The laser altimeter data obtained from the Apollo 15 and Apollo 16 missions provide two elevation cross sections of the moon separated by 35 degrees of latitude. The data consist of measurements of the distance from the orbiting Command and Service Module (CSM) to the lunar surface at intervals of about 20 seconds. In order to extract the lunar shape parameters from the data, the position of the CSM must be known. This was accomplished by reducing the data from earth-based radio tracking of the CSM. The most striking result obtained in the studies is the consistency of the center of gravity offset in both the X and Y directions.


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    Title :

    Lunar shape via the Apollo laser altimeter.


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Science ; 179


    Publication date :

    1973-01-19


    Type of media :

    Miscellaneous


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English


    Keywords :


    Laser altimeter for Apollo lunar orbit.

    Woodward, J. H. / Walters, E. B. | NTRS | 1971


    Apollo 17 laser altimeter

    Wollenhaupt, W. R. / Sjogren, W. L. / Lingenfelter, R. E. et al. | NTRS | 1973


    Apollo 15 laser altimeter, part D

    Robertson, F. L. / Kaula, W. M. | NTRS | 1972