Extending Science from Lunar Laser Ranging

TL;DR

This paper reviews the history, current status, and future prospects of Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR), emphasizing how advancements in technology and modeling could significantly enhance our understanding of lunar and Earth dynamics, fundamental physics, and planetary science.

Contribution

It outlines the potential for next-generation LLR technology and models to improve measurement accuracy and explore subtle effects in Earth-Moon dynamics.

Findings

50 years of LLR data with increasing accuracy

Upcoming deployment of advanced retroreflectors and transponders

Potential to detect subtle signatures in lunar and Earth dynamics

Abstract

The Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR) experiment has accumulated 50 years of range data of improving accuracy from ground stations to the laser retroreflector arrays (LRAs) on the lunar surface. The upcoming decade offers several opportunities to break new ground in data precision through the deployment of the next generation of single corner-cube lunar retroreflectors and active laser transponders. This is likely to expand the LLR station network. Lunar dynamical models and analysis tools have the potential to improve and fully exploit the long temporal baseline and precision allowed by millimetric LLR data. Some of the model limitations are outlined for future efforts. Differential observation techniques will help mitigate some of the primary limiting factors and reach unprecedented accuracy. Such observations and techniques may enable the detection of several subtle signatures required to understand the dynamics of the Earth-Moon system and the deep lunar interior. LLR model improvements would impact multi-disciplinary fields that include lunar and planetary science, Earth science, fundamental physics, celestial mechanics and ephemerides.