Shoot the Moon!

shoot the moon

Image Credit: NASA

The Laser Ranging Facility at the Geophysical and Astronomical Observatory at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFL) and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) are working together to create a three dimensional map of the moon in order to help locate future landing sites for astronauts as well as assess resources on the moon. In this picture the lower green laser beam is from the LRO’s dedicated tracker at the GSFL and the other laser is from another ground system at the center. They are not shooting the moon.