber Fabric (Beta Cloth)
Plastic
Ink
Paint
Velcro
Phenolic Resin
Ferrous Alloy
Adhesive Tape
Dimensions
3-D (Overall): 82.5 × 68.6 × 43.2cm (2 ft. 8 1/2 in. × 2 ft. 3 in. × 1 ft. 5 in.)
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location
National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
Exhibition
Destination Moon
Title
Laser Ranger Retro-Reflector, Apollo
National Air and Space Museum
Record ID
nasm_A19730063000
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv959e6424d-b205-4f34-8530-c7d9bc32df8a
Corner-cube mirrors connected to base of a Laser Ranging Retroreflector.
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View manifest View in Mirador Viewer
Corner-cube mirrors connected to base of a Laser Ranging Retroreflector.
Surface view of a ranger Retro-Reflector.
Side view of a white pallet with raised 100 lens laser reflector, training unit, Apollo 11.
Lift gears of a Retro-Reflector.
View of the Retro-reflector array.
View of the Retro-reflector array attached to the base of the unit.
A white box-shaped device with a series of mirrors inlaid into the top. There is a gray pole extending up to the left with a tan box on the end. The word Bendix is below the mirrors in black.