MLRS Satellite Targets

Past, Present, and Future

High Satellites

The Moon (Surface) Retroreflectors Apollo 11 Site at Tranquility Base Lunakhod 1 Site at Imbrium   Apollo 14 Site at Fra Mauro   Apollo 15 Site at Hadley   Lunakhod 2 Site

Measuring the distance to the moon and back and using it as a reflector for laser communications is not the same thing!

Most if not all lasers pointed at the moon are used for measuring distance to the moon and back. This requires single pulse detection and by it's very nature WIDEBAND and in most cases single photon detectors. If you have no need to measure distance you can trade bandwidth and speed for signal level. For laser communications one can use long term integration to detect signals that otherwise would be hopelessly buried below the noise floor.

The retroreflectors on the surface of the moon return a beam back to earth that is approx. 15 km in diameter and centered on the transmitting station. Meaning they are next to useless for communication (moonbounce) unless your objective is to communicate with someone less than approx. 7 km from your location. Atmospheric scatter would be a much easier path for this distance assuming it can't be done line of sight.

Reflection from the lunar surface is scattered in all directions and as a result is approx. 26 db weaker. But like radio EME the returned signal can be heard anywhere on Earth where the moon is visible.

MeteoSat P-2 (MP-2)

Etalon1

Etalon2

GPS 35

GPS 36

Medium Satellites

LAGEOS 1

LAGEOS 2

Low Satellites

Topex/Poseiden

Adeos

Ajisai

Starlette

Stella

ERS 1

ERS 2

Meteor 3

MST-II

Fizeau

GFZ-1

SunSat

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