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An estimate of the geodetic accuracy attainable with a transportable lunar laser station

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Abstract

A transportable lunar laser ranging station can be expected to measure the range to the lunar corner retroreflectors from a site on the Earth's surface with an uncertainty of about 3 cms. The accuracy with which that station can infer its geocentric position is influenced by many factors including the uncertainties in the pole position and rotation rate of the Earth and the data loss due to weather.

The results of a simplified modelling study intended to include these factors are presented in cartographic form. The modelling indicates that, assuming the successful operation of three or more widely separated fixed laser stations, the transportable station will be able to determine its relative geocentric position in all three coordinates with an accuracy comparable to the original range uncertainty.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. McDonald Observatory, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas

    E. C. Silverberg, P. J. Shelus, J. D. Mulholland & G. L. Loumos

Authors
  1. E. C. Silverberg
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  2. P. J. Shelus
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  3. J. D. Mulholland
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  4. G. L. Loumos
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Silverberg, E.C., Shelus, P.J., Mulholland, J.D. et al. An estimate of the geodetic accuracy attainable with a transportable lunar laser station. Bull. Geodesique 50, 331–340 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02521586

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02521586

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