APOLLO: A NEW PUSH IN LUNAR LASER RANGING

Abstract

APOLLO (the Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser-ranging Operation) is a new effort in lunar laser ranging that uses the Apollo-landed retroreflector arrays to perform tests of gravitational physics. It achieved its first range return in October 2005, and began its science campaign the following spring. The strong signal (> 2500 photons in a ten-minute period) translates to one-millimeter random range uncertainty, constituting at least an order-of-magnitude gain over previous stations. One-millimeter range precision will translate into order-of-magnitude gains in our ability to test the weak and strong equivalence principles, the time rate of change of Newton's gravitational constant, the phenomenon of gravitomagnetism, the inverse-square law, and the possible presence of extra dimensions. An outline of the APOLLO apparatus and its initial performance is presented, as well as a brief discussion on future space technologies that can extend our knowledge of gravity by orders of magnitude.