Next Generation Lunar Retroreflector-1 (NGLR-1)
Jump to: Mission Objectives, Mission Instrumentation, Mission Parameters, Additional Information
Firefly's first mission to the Moon successfully launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, at 06:11 UTC on January 15, 2025.The Firefly spacecraft is sending its Blue Ghost 1 lander to Mare Crisium, a large lunar basin at 17.0°N, 59.1°E in the northeast quadrant of the lunar nearside. The lander will deliver 10 NASA science payloads to the lunar surface. One of the science payloads includes the Next Generation Lunar Retroreflector-1 (NGLR-1).
Mission Objectives:
The Next Generation Lunar Retroreflector (NGLR) will serve as a target for lasers on Earth to precisely measure the distance between Earth and the Moon. The NGLR will reflect very short laser pulses from Earth-based Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR) Observatories. The laser pulse transit time to the Moon and back will be used to accurately determine the distance between the terrestrial station and NGLR on the surface of the Moon.
NGLR-1 is mounted on a gimbal-supported Antennae Support Panel (ASP). During the 19-day prime mission, the ASP will be pointed toward the Earth. The Firefly mission will do their best to ensure that the ASP and NGLR-1 are optimally pointed towards the Earth so as to be able to support LLR measurements over decades.
The original Apollo retroflectors (on Apollos 11, 14, 15) and the Luna 17 and 21 retroreflectors provided precise coordinates for the lunar reference system that we use today. The LLR data to these retroreflectors form a critical part of the Solar System planetary ephemerides that are developed by different research institutes and space agencies [(e.g. see Park et al. (2021); Fienga et al. (2019); Vasileyev and Yagudina (2014) ]. NGLR will improve upon the Apollo and Luna LLR results by providing sub-millimeter range measurements. The NGLR will support long-term investigations of lunar physics, astrophysics and cosmology. The improved ranging accuracy from NGLR will contribute to improving our understanding of the inner structure of the Moon and to addressing theories about dark matter.
The Lead Development Organization for NGLR is the University of Maryland (College Park, Maryland, U.S.A.)
The Payload Principal Investigator is Dr. Douglas Currie (University of Maryland).
Mission Instrumentation:
The only instrumentation on the moon related to laser ranging is the Cube Corner Retroreflector, housing, and mounting structure.
A Next Generation Lunar Retroreflector (NGLR) sits on an adjustable multidirectional mount.
Mission Parameters:
| NGLR-1 Parameters | |
| Sponsor: | NASA/University of Maryland |
| Expected Life: | Many decades |
| Primary Application: | Lunar science/General Relativity and Lunar Geodesy |
| COSPAR ID: | 0000105 |
| SIC Code: | 0105 |
| Satellite Catalog (NORAD) Number: | N/A |
| Launch Date: | January 15, 2025 |
| RRA Size: | 100 mm diameter; 72 mm height |
| RRA Shape: | Circular |
| Reflectors: | 1 |
| Orbit: | Elliptical |
| Inclination: | 5.145 degrees |
| Eccentricity: | 0.0549 |
| Perigee: | 356,400 km |
| Period: | 29.53 days |
Retroreflector Coordinates (Mean Earth-ME)
In ME, the spherical coordinates:
lon=61.807
lat=18.560
rad=1733.750
In ME, the Cartesian coordinates:
x=776.4976
y=1448.5869
z=551.8484
Retroreflector Coordinates (Principal Axis-PA):
In PA, the spherical coordinates:
lon=61.7946
lat=18.5702
rad=1733.750
In PA, the Cartesian coordinates:
x=776.7643
y=1448.3320
z=552.1420
ME-PA transformation matrix from SPICE kernels:
R_ME2PA = [
0.999999873254714 0.000329286000210947 -0.000380869119096078
-0.000329285422375571 0.999999945784306 1.57985578682691e-06
0.000380869618671387 -1.45444093783627e-06 0.999999927468106
Additional Information:
Web sites:
Mission Website: https://www.physics.umd.edu/nglr/
- NASA NGLR-1 Mission Information: https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/nasa-anticipates-lunar-findings-from-next-generation-retroreflector/
- More on CLPS and Artemis at: https://www.nasa.gov/clps
- Firefly Space mission page: https://fireflyspace.com/missions/blue-ghost-mission-1/
- Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser-ranging Operation (APOLLO)
- Apollo information from KSC (Apollo 11, Apollo 14, Apollo 15)
- Apollo information from Lunar and Planetary Institute Apollo 11, Apollo 14, Apollo 15)
Publications:
- Currie D.G., Williams J.G., Wellnitz D.D. et al. (2024), “Next Generation Lunar Retroreflectors and ARTEMIS III”, Lunar Surface Science Workshop 22 (Virtual), [https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lunarsurface22/pdf/5005.pdf]
- Williams J.G., Boggs D.H., Currie D.G. (2022). “Next-generation Laser Ranging at Lunar Geophysical Network and Commercial Lander Payload Service Sites”, Planet. Sci. Journal, 3, 136, doi: 10.3847/PSJ/ac6c25.
- Porcelli L., Currie D.G., Muccino M. et al. (2021). “Next generation lunar laser retroreflectors for fundamental physics and lunar science”. A topical white paper submitted to the Committee on the Biological and Physical Sciences Research in Space 2023-2032 of The National Academies of Sciences of the USA. [https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20210025424]
- Currie D.G., Baden D., Wellnitz D., Delle Monache G. et al. (2023). “The Birth and Future of Lunar Laser Ranging”, Virtual International Workshop on Laser Ranging (IWLR), “New Developments in Satellite Laser Ranging, October 16-20, 2023.
Videos/Teleconferences:
- NASA Anticipates More Lunar Findings from Next-Generation Artemis Retroreflector [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWSn_aKl9hE]
- Media Teleconference: NASA Lunar Science Aboard Firefly Blue Ghost Mission 1 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACj7qrf2PlM]
