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Title: Lunar Science and Lunar Laser Ranging
Primary Author: James G. Williams
Secondary Author(s): James G. Williams, Slava G. Turyshev, Richard T. Baran, Kevin M. Birnbaum, Douglas Currie, William M. Folkner, Gary M. Gutt, Hideo Hanada, Hamid Hemmati, Stephen M. Merkowitz,, Kenneth L. Nordtvedt, Thomas W. Murphy, Jr., Jürgen Müller, Nicolas Rambaux, Peter J. Shelus, Ruwan Somawardhana, Robert Spero
Institution: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Summary: Lunar Laser Ranging studies the Moon’s internal structure and properties by tracking the variations in the orientation and tidal distortion of the Moon as a function of time. Future missions to the Moon’s surface should include new laser ranging instrumentation capable of improved range accuracy.
Panel Selection: Inner Planets: Mercury, Venus, and the Moon.
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These documents have been prepared in coordination with the National Academies of Science in support of the National Academies Planetary Science Decadal Survey. These documents are being made available for information purposes only, and any views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of NASA, JPL, or the California Institute of Technology.